Episode 159: Avoiding Downgrades on Google Cloud VRP with Cote and Darby Hopkins

Episode 159: In this episode of Critical Thinking - Bug Bounty Podcast we sit down with the Google Cloud VRP Team to deep-dive policy and reward changes, what the panel process looks like, and how to best configure for success.

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Today’s Guests:

Darby Hopkins

Michael Cote

====== This Week in Bug Bounty ======

AI Red Teaming Explained by AI Red Teamers

Good Faith AI Research Safe Harbor

Join the Adobe LHE at NULLCON GOA

====== Resources ======

‘Legendary Guy’ - Jakub Domeracki

Google Cloud VRP rewards rules

Google Cloud VRP product tiers

Bug Hunters blog on the 2025 Google Cloud VRP bugSWAT

Google VRP Discord

Google VRP on X

====== Timestamps ======

(00:00:00) Introduction

(00:10:03) CloudVRP Bugswat Event Breakdown

(00:16:40) VRP Policy & Rewards Changes

(00:04:50) Panel Process

(01:00:08) Configuring for Success & Avoiding Downgrades

(01:33:47) Scenarios for Success