Fortinet launches global cybercrime bounty program

Fortinet has partnered with Crime Stoppers International to launch a global Cybercrime Bounty program, establishing a secure, anonymous channel for reporting cybercriminal activity in exchange for financial rewards, according to Security Brief Asia.

The initiative utilizes Crime Stoppers' established confidential reporting infrastructure to collect tips from citizens and ethical hackers, which are then validated and analyzed by Fortinet's threat intelligence team before being forwarded to law enforcement agencies worldwide. Hayley van Loon, CEO of Crime Stoppers International, emphasized that cybercrime is "borderless, fast-moving, and increasingly sophisticated," and tackling it requires "collective intelligence and broad participation."

The program aims to create a "powerful bridge between communities and cybersecurity experts" to accelerate the disruption of cyber threats. This public-private partnership underscores the critical need for collaboration, with both organizations asserting that "no organisation can solve the problem alone" given the scale of attacks targeting critical infrastructure and individuals.

The bounty system is positioned as a step toward improving global cyber resilience by turning anonymous tips into actionable intelligence more efficiently, thereby strengthening accountability and deterring criminal networks.