Google Offers $1 Million For Chrome Exploits

PatPending writes with news that Google will be offering up to $1 million for the discovery of new exploits in their Chrome browser. This comes as part of the CanSecWest security conference, and the rewards will be broken down into categories: $60,000 for an exploit using only Chrome bugs, $40,000 for an exploit using a Chrome bug in conjunction with other bugs, and $20,000 for exploits that affect Chrome (and other browsers) but are due to bugs in other software, like Flash, Windows, or drivers. Google had originally planned to offer rewards through the Pwn2Own competition, but they were concerned by the contest rules: "Unfortunately, we decided to withdraw our sponsorship when we discovered that contestants are permitted to enter Pwn2Own without having to reveal full exploits (or even all of the bugs used!) to vendors. Full exploits have been handed over in previous years, but it’s an explicit non-requirement in this year’s contest, and that’s worrisome. ... We guarantee to send non-Chrome bugs to the appropriate vendor immediately."

Comments

Re:The question is, do you fell lucky?

[Trepidity]

It definitely makes it an easy decision for anyone not already in contact with organized crime, anyway. If you don't already know who to talk to, the odds that you can find someone to pay you money substantially topping $20-60k for an exploit without it being a cop or a fraudster are pretty low. You might find some random local spammer to pay you a few $k, but the people who would pay you $100k+ for an exploit aren't just hanging around everywhere.

Re:Return On Investment

[Anonymous Coward]

Probably, but full disclosure of vulnerabilities has a substantially lower chance of lower chance of leading to you getting repeatedly anally raped. I can't put an exact dollar amount on what that's worth, but it's pretty damn high.