Hoping to deter independent researchers from selling their information on shady markets, Google has tripled its maximum reward for finding flaws in its software to $15,000.

Previously, the company has paid bounties of $500 up to $5,000. But it is becoming more difficult to find bugs in softare such as Chrome, so Google wants the extra incentive.

Tim Willis of Chrome Security Team, said: “We understand that our cash reward amounts can be less than these alternatives, but we offer you public acknowledgement of your skills and how awesome you are, a quick fix and an opportunity to openly blog/talk/present on your amazing work. Also, you’ll never have to be concerned that your bugs were used by shady people for unknown purposes."

Willis wrote that Google will back-pay submissions from July 1 at the new levels.