Pentagon-sanctioned hackers home in on 138 security gaps

[Zorro]

Source: Boston Herald

High-tech hackers brought in by the Pentagon to breach Defense Department websites were able to burrow in and find 138 different security gaps, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said yesterday.

The so-called white-hat hackers were turned loose on five public Pentagon internet pages and were offered various bounties if they could find unique vulnerabilities. The Pentagon says 1,410 hackers took part in the challenge and the first gap was identified just 13 minutes after the hunt began.

Overall, they found 1,189 vulnerabilities, but a review by the Pentagon determined that only 138 were valid and unique.

The experiment cost $150,000. Of that, about half was paid out to the hackers as bounties, including one who received the maximum prize of $15,000 for submitting a number of security gaps. Others received varying amounts, to as low as $100.

Read more: http://www.bostonherald.com/business/business_markets/2016/06/pentagon_sanctioned_hackers_home_in_on_138_security_gaps

[phazed0]

1. And this is how Email servers are hacked... nt

[MisterFred]

3. You mean they don't regularly do this?

Not in contest form... but for goodness' sake you'd think looking for vulnerabilities would be standard practice.

[whistler162]

4. IIRC.. .the last company I worked for

did it once a year tgo meet state requirements. Hired a outside firm to do a vulnerability test.

[Yourma]

5. Indict the Pentagon!

Drip drip or something.