Strategy

Cybersecurity isn’t just a battle of good versus bad actors, it’s driven by economics. Exploit researchers face limited options for selling their findings, often pushing them toward criminals who can act faster than defenders. This post explores why attackers stay ahead, the misconceptions about exploit value, and how Desired Effect aims to disrupt the cybercrime market by rewarding researchers and giving defenders early risk awareness.

Most defenders only learn about a vulnerability once it’s too late—after the damage is done. In this post, a 20+ year veteran of the exploitation space pulls back the curtain on the full lifecycle of a software vulnerability, from discovery and proof of concept through black-market transactions, weaponization, and eventual CVE disclosure. Along the way, you'll learn why the current system favors attackers, how researchers are often misunderstood, and why traditional “respond-after-breach” models are broken. This post introduces the mission of Desired Effect: to bridge the gap between discovery and defense—before exploitation can ever begin.

Zero day exploits are fueling a fast-moving cyber threat landscape where attackers strike before defenders even know they’re vulnerable. This post explores how the current exploit economy gives adversaries the upper hand—and what needs to change. Learn why defenders must adopt a proactive, market-based approach to vulnerability management, and how empowering researchers can shift the balance of power.