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Microsoft Corp.’s Trustworthy Computing Group announced today a competition for the development of new computer security protection technologies. The contest includes more than $250,000 in cash and prizes.
The BlueHat Prize competition is designed to generate new ideas for cybersecurity and mitigation technologies to prevent the exploitation of memory safety vulnerabilities.
“As the risk of criminal attacks on private and government computer systems continues to increase, Microsoft recognizes the need to stimulate research in the area of defensive computer security technology,” said Matt Thomlinson, general manager of the company’s Trustworthy Computing Group. “Our interest is to promote a focus on developing innovative solutions rather than discovering individual issues. We believe the BlueHat Prize can catalyze defensive efforts to help mitigate entire classes of attacks.”
According to Microsoft, the top three winners in the BlueHat Prize competition will earn more than $250,000 in cash and prizes: $200,000 for the grand prize, $50,000 for second place and an MSDN Universal subscription valued at $10,000 for third place.
“Microsoft wants to encourage more security experts to think about ways to reduce threats to computing devices,” said Katie Moussouris, senior security strategist lead for the Microsoft Security Response Center. “We’re looking to collaborate with others to build solutions to tough industry problems.”
“We believe the BlueHat Prize will encourage the world’s most talented researchers and academics to tackle key security challenges and offer them a chance to impact the world,” she added.
Contest submissions will be accepted until Sunday, April 1, 2012. A panel of Microsoft security engineers will judge submissions based on the idea’s practicality and functionality, robustness and impact.
