Google is showing a growing interest in the possibility of hacking its Chrome browser this year. It has offered a prize of up to $1 million for a successful hack, in exchange for which it wants to know how the hackers managed it. We have seen this tactic employed before by Facebook who offered pre-loaded credit cards to hackers. But it seems that everyone is interested in taking down Chrome, with hackers wanting the prestige and not the money.

Software testing is important to ensure that products are market ready when they go to production. Too many businesses have become notorious for faulty products and broken software. Software testing is an in demand skill, and many businesses are looking to employ accredited testers. We offer ISEB and ISTQB accredited software testing training courses from Foundation to Advanced level.

Hacking Competitions

Competitions are a popular way for testers to meet up and test their skills with the limits of the law. Contestants are encouraged to hack products and if successful receive the product they have hacked and/or a cash incentive.

At this year’s Pwn2Own hacking competition at CanSecWest, Google Chrome was the first piece of technology defeated. Chrome had resisted all attempts at hacking in last year’s competition, which makes the winning time of five minutes, by a group of French hackers known as Vupen, all the more impressive.

Google Chrome had, in fact, been the only browser left standing at the 2011 Pwn2Own, which may explain why hackers were so eager to take it down. Chaouki Bekrar, the research head and co-founder of Vupen, told ZDNet, “We wanted to show that Chrome was not unbreakable. Last year we saw a lot of headlines that no one could hack Chrome. We wanted to make sure it was the first to fall this year.” Read the rest of "Google Offers $1 Million for Chrome Hack, Broken Within An Hour"

News stories like this show how important software testing is for security. Software defects have the potential to cost a business far more than its reputation. Hackers can take advantage of software defects to blackmail businesses for financial gain. Here’s an example of this practice in real life from our guest blogger Alex Smith…

A group of hackers has attempted to blackmail security software company, Symantec in exchange for keeping stolen source code private.

The hackers released a batch of emails to the public that were sent from the FBI posing as Sam Thomas a representative of Symantec.

Officers from the FBI offered the hackers $50,000 or £32,000 in return for the stolen source code. Since negotiations have broken down more source code has been released which is obviously a major concern for Symantec and their customers.

Symantec have been working closely with the FBI after being contacted by the hackers in January.

Our Software Testing Training courses are all accredited to provide delegates with an industry recognised software testing qualification. Get a foot in the door of the software testing industry by learning the best practice approach through ISEB/ ISTQB courses.

It is believed that the hackers are affiliated with the Lords of Dharmaraja who are part of the hacking group Anonymous. Read the rest of "Hackers Attempt To Blackmail Symantec"

As businesses look for software that meets the demands of a modern working environment, they are increasingly using cloud computing and mobile technology. Cloud computing really took off in 2011: