Hackers offered cash for shoring up Microsoft IT security
Written by James West
Microsoft has created an ethical hacking programme, with a six-figure reward up for grabs for the individual who contributes the best ideas for improving the IT security industry.
The Microsoft BlueHat contest is offering $200,000 to the person who builds the next generation “security defence technology”, while the second prize is worth $50,000.
Microsoft says the aim of the contest is to unearth talent that could create “new ideas for defensive approaches to computer security”. It is, says the Redmond-software giant, part of its commitment to create a more secure computing experience for its customers.
Although overshadowed by the technology hype generated by Apple and Google in recent years, Microsoft is still the clear market leader in the operating system space, with the majority of the world’s PCs using Windows. This makes the software the biggest target and the most vulnerable to hackers, demanding extreme moves like this to try to shore up IT security.
The struggle to stay ahead of the next generation of coders is well documented, with cases of strong attacks on high profile brands such as Sony growing in frequency, creating a universal headache for IT managers.