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3Com to Buy Security Flaws?

Posted by Hemos on from the trying-new-models dept.

Zonoprh writes "CNET reports that 3Com's TippingPoint division is starting a pay-for-vulnerability program called the Zero Day Initiative. It seems 3Com plans to use the vulnerabilities they purchase to fuel signatures in their protection technologies, in addition to sharing the same data with other security vendors. From the article, "Money has increasingly become an incentive for hackers. Program's such as TippingPoint's offer a legitimate way for them to get paid for their bug hunting. There is also an underground market for vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals pay top dollar for previously undisclosed flaws that they can then exploit to break into computer systems, experts have said.""

5 of 105 comments (clear)

  1. Wow by truckaxle · · Score: 4, Funny

    I knew 3COM was big, but big enough to buy Microsoft? Wow!

  2. Obligatory comment by jurt1235 · · Score: 3, Funny

    If Microsoft would do this, they would go broke (-:

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    My wife's sketchblog Blob[p]: Gastrono-me
    1. Re:Obligatory comment by James+McGuigan · · Score: 2, Funny

      1. Deleberatly create security flaw in Windows
      2. Notify 3com of security flaw
      3. Wait 5 working days
      4. Profit

  3. Missing step found! by SkjeggApe · · Score: 3, Funny

    Step 1: Create popular, mission critical software that every business will want to install
    Step 2: Insert sneaky vulnerabilities
    Step 3: Sell bugs to 3COM
    Step 4: PROFIT!!!!

  4. Just had an idea... by OhHellWithIt · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe I could patent a vulnerability, then sell the patent to SCO.

    --
    "Who controls the past controls the future. Who controls the present controls the past." -- George Orwell