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US Government Offers $25,000 Prize For Inventing A Way To Secure IoT Devices (ftc.gov)
An anonymous reader writes:
America's Federal Trade Commission has announced a $25,000 prize for whoever creates the best tool for securing consumers' IoT devices. The so-called "IoT Home Inspector Challenge" asks participants to create something that will work on current, already-on-the-market IoT devices, with extra points also awarded for scalability ad easy of use.
"Contestants have the option of adding features, such as those that would address hard-coded, factory default, or easy-to-guess passwords," according to the official site, but "The tool would, at a minimum, help protect consumers from security vulnerabilities caused by out-of-date software." The winning submission can't be just a policy (or legal) solution, and will be judged by a panel which includes two computer science professors and a vulnerability researcher from Carnegie Mellon University's CERT Coordination Center.
Computerworld points out that "This isn't the first time the FTC has offered cash for software tools. In 2015, it awarded $10,500 to developers of an app that could block robocalls."
"Contestants have the option of adding features, such as those that would address hard-coded, factory default, or easy-to-guess passwords," according to the official site, but "The tool would, at a minimum, help protect consumers from security vulnerabilities caused by out-of-date software." The winning submission can't be just a policy (or legal) solution, and will be judged by a panel which includes two computer science professors and a vulnerability researcher from Carnegie Mellon University's CERT Coordination Center.
Computerworld points out that "This isn't the first time the FTC has offered cash for software tools. In 2015, it awarded $10,500 to developers of an app that could block robocalls."
I liked this part near the bottom of the rules (12 f.)
"The Sponsor reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions of the official rules at any time, including the rights or obligations of the Contestants and the Sponsor.
So kids, Hurry and send in your multi-million dollar product in good working order and we'll give you a pittance and introduce you to the civil legal system!
You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
I liked this part near the bottom of the rules (12 f.)
"The Sponsor reserves the right to amend the terms and conditions of the official rules at any time, including the rights or obligations of the Contestants and the Sponsor.
So kids, Hurry and send in your multi-million dollar product in good working order and we'll give you a pittance and introduce you to the civil legal system!
Your legal analysis is correct.
I once heard a freelance writer give a talk on writing contracts, and she described the worst contract (for the writer) she had ever seen. It was the Redbook "Writing contest."
Redbook readers were invited to submit short story manuscripts, the winners would get a pittance (and the honor of being the winner), and Redbook would own all the rights.
I realized that Redbook was basically asking people to submit stories on spec, in the hope that they would be chosen out of thousands of entries. If they were chosen, Redbook would own the work, and give them a small fee to print it.
That's what contests are. They ask you to work for nothing, compete with thousands of people, and if they like yours better than all the others, they'll own the work and give you a modest payment.
Spending 6 months or a year (or even a month) for $25,000 -- if they feel like it -- isn't a great deal.
If the FTC wants to secure IOT devices, let them hire a staff to work on it. Or let them award competitive grants.