Hackers Compete to Create the Most Insidious Code
Usually, hackathons and other programming contests call on software developers to build something that’s reasonably useful, perhaps even something that makes the world a better place. But the Underhanded C Contest is a little different. It calls on developers to create something that’s deliciously malicious.
The goal of the contest is to create a piece of code that performs some sort of nasty activity but looks harmless even under scrutiny. If the malicious activity is discovered at all, it should look like an honest mistake rather than a deliberate attempt at causing problems. Winners will take home a $200 gift certificate to the online store ThinkGeek.
The contest is part of ever-growing number of competitions that seek to turn computer programming into a game — and identify top talent. The Underhanded C Contest just happens to identify talent through maliciousness. The contest was started in 2005 by Binghamton University professor and security expert Scott Craver, who funds the thing out of his own pocket, and a group called the Digital Asset Protection Association will help judge the results.
