Hackers crack OS X, Windows, web browsers' security to net $460,000

Researchers pulled off multiple OS X, Windows and web browser exploits at the latest Pwn2Own competition. White hat hackers earned $460,000 in prizes for finding and exploiting 21 security vulnerabilities in widely used software. Details of the flaws were privately shared with vendors so that their code that can be fixed and …

[Field Commander A9]

What you might not know:

There're only 5 teams in this year's event, 4 of them are from China(2 teams from Tencent and 2 teams from QiHoo 360). The other one is a one-man-team from Korean.

[Will Godfrey]

Re: What you might not know:

Tells a rather sad story doesn't it?

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: What you might not know:

Presumably that also explains the rather narrow range of targets.

[jason 7]

Is this coming to a close?

Virtually zero coverage or build up to this event in the tech press I read. In years past its always got quite a build up and daily reports etc.

Seems the west has given up on it.

[Shane8]

really?

"widely used software"...and "adobe flash" in the same sentence ?

[Destroy All Monsters]

Re: really?

Sadly ....

[John Smith 19]

So $500k on hand for people who can use good tools and their brains

Sounds like a contest more people should know about.

[John Brown (no body)]

The prize for hacking Flash...

...was, I assume, to pay money INTO the prize fund?

[regadpellagru]

MS edge

"Microsoft Edge twice"

While Flash being hacked doesn't come as a surprise to anyone, as it's complete rubbish, Edge seems a bit of a surprise. Is it not meant to be the secure web browser IE never was ? I guess MS didn't get it right this time either, which is largely confirmed by every IE 5 to 11/Edge patches I see coming every week.

[CheesyTheClown]

Re: MS edge

Theoretically impossible to secure a web browser.

In all honesty, Edge (and I'm no fan of Edge) is holding up pretty well for software which is so massive and so new. Having worked for years as a browser developer, I can't possibly imagine many good ways to both implement functionality as well as harden a browser except through a reactive method of closing holes once they are found.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: MS edge

You see ie 5 patches every week? Wow I'm impressed