In an effort to enhance security, Google has rewarded security researchers for helping to protect their users as well as make Google safer by discovering, disclosing and helping to fix vulnerabilities with their Security Rewards Programs. In fact, during 2014, Google paid out more than $1.5 million to over 200 security researchers, with one researcher receiving $150,000, the single largest reward.

Want to get in on this? Well, Google has added two new additions to its Security Reward Programs:

1. Vulnerability Research Grants: Google will reward researchers before they ever submit a bug; no strings attached. The maximum grant is $3,133.70, with various other tiers of grant amounts.
   
   Here’s how the grant program works:
   > Google will publish vulnerabilities, products and services that they want to support through research;
   > Researchers apply;
   > Research is pursued; and
   > Researchers also remain eligible for regular rewards for any discovered bugs.


2. Vulnerability Reward Program: Implements mobile applications developed by Google that are on Google Play and iTunes.

Image from Google's Online Security Blog shows top three contributors of 2014.