Google Bets $20k Against the Field at 2011 Pwn2Own

Google has announced plans to pay $20,000 to anyone who can successfully exploit a vulnerability in their Chrome browser and infiltrate a Cr-48 Chrome Notebook.

Google’ is offering the cash prize as part of Zero Day Initiative’s Pwn2POwn contest which will be taking place March 9-11 during the 2011 CanSecWest conference in Vancouver. Google was willing to make such a wager after a triumphant 2010 at Pwn2Own where no one even attempted to hack their Chrome browser. However, 2011 could be different as a cash prize of this magnitude is likely to place a big target on Google’s browser.

Pwn2Own is an annual hacking contest in its fifth year.  It pits the world’s top security researchers and hackers against popular Web browsers and widely-used mobile devices. Last year was a big one for the contest with three of four browsers successfully hacked and Dutch hacker Peter Vreugdenhill compromising a fully patched 64-bit Windows 7 machine for the win using a pair of zero-day vulnerabilities. This year promises to be even bigger with a total prize allotment of $125,000 and Vreugdenhill back as an official judge.

The Web browser targets will be the latest releases of Internet Explorer, Safari, Firefox, and Chrome. A successful hack of IE, Firefox, or Safari will result in a cash prize of $15,000.

The targeted Mobile Devices will be the Dell Venue, iPhone 4, Blackberry Torch 9800, and the Nexus S.

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