At Pensta, founded in 2025 by Michael Minchinton, we uphold the highest standards of trust, professionalism, and technical excellence in cybersecurity. Although Pensta is newly established, Michael brings over two decades of proven expertise in penetration testing and ethical hacking, with a long track record of safeguarding critical digital infrastructure.
Michael’s extensive portfolio includes trusted engagements with global technology leaders, government bodies, and complex enterprise systems. While many of these projects remain confidential due to non-disclosure agreements, a wealth of publicly verifiable acknowledgements underscore the calibre of our capabilities.
Recognised by Leading Organisations
Cabinet Office, United Kingdom (2022)
Michael received formal recognition for the responsible disclosure of sensitive cached URLs belonging to a GOV.UK service. 👉 View Official Thanks
Microsoft (2016)
Acknowledged by Microsoft for securing its online services—a distinction reserved for highly trusted cybersecurity researchers. 👉 View Researcher Acknowledgements
Google (2013)
Listed in Google’s Application Security Hall of Fame following ethical vulnerability disclosure. 👉 View Profile
PayPal (2013)
Named on PayPal’s Bug Bounty Wall of Fame for responsible reporting. 👉 View Archived Mention
Sitecore CMS (2014)
Disclosed a cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability, evidencing technical rigour and responsible practice. 👉 View Release Notes
Active Contributor to Global Bug Bounty Platforms
Bugcrowd
Operating under the handle gtrf, Michael maintains a 100% accuracy rating on programmes including SpaceX, Twilio, Majid Al Futtaim Properties and Indeed. 👉 View Bugcrowd Profile
HackerOne
Operating under the handle bugbound, Michael reported vulnerabilities for prominent organisations including Monero crypto wallet, Tide Banking, and A.S. Watson Group—the world’s largest health and beauty retail group. 👉 View HackerOne Profile
Public Engagements and Thought Leadership
Open Security Summit (2020)
Presented a detailed security review of the NHS COVID-19 contact tracing mobile applications and associated infrastructure. 👉 View Presentation
CyberOps Infosec Webinar (2020)
Delivered a session on ethical hacking and responsible disclosure to an international audience. 👉 View Webinar Announcement
Hack-A-Sat (U.S. Space Force & Air Force Research Laboratory)
Michael participated in two Hack-A-Sat cybersecurity challenges hosted by U.S. Space Force & Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), involving challenges designed to highlight vulnerabilities in space systems. 👉 View Website
Greenwich Gadgeteers
Michael volunteered to teach hardware programming on BBC MICRO:BIT Maker & Education Boards, empowering young people and adults with practical coding and electronics skills. 👉 View Facebook Page
Trace Labs Missing Persons Events
Actively contributed to two Trace Labs events, applying open-source intelligence (OSINT) techniques to help locate missing persons. Collected digital footprints were directly provided to law enforcement, aiding ongoing investigations. 👉 View Event Details
Featured in Media and Cybersecurity Documentaries
DEF CON 20 Documentary (2013)
Acknowledged in the official documentary of DEF CON, one of the world’s foremost hacking conferences. 👉 View IMDb Credit
Partner with a Trusted UK Penetration Testing Consultancy
Pensta is more than a newly established cybersecurity consultancy. We are a results-driven partner with a proven track record in responsible disclosure, ethical hacking, and digital risk mitigation.
Whether you’re a technology startup, e-commerce business, or enterprise managing sensitive systems, our penetration testing services are designed to meet rigorous security demands while fostering transparency and trust.
📞 Ready to secure your systems?
Schedule a no-obligation call with our lead consultant to discuss your security needs.
👉 Book your free consultation