Google's Chrome OS partially hacked
Summary: While the Linux-based operating system wasn't really cracked at Pwnium, Google has decided to award a hacker $40,000 for finding an unreliable Chrome OS exploit.
As computer security guru Bruce Schneier likes to say, "security is a process, not a product". He was proven right again when Google announced that, while its Linux-based Chrome OS hadn't been cracked in its Pwnium Chrome OS contest, one hacker was successful in creating an unreliable exploit.
Specifically, the hacker known as Pinkie Pie, who cracked the Chrome web browser on Windows last year in Google's security contest, "submitted a plausible bug chain involving video parsing, a Linux kernel bug, and a config file error. The submission included an unreliable exploit demonstrating one of the bugs."
Google also thanked him "for honoring the spirit of the competition by disclosing a partial exploit at the deadline, rather than holding on to bugs in lieu of an end-to-end exploit. This means that we can find fixes sooner, target new hardening measures, and keep users safe."
For this, Pie was awarded $40,000. A true browser- or system-level compromise would have been worth $110,000, and one that persisted after a reboot would have brought a talented hacker $150.000.
Google released a new version of Chrome OS, 25.0.1364.173, which patched these potential problems on March 15. We don't know exactly what these bugs were. The exact details are only available, at this time, to Chromium developers. We do know that one had to do with an overflow in the Graphic Processor Unit process, and the other involved the Time-of-Check/Time-of-Use and counting overflows in Intel i915 graphics driver.
That said, Google, well aware of Schneier's rule, added that, "While these security gatherings and live competitions are fun, we also want to highlight the ongoing Chromium Vulnerability Reward Program, which covers not only the Chrome desktop browser, but also all Chrome OS components and Chrome on mobile devices. We've given away more than $900,000 in rewards over the years and we're itching to give more, as engaging the security community is one of the best ways to keep all internet users safe."
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Talkback
Kudos to all involved
Oh....
Google is incompitent for allowing this to happen.
This is a indicator for a competent Google
Who's products will be more secure in the future?
In this case
Chrome has no commercial significance, so they don't care.
Lord of the Rings
Chromebooks selling worst than the Suface
How did you miss that one SJVN?
But chromebooks are great... it will kill windows 8 hahaha you're funny.
Wow, if true, that's really bad news
sales strong enough
Just a rumor
The Articles comments seem to indicate that it is just true of the Pixel (a Cloud Only device priced higher than most laptops).
The biggest problem reported for Chromebooks is that there is more demand than there is production. There is a waiting list. That would be only true for the low end ones, though. Samsung and Acer have been selling all they can make. Stores don't have them on the shelves for very long either.
From that, you can make your own deductions. As there aren't really a whole lot of Chromebooks made, you could decide either way.
For me, it sounds like Google has a hit. It is though a hit I don't need.
Maybe because "Unnamed sources=Unreliable sources"
"Unnamed sources have told Digitimes that sales of Google Chromebooks have only totaled around 500,000 so far, which gives the Chrome OS less than a 1% share of the notebook market."
The numbers reported by SJVN were from a named source: Amazon. Maybe your 'Unnamed source" conveniently forgot to include Amazon sales?
How did you miss that one?
i did not see any buzz about chromebooks
Ha
I think the unnamed sources are Phil Schiller and Steve Balmer.
Seriously, think about it, Samsung flat out took a dump on Windows 8 but, never made a single sound about their chromebook sales. So, why do you suppose that is?
WRONG .... most schools purchased ONE for testing ...
This was was discussed to hell and ignorant are still claiming schools made huge purchases.
That's not accurate
If people stand in line for a product and it sells out
when you write and explain something at someone..
"They sell out at Best Buy and sell well at Amazon..."
That seems unlikely
Of course, Amazon isn't the entire market, but these stats are so far from what that "sales rumor" claims that I don't take it seriously.
Stupid Upper Class US CEO's
mm'kay...