About Trail Of Bits
Trail of Bits is a renowned cybersecurity firm that specializes in bridging the gap between advanced security research and practical software engineering. Founded in 2012, the company has become a trusted partner for some of the world’s most security-sensitive organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, blockchain projects, and governmental agencies. Trail of Bits excels in providing security assurance, engineering, and research services that target the most critical areas of today’s technology landscape—from cryptography and blockchain to AI/ML and embedded systems.
The firm is known not just for identifying vulnerabilities but for pioneering security methodologies that lead to long-term improvements in system architecture. Trail of Bits focuses on both practical solutions and academic rigor, creating a unique balance of high-impact engineering and cutting-edge research. Their services span from product audits to custom tooling, and they offer one of the industry’s strongest open-source portfolios for vulnerability detection, symbolic execution, and reverse engineering.
Trail of Bits has carved a distinctive reputation since its founding in 2012 by delivering tailored security solutions across the technology spectrum. With a mission to secure the software that underpins modern society, the firm works with organizations that face sophisticated threats and require robust protection mechanisms. Their multidisciplinary team of researchers, engineers, and developers is capable of working across application security, blockchain infrastructure, cryptographic protocols, and artificial intelligence models. One of the company’s standout qualities is its commitment to deep collaboration with clients—this includes thorough onboarding, real-time communication, transparent assessments, and detailed remediation guidance.
Key services include Software Assurance, Security Engineering, Research & Development, and Expert Training. Their software assurance practice covers application security, cryptography, blockchain, and AI/ML, providing highly customized assessments. The engineering team works closely with clients to develop or enhance security tools, fix critical bugs, and strengthen infrastructure. Their R&D division pushes the boundaries of security science, discovering vulnerabilities in hardened systems and publishing breakthrough research. Through expert-led training, they transfer this knowledge, empowering security teams worldwide.
Open source is another core pillar of the Trail of Bits philosophy. The firm releases a significant amount of internal tooling and research artifacts publicly, demonstrating a commitment to community growth and transparency. Flagship projects like Manticore (symbolic execution engine), Slither (Solidity static analysis), and Echidna (property-based smart contract fuzzer) are widely used in both enterprise and research settings.
Some notable competitors to Trail of Bits include Halborn (blockchain security), NCC Group (enterprise security auditing), and ConsenSys Diligence (smart contract auditing). While these firms offer robust services, Trail of Bits differentiates itself through its integration of deep research, open-source contributions, and its proven track record in both enterprise and national security sectors.
Trail of Bits provides numerous benefits and features that make it a standout project in the cybersecurity landscape:
- Comprehensive Security Expertise: Covers critical areas such as blockchain, AI/ML, cryptography, and reverse engineering, enabling a well-rounded security assessment.
- End-to-End Software Assurance: Supports projects at every phase of the SDLC, providing both deep code analysis and actionable recommendations.
- Open Source Leadership: Maintains and contributes to high-impact tools like Slither, Manticore, and Echidna, helping developers and researchers secure their own systems.
- Real-Time Client Collaboration: Uses platforms like Slack for transparent, ongoing discussions and delivers weekly reports with progress updates.
- Fix Verification Process: Offers post-engagement reviews to validate that recommended security fixes are properly implemented and introduce no regressions.
- Training & Education: Provides expert-led security training courses in key disciplines such as threat modeling, penetration testing, and program analysis.
Trail of Bits makes it simple to engage with their services for robust cybersecurity solutions:
- Visit the Website: Head over to the official Trail of Bits website and explore the "Services" section to understand the offerings in software assurance, security engineering, and training.
- Request a Quote: Click on “Request a Quote” to initiate a project inquiry. You'll be prompted to describe your needs and the scope of your systems.
- Schedule a Technical Onboarding: Engage in a kickoff call with Trail of Bits engineers and project managers to align on objectives, share documentation, and prepare for the engagement.
- Stay Connected During Engagement: Join a shared Slack channel or preferred communication tool for live collaboration, questions, and weekly sync-ups.
- Receive Comprehensive Reports: At the end of the project, receive a detailed technical report with severity scores, exploitation risks, and prioritized recommendations.
- Optional Fix Review: Opt-in for a follow-up review to ensure your team’s fixes are secure and properly deployed.
- Explore Open Source Tools: Access and use powerful open-source tools via their GitHub organization or the “Open Source” section of the official website.
Trail Of Bits FAQ
Trail of Bits offers security assessments even in closed-source environments through a suite of proprietary and open-source tools designed for binary analysis and symbolic execution. Tools like Remill and Manticore allow their engineers to reverse-engineer and analyze compiled binaries to identify vulnerabilities and exploitation paths. This capability is especially useful for legacy systems, proprietary platforms, and embedded devices where source code may not be available. Visit Trail of Bits to learn more about their reverse engineering services.
Open-source tooling is a foundational part of how Trail of Bits scales its impact across the cybersecurity community. By releasing tools like Slither, Echidna, and DeepState, the firm empowers developers and security researchers worldwide while also showcasing its technical leadership. These tools often originate from client work or internal R&D and are rigorously maintained. Their GitHub organization features dozens of projects that reflect their commitment to transparency and excellence in secure software development.
Yes. Although many of Trail of Bits’ blockchain tools—such as Slither and Echidna—are designed for Ethereum and Solidity, the company also supports other blockchain platforms. Their security experts have worked with Bitcoin, Tezos, Algorand, and various custom Layer 1 and Layer 2 protocols. The team adapts its auditing and formal verification methodologies to different ecosystems, making them a highly flexible partner for emerging blockchain technologies. For more info, visit the blockchain section of the Trail of Bits site.
Trail of Bits integrates AI/ML models in security research and vulnerability detection workflows. Their in-house tools leverage AI for anomaly detection, automated fuzzing, and code pattern recognition. Additionally, they assess the security of machine learning systems themselves, identifying attack vectors like model inversion, membership inference, and adversarial examples. Their tool PrivacyRaven is one such example, designed to test privacy robustness in deep learning systems. More details are available on the official website.
After completing a security audit, Trail of Bits delivers a detailed final report outlining vulnerabilities, exploitability, and remediation guidance. This includes severity ratings, threat modeling insights, and documentation of their testing methodology. Clients may also opt for a fix review phase, where the team evaluates the effectiveness of the patches applied. All engagements conclude with a readout session to walk through the results and discuss long-term strategies. Visit Trail of Bits to explore their post-assessment support services.