A good-faith researcher is someone who investigates a system for security weaknesses and reports findings responsibly, without intending to cause harm or gain unauthorized access. They may contact the system owner or use a coordinated vulnerability disclosure (CVD) process so the issue can be assessed and fixed before details are made public.
These reports can give defenders early warning of weaknesses that attackers might otherwise discover and exploit. Clear reporting channels and credible protections for responsible research help encourage disclosure; uncertainty about legal or procedural consequences can discourage researchers from coming forward. Good faith does not mean every testing method is automatically authorized, so researchers should follow applicable rules, minimize impact, and respect the organization’s disclosure process.