Only about 6,000 people in France work in this field, and the government is offering rewards that can reach as much as half a million euros—understandably, since ethical hacking is one of the few defenses against growing cyber threats.
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Cyberattacks are multiplying across France, and public institutions are no longer spared. In recent months, hacks have hit the Interior Ministry, the Education Ministry, the tax authority (DGFiP), and there have been major data leaks from the Vacaf social assistance system and large retailers—affecting millions. Data theft has become so widespread it now touches roughly one in two French residents, and the private sector is increasingly exposed, leaving people vulnerable to large waves of fraud, identity theft, and phishing campaigns.
Following the recent intrusion into the tax system, the Minister of Public Accounts, David Amiel, unveiled an emergency plan that leans heavily on the bug bounty model. This “reward hunt” approach—already used by companies like Apple, Google, and Microsoft—offers financial compensation to anyone who discovers a security flaw before criminals can exploit it. To run these authorized tests, the government will rely on a very small pool of specialists: only about 6,000 experts in France have the necessary skills.
Known as “white hats” or ethical hackers, these professionals legally search for weaknesses in systems. Prominent figures in the French scene include Kévin (aka “Mizu”), Clément Domingo (aka “SaxX”), who works to steer younger would-be hackers toward lawful practices, and Hanissa (aka “Pwnii”), ranked among the country’s top finders with more than 300 bugs uncovered and a record single-bug payout of €50,000. According to the platform YesWeHack, these experts typically need less than eight hours to identify an initial vulnerability. When a flaw is classified as critical, payouts from the state or major companies (including CAC 40 firms such as Doctolib, Decathlon, and Louis Vuitton) can reach up to €500,000.
That kind of potential payout is motivating more people to consider switching careers or entering the field. The stereotype of the lone, self-taught hacker working from a bedroom is fading; today’s profession is built on structured training paths cataloged by Onisep. Entry-level routes start at the Bac+3 level (for example, cybersecurity technology degrees or professional bachelor’s programs in network security), but many practitioners hold Bac+5 qualifications—an engineering diploma or a master’s degree specializing in cybersecurity. On top of formal education, internationally recognized certifications such as the OSCP, CEH, or CISSP are commonly used to demonstrate a high degree of technical competence to employers.
Beyond technical skill, the role is grounded in strict ethical principles: 99% of these experts purposefully choose to use their talents to protect people and systems. With threats accelerating and becoming ever more sophisticated, tapping into their agility and expertise has become less of an option and more of a necessity for the country’s digital security.
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