Google is very confident that their web browser, Chrome, cannot be hacked and is willing to shell out $20,000 cash as well as a Chrome CR-48 notebook to the first person who can prove they can crack their system. The competition is held as part of the fifth annual Pwn2Own hacking competition which will be held next month on March 9 at the CanSacWest security conference in Vancouver, Canada.
Cracking the Chrome browser will be very difficult because it uses a security mechanism called a “sandbox.” This security feature basically isolates system processes and provides a segregated tightly-controlled set of resources for guest programs or scripts to run on so that they are unable to impact the core browser. This makes the ability to inspect the host system either not allowed or heavily restricted. This means that to crack Chrome, you must crack the sandbox first and exploit the code it itself executed.
The $20,000 reward that Google is offering at the annual Pwn2Own contest is the largest ever offered. Perhaps this show of audacity is due to the fact that their web browser, Chrome, has remained unscathed in the past 2 years, which, unlike Safari, Internet Explorer, and Firefox who have had their fair share of attacks at the Pwn2Own contest. Maybe this year, the $20,000 pot is sufficient enough into motivating hackers to crack Chrome’s protective shell.
Along with Google Chrome at the Pwn2Own are Microsoft’s Internet Explorer, Apple’s Safari Browser, and Mozilla’s Firefox with which contenders can also try to hack. The latter three have offered $15,000 dollars on whoever can first successfully hack their web browsers.
Registration for the contest is up until February 15, 2011 only. For more information and instructions regarding this contest, kindly visit the Tipping Point website.
What do you think?
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
Twitter: melvinblog
February 6, 2011 at 4:24 pm
Hmmm.. $20,000 is good enough for a lot of people to at least give it a try.. I would give a try too.
Melvin recently posted..Making Money from Ads- Overrated or Underrated
Hi Melvin,
It sure is a hefty sum of a reward – and to think Google is so confident of it. I don’t have the slightest idea on how to hack something, so best of luck to you
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..4 Simple Tips on How to Keep Yourself Safe Online
I use Firefox instead of Chrome. I have Chrome and Opera installed with Explorer, but use Firefox the most by far.
The 20 grand offered by Google is chump change, compared to the publicity this will buy them.
Chris recently posted..Love Is Blind – Trying To Break Bad Relationships
Hi Chris,
I also use Firefox most of the time. If there are problems, I’d go for Chrome.
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..The New Microsoft Touch Mouse Unveiled
To be honest I don’t think $20,000 is a lot for Google to offer seeing as they’re worth so much! But I guess it’d make a nice little project for someone who thinks they can hack into Chrome! I don’t know how secure it is but Google must be quite assured if they’re offering money on it!
Harriet recently posted..The Debt Snowball Technique
Hi Harriet,
I think it’s still quite a large sum for just being able to hack into Chrome. Most hackers usually hack into something just for fun, without any rewards or even cash incentives. It sure is a challenge that Google is so confident of – but we won’t know what will happen until it ends (registration is Feb. 15, 2011).
(Oh, please do get yourself a Gravatar photo. Please kindly read my comments policy on the rightmost part of this page. I’ll let this one off for now. I believe I’ve already told you on my reply to your last comment on a previous post – but I bet you didn’t read it)
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..The Pros and Cons of Working at Home
Twitter: callcenterguy75
February 7, 2011 at 8:07 am
Wow! Google is way too confident. But from what I know in the computer world. “There’s always a way”.
Dennis recently posted..A New Title for My Blog
Hi Dennis,
Yup, Google is very confident and they are enticing us (especially the expert ones who know how to hack) by means of offering 20,000 bucks – which I think is a very great incentive.
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..iPad 2 Rumors
Ha, it will only be a matter of time before Google is 20k bucks shorter
Edwin recently posted..How To UnTether Jailbreak Your 421 iPhone- iPod Touch- or iPad
Hi Edwin,
I agree, sooner or later Google is going to really shell out that cash as well as a Chrome CR-48 notebook.
Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..Blogger’s Fatigue – Its Causes and How to Fight Them Part I
Twitter: ronniedare
February 7, 2011 at 4:29 pm
Thanks for sharing this one Johanna. First heard this kind of contest here at your blog. For sure, Google already done some testing and even asked some notable hackers out there to check their security settings before sending out this kind of competition or contest. But then again, its another way of making a brand name and lifting up more Chrome to the browser marketplace right? Clever clever Google.
Ron@Filipino Blogger recently posted..Filipino Tattoos
Hi Ron,
Glad to know I was the first one to inform you about Google’s 20K challenge. I think it’s part of their strategy to know if their security measures are really that secure or it can be figured out by hackers.
On the part of Google giving more exposure to Chrome, I guess maybe you’re right on that part.
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..Blogger’s Fatigue – Its Causes and How to Fight Them Part II
Twitter: ronniedare
February 8, 2011 at 7:54 am
IMHO, It is like hitting two birds with one stone: one is like what you have said, its an effective way to check out flaws and glitch at their product and two, a good brand building and promotional strategy for their product.
Ron@Filipino Blogger recently posted..Most Wanted Highly Anticipated Games Of 2011
Hi Ron,
I totally agree with all that you said! If ever someone successfully hacks into Chrome, I sure would like to know how. However, I doubt Google will inform the public about the details how Chrome was hacked if that does happen.
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..The Pros and Cons of Working at Home
Google sounds very confident however in the programming world hackers are great programmers and google should not be encouraging this but i gaurantee this will happen at some point who knows the winner might get a job at Google lets wait and see
lawmacs recently posted..Round Up Featuring Seo
Hi Gary,
Welcome to my blog! I agree that Google is kind of encouraging hacking with this challenge of theirs. It’s just a matter of time that someone will be able to get that reward.
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..The New Microsoft Touch Mouse Unveiled
Twitter: danalingga
February 8, 2011 at 10:20 pm
Very Interesting! I believe that the $20000 prize show how confidence the Google that the Chrome system is very secure. However, let’s see how the hacker will do it.
Dana @ Tablet PC Info recently posted..Google’s Tablet PC optimized Android OS is Very Close Now
Hi Dana,
It sure is very confident of Google, huh? It’s also quite a daring challenge to all hackers worldwide. I sure would like to know how the hacker will do it if he/she can successfully hack into Chrome.
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..URL Shorteners and their Security Issues
I think it would get cracked, its a win win situation. Google will test and repair Chrome’s weaknesses and some lucky dude will win a lot of money.
Ali Mujtaba recently posted..Symptoms Of Tinnitus
Hi Ali,
It’s really a win-win situation, although their method is kind of encouraging hacking, don’t you think? The one who could successfully hack into Chrome surely is gifted and is definitely going to be 20,000 bucks richer!
Thanks for commenting! Come back soon..
Johanna recently posted..Fun Facts You May not Know about the New Year
Not only 20.000 bucks richer, maybe google will also offer him/her a job. lol
Ali Mujtaba recently posted..Causes Of Tinnitus
Hi Ali,
I guess that would most likely happen
Johanna recently posted..Conventional vs Conversational English when Commenting on Blogs
They really are that confident? Google Chrome might be the best browser out there in the market and it would be amazing to see someone crack the” sandbox” code. Easiest way you can get $20000 these days.