Google is quite intent on taking out the bugs by rewarding would-be hackers who successfully exploit its Chrome browser up to $2 million in prizes.
On Wednesday, Google announced plans for Pwnium 2, a hacking contest that will pay up to $60,000 for hacks that fully exploit the Chrome browser. The contest is slated to take place on Oct 10th, 2012 during the Hack in The Box security conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Smaller bonuses will be rewarded for exploits that are not fully dependent on Chrome bugs. For example a “Partial Chrome exploit” will bring in a bounty of $50,000, while a “Non-Chrome exploit” will be worth $40,000. Prizes will be awarded until the $2 million limit is reached.
“You may have noticed that we’ve compressed the reward levels closer together for Pwnium 2.” said Google software engineer Chris Evans. “This is in response to feedback, and reflects that any local account compromise is very serious. We’re happy to make the web safer by any means — even rewarding vulnerabilities outside of our immediate control.”