Think you can crack 
chrome operating system?
Google offers '$3.14159m'
prize
Calling all
hackers
Google is so confident af the security on its
Chrome operating system it is offering $3.14159 million (S$3.9
million) in cash rewards for successful hacks of the system at this
year's Pwnium hacking contest.
The figure is a nod to pi, an irrational number
that has intrigued mathematicians for thousands of years.
The tech giant had previously offered rewards of $1
million and $2 million to crack its systems.
The most likely outcome is that multiple backs
momentarily compromise the system, with several contestants earning
up to $100,000 each, or $150,000 should their hack survive a system
reboot.
For a hack to count, it must be delivered via
webpages on a basic-model Samsung-550 Chrome book over a Wi-Fi
connection.
"We believe these larger rewards reflect the
additional challenge involved with tackling the security defences
of Chrome OS, compared to traditional operating systems," Google
Chrome developer Chris Evans wrote.
Google's previous contests - CanSecWest 2012 and
Hack in the Box - focused on compromising the Chrome browser but
not the same-named OS.
Pwnium was started last year as an alternative to
the Pwn2Own contest, after the latter temporarily changed its rules
so that successful hackers did not have to show their methods.
For some commercial hackers who only sell their
secrets to the highest bidder, the change was welcome.
For Pwnium, contests can keep their true identities
a secret. A teenager identified only as Pinkie Pie - a name shared
by a My Little Pony Character - has won $60,000 at each Pwnium.
While Google calls Chrome OS its most secure
operating system, its market share is so small that it hasn't yet
faced a real world field test
The Pwn20wn prize for cracking the Chrome browser
is $100,000, but only $60,000 for Firefox and $65,000 for Safari.
Internet Explorer running on Windows 8 wins $100,000 and IE 9 on
Windows 7 nets $75,000.
Pwn20wn winners also get to keep the laptops
provided for the contests.
Pwnium organisers have not said whether winners
will be able to leave with their Chromebooks, but since Google
reportedly sells each of the machines for a relatively inexpensive
$450, it is unlikely the company Will lose sleep over the
losses.
Google has never once paid out the full amount
offered for a Chrome browser crack.
The New Paper On Sunday, 3 February 2013, Pg 24
