Summary

  • Major tech giants like Google pay researchers for finding vulnerabilities in their products.

  • Google is shutting down the Google Play Security Reward Program on August 31, 2024.

  • It will review all submitted reports before the program ends, though payouts can take a few weeks.

  • SpacePirate@lemmy.ml
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    4 months ago

    It’s not like the malicious actors have stopped looking… If they are finding fewer vulnerabilities, it sounds to me they should be paying more.

    • The_v@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      “Due to the success of the program, vulnerabilities are harder to find. The amount we are paying is now insufficient to justify the time and effort for most researchers.”

      One year later…

      “The largest security breach ever has occured for Google…”

  • Moonrise2473@feddit.it
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    4 months ago

    Translation: we really need more money to pay a bonus of some hundreds of millions to the CEO

  • limerod@reddthat.comOPM
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    4 months ago

    Google is shutting down the program due to its improved security measures

    In its email, Google states that it is closing down the program because of the “overall increase in the Android OS security posture and feature hardening efforts.” This has led to researchers submitting fewer vulnerabilities than before.

    In its last annual report, Google claims to have stopped 2.28 million privacy-violating apps and banned 333,000 malicious developer accounts. Last year, it also announced major improvements to Google Play Protect, including real-time scanning for Android malware. More recently, it bolstered the Play Integrity API with in-app signals to prevent fraudulent activities.

    These improvements are evidently working and have led to fewer vulnerabilities being discovered in Android apps and the ecosystem.

    • TrickDacy@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      Seems kind of weird to me that they want to shut down a program because it worked too well. “we don’t want to pay people to find problems because we don’t have to pay them as much lately”

    • NarrativeBear@lemmy.world
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      4 months ago

      On another note all new homes and buildings no longer need fire alarms or sprinklers as deaths related to fire have gone down.

      Buildings are not burning down as much as they once did. So no need to spend money and time on fire safety and protection equipment. /s

  • mindlight@lemm.ee
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    4 months ago

    In its email, Google states that it is closing down the program because of the “overall increase in the Android OS security posture and feature hardening efforts.” This has led to researchers submitting fewer vulnerabilities than before.

    1. Vulnerabilities are found, which shows that the program is successful and needed.
    2. No vulnerabilities are found, no money will have to leave Google.

    Keeping the program will reap the benefits from both no. 1 and no.2 while closing down the program only enables no.2.

    Not hard to see the priorities here…

  • flop_leash_973@lemmy.world
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    4 months ago

    “It is so secure we don’t even need to check it anymore.”

    MBA idiot says right before something they are in charge of gets compromised because some hacker took such a statement as a challenge.