Microsoft gives London hacker $100,000 prize for reporting bug in Windows 8.1
A London hacker has been given $100,000 by Microsoft for finding a security flaw in its Windows software – and he’s decided to give it to his employer.
James Forshaw, who works in the London office of IT security firm Context, found a loophole in Microsoft’s new Windows 8.1 service that allowed malicious hackers to infect a computer or steal personal information.
After telling Microsoft about the bug he was handed a $100,000 reward by the computer giant, the biggest ever prize awarded by Microsoft for reporting a software flaw.
But Forshaw says he plans to give most of the windfall to Context to help maintain his research team, as he discovered the bug while at work.
Forshaw said: “I would expect to get some part as a bonus however, but I have yet to determine what I will spend it on, something for the girlfriend probably.”
He added that he felt a "sense of satisfaction" helping improve Windows security.
Announcing the prize, Microsoft praised the quality of Forshaw’s work and said the submission would allow the company to protect users against “entire classes of attack”.
Forshaw is a so-called 'white hacker', a computer whizz who tried to break into systems in order to find ways to tighten their security!
The reward is part of Microsoft’s bounty program, a scheme which pays money out for the submission of security related software bugs. Many IT and technology companies run similar programmes.
After telling Microsoft about the bug he was handed a $100,000 reward by the computer giant, the biggest ever prize awarded by Microsoft for reporting a software flaw.
But Forshaw says he plans to give most of the windfall to Context to help maintain his research team, as he discovered the bug while at work.
Forshaw said: “I would expect to get some part as a bonus however, but I have yet to determine what I will spend it on, something for the girlfriend probably.”
He added that he felt a "sense of satisfaction" helping improve Windows security.
Announcing the prize, Microsoft praised the quality of Forshaw’s work and said the submission would allow the company to protect users against “entire classes of attack”.
Forshaw is a so-called 'white hacker', a computer whizz who tried to break into systems in order to find ways to tighten their security!
The reward is part of Microsoft’s bounty program, a scheme which pays money out for the submission of security related software bugs. Many IT and technology companies run similar programmes.
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