Google is putting its money where its browser is, betting £12,500 that hackers can't breach Chrome. It's upped the ante at the annual CanSecWest Pwn2Own contest, which pits hackers against browsers and smart phones to see which systems are secure -- and which need to sort their security.
Chrome was this only browser left standing at the end of last year's contest, so Google has decided to make things more interesting, sweetening the pot to the tune of $20,000.
Hackers could win that twenty large and a CR-48 Chrome OS laptop if they succeed on the first day, compromising a 64-bit system via vulnerabilities found in Google's code. On the second and third days, Google offers $10,000. Event sponsors TippingPoint ZDI are offering the same amount for non-Google exploits.
Google is so confident because of the way Chrome is 'sandboxed'. HTML and JavaScript processes are isolated, and each tab is boxed-in separately from the rest of the computer. That means that even if hackers find a bug to exploit, they have to find a way out of the sandbox to actually attack the rest of the system. Escaping the sandbox is so tough hackers shied away from Chrome completely in previous years.
Internet Explorer, Safari, and Firefox will be tested too, potentially earning successful hackers $15,000 from Microsoft, Apple or Mozilla.
Hackers will also be let loose on a selection of mobile devices. The Dell Venue Pro, Apple iPhone 4, BlackBerry Torch 9800 and Google Nexus S by Samsung smart phones will represent the Windows Phone 7, iOS, BlackBerry 6 and Android operating systems. Hackers must be able to compromise data from the phone.
Pwn2Own 2011 takes place on 9 March.
Image: Google Chrome comic by Scott McCloud
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Comments 6
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Anonymous 5 February, 2011 16:46
hahhaha omg Chrome cant be hacked ive tryed hundreds of times its literally impossible
but all these mobile devices can be hacked with ease hahahah
Anonymous 5 February, 2011 19:32
Nothing is unhackable.
anonymous 6 February, 2011 13:06
HA!
This is what I love to see, rewarding people with technical skill, "hackers", rather than vilifying them for having the tallent.
Anonymous 7 February, 2011 11:14
Go to Toolbar type Chrome:HACKED
and go to your local host 127.0.0.1 open port number 1723and use the port to browse . Once u are using the port you will see many Vulnerabilities if i am wrong bash me up
Anonymous 7 February, 2011 13:07
alert("that is so cool")
anonymous 7 February, 2011 14:14
Anonymous, vulnerabilities are one thing - actually compromising the computer is another