Microsoft has finally followed in the footsteps of Facebook and Google by offering bounties for those who find bugs in its software.
The Windows maker will launch three programmes on 26 June offering up lucrative rewards depending on the scale of the vulnerabilities found.
Microsoft will pay up to $100,000 for users who can find exploits in Windows 8.1 Preview in a program known as the Mitigation Bypass.
"Learning about new exploitation techniques earlier helps Microsoft improve security by leaps, instead of capturing one vulnerability at a time as a traditional bug bounty alone would," the firm said in a statement.
In conjunction with finding vulnerabilities, Microsoft will offer up to $50,000 for defensive ideas that accompany a qualifying Mitigation Bypass submission.
"Doing so highlights our continued support of defensive technologies and provides a way for the research community to help protect more than a billion computer systems worldwide."
Both the above programs are open on an on-going basis.
Finally, Microsoft also wants developers to help track down bugs in the IE 11 Preview. The firm is offering up to $11,000 to people who find critical vulnerabilities in a 30-day beta period (26 June 26 July).
"Our new bounty programmes add fresh depth and flexibility to our existing community outreach programs. Having these bounty programs provides a way to harness the collective intelligence and capabilities of security researchers to help further protect customers," the company statement continued.
