Google Pays Cash to Hackers for Finding Web Security Flaws

For security researchers who find flaws in Internet services like Gmail, Blogger and YouTube, Google will reward $500 or more per bug. Vulnerabilities that are "severe or unusually clever" pay up to $3,133.70. Optionally, benevolent hackers can also donate their rewards to charity, in which case Google will match the winnings at its discretion.

Bug-hunting researchers will also be credited on Google's security page.

To keep Web services running smoothly, Google is excluding bugs caused by denial of service attacks and search optimization tricks. Technologies recently acquired by Google are also off-limits.

In the future, Google said it may expand the program to client applications such as Android, Picasa and Google desktop.

ON DEMAND: In this webinar, Regina Lester, Vice President of Security & Safety Operations at Toledo Zoo, will share her insights on implementing security technologies in the entertainment sector and the challenges all organizations face — large and small — when it comes to balancing budget and security.