Google offers $20,000 for Chrome hack

February 3, 2011 By Jeffrey Van Camp

Google is ready to put its money where its mouth is. The company is offering $20,000 to any hacker that can exploit Chrome at the Pwn2Own contest.

As part of its continuing efforts to secure its browser, Google is challenging hackers to try and exploit its Chrome browser. The search giant will fork out $20,000 and a CR-48 Chrome OS notebook to the first hacker to exploit Chrome at the fifth annual Pwn2Own hacking contest, which takes place from March 9-11. The contest is a part of the CanSecWest security conference held in Vancouver, British Colombia.

This is the first time any browser maker has added prize money and the first time Google has participated, according to TippingPoint, which is sponsoring the event. Google’s contribution came after the company learned that its Chrome browser wouldn’t be included in the competition due to its similarity to Apple’s Safari browser (both run on Webkit, an open source browser engine). Last year, Chrome performed best among all the browsers in the competition, reports The Register.

In addition to Google’s contribution, $105,000 in prizes will be given by Pwn2Own to those who successfully hack varying browsers and mobile devices. Cracking Internet Explorer, Safari, or Firefox will net successful hackers $15,000. Prizes for hacking Windows Phone 7, iPhone 4, BlackBerry 6 OS, or Android will also win exploiters $15,000 plus a device running the operating system.

“Similarly to last year the competition will focus on two main technologies: web browsers and mobile devices,” writes Aaron Portnoy, manager of the security research team at TippingPoint. ”Staying true to the original intent of the Pwn2Own contest we intend to empirically demonstrate the current security posture of the most prevalent products in use today.”

Google appears fairly confident in its Chrome browser. It will be interesting to see how it fares against the competition this year. This is also the first year Windows Phone 7 will be competing. Is Microsoft’s fledgling OS ready for the competition?

Update: Made some updates to the headline and body to clarify points of the story and added an additional source.

Showing 7 comments

ChrisA25 at 11:08am 3rd February 2011 Cracking mobile devices is a more real challenge! Chris, http://www.peoresources.com/
Julius at 8:12am 3rd February 2011 You do not know much about the android os. I would not call it an open source, but many people edit it with permission.
udumas at 7:53am 3rd February 2011 Prizes for cracking Windows Phone 7, iPhone 4, BlackBerry 6 OS, or Android will also win exploiters $15,000 plus a device running the operating system. Two sentences later Google appears fairly confident in its Chrome browser. Hopefully it is as secure as the search company believes. Interestingly though, it offered up no money to those who could exploit Android. Does Google not believe in the security of its mobile OS? Huh? Read your own article, Twit.
1. id10t at 8:03am 3rd February 2011 Before you start name calling, perhaps you should read the article. The prize money for hacking Android is not being offered by Google which is still correct.
2. Tangent at 8:15am 3rd February 2011 The way I read the article, anyone who hacks Chrome will be paid the $15,000 that anyone who hacks Safari, Firefox, etc will receive, PLUS Google will throw in an additional $20,000. Google isn't offering their own $20,000 for Android...
3. red_foxx15 at 8:16am 3rd February 2011 The prize money for cracking the mobile OS's is not offered by the companies itself but rather the people hosting the contest. Google offered up additional cash for cracking Chrome OS.
  1. Jeffrey Van Camp at 8:36am 3rd February 2011 Sorry for the confusion guys. I'll re-edit a bit to make it more clear. TippingPoint is offering the $15,000. Google is only forking over the $20,000 for the Chrome contest.