# GitHub Reduces Public Bug Bounty, Moves Top Rewards to VIP Tier

GitHub has restructured its bug bounty program by cutting public payouts and shifting the highest rewards to a private VIP tier. This change limits the earning potential for independent security researchers, potentially reducing the number of bugs reported to the platform. It reflects a broader trend of companies tightening bug bounty programs amid cost concerns.

**Importance:** 3/5

## Sources

### Security
- [The Hacker News](https://thehackernews.com/2026/07/github-cuts-public-bug-bounty-payouts.html) — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:07:42 +0530