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

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/critical-thinking-bug-bounty-podcast-5951018/episode-159-avoiding-downgrades-on-google-cloud-vrp-with-cote-and-darby-hopkins.md
Podcast: [Critical Thinking - Bug Bounty Podcast](https://stenobird.com/podcast/critical-thinking-bug-bounty-podcast-5951018)
Published: 2026-01-29T10:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://criticalthinkingpodcast.io
Audio file: https://audio-delivery.cohostpodcasting.com/audio/8d5e4388-13f4-45c8-b82f-aff313a5ac76/episodes/97142356-6841-41e2-8d82-ccae935fe3dc/episode.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/critical-thinking-bug-bounty-podcast-5951018/episodes/episode-159-avoiding-downgrades-on-google-cloud-vrp-with-cote-and-darby-hopkins
Duration seconds: 6410

## Resource

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. Follow us on X Got any ideas and suggestions? Feel free to send us any feedback here: info@criticalthinkingpodcast.io Shoutout to YTCracker for the awesome intro music! ====== Links ====== Follow your hosts Rhynorater , rez0 and gr3pme on X: ====== Ways to Support CTBBPodcast ====== Hop on the CTBB Discord We also do Discord subs at $25, $10, and $5 - premium subscribers get access to private masterclasses, exploits, tools, scripts, un-redacted bug reports, etc. Get some hacker swag Today's Sponsor: Join Justin at Zero Trust World in March and get $200 off registration with Code ZTWCTBB26 https://ztw.com/ Google Cloud VRP Swag Bonus! Mention the podcast in any rewarded (cash or credit) VRP report submission before the end of April to receive bonus swag! 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

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