Security researchers exploit various devices in Pwn2Own event
HP held its annual Mobile Pwn2Own competition in Tokyo, Japan from 11-12 November. The purpose of this event was for security researchers, developers and hackers to exploit various phones through some previously unknown bug and then report it to the respective handset maker so the vulnerability could be patched and fixed.
A prize pool of $425,000 (£271,000) was available to anyone who hacked into the phone's innards via an unknown bug and then gain comprehensive control over the phone in less than 30 minutes. Many devices were successfully exploited in the competition including the Apple iPhone 5S, Blackberry Z30, Amazon Fire phone, Google Nexus 7, Samsung Galaxy 5 and LG Nexus 5.
BBC News reports that five teams successfully used the bugs they had found to take over five devices. Three of the successes exploited NFC to give the attackers the ability to extract data at will from the phones. The other two attacks compromised a phone via its on-board web browser.
