Google Chrome is the Only Browser That Has Never Been Exploited

By | February 28, 2012
Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Google will pay you if you can exploit ChromeAbout 60% of you use Internet Explorer. And about 90% of you have heard about the new Google Privacy Policy. As we’ve said many times before — if you’re worrying about tracking cookies, you really need to stop. Worrying about advertisers tracking you and trying to sell you something is distracting. Tracking cookies which try to gather information about your tastes, likes and dislikes, for the purpose of trying to get you to buy something, is not inherently dangerous; using a browser than can be exploited by criminals or hackers is.

So here’s the question:  What is more dangerous to your privacy: a.) Tracking cookies? Or b.) An browser which can be exploited and manipulated by criminals and hooligans who create Web sites to take advantage of known vulnerabilities in your Web browser? If you answered “b” — you’re right. A toothpaste ad from DoubleClick might drop tracking cookies on your computer and you may see a lot of cosmetic-oriented ads, but the main purpose of tracking cookies isn’t to find out who you are or install keyloggers or botnets or Trojans on your computer; the purpose of tracking cookies is to show you ads you’re more likely to click on and buy something.

What’s the main purpose of exploiting your browser? Not to sell you legitimate products or show you ads you’re more likely to click on – the purpose of exploitation is almost always sinister. The miscreants who are devoted to exploiting your browser would love nothing more than to turn your computer into a spam-bot, or install a keylogger on your computer to record your key strokes (key strokes include keystrokes you make when you type in your home address, phone number, Social Security number, credit care numbers — and the like), or to control you computer to use in Denial of Service attacks against government sites or other site with whom the  misanthropes have a gripe or two.

As we’ve said so many times — while the bloggers and tech writers are whipping up a frenzy over tracking cookies — there are much more sinister activities going on you should be concerned about. And that’s why all the fuss over tracking-cookies is so dangerous: it distracts you from more important and vastly more dangerous things.

If you’re not using Google Chrome — you’re using an exploitable browser. That’s not opinion, that’ fact. Over the last six years, Google Chrome has offered money to any hacker who could exploit it. This year it’s offering a cash prizes to anyone who can exploit Google Chrome. Have you seen Microsoft offering  prize money and daring people to exploit Internet Explorer?

Anyway, I’m sure you’re going to want more information about the Google Chrome challenge. No one’s exploited Chrome over the last six years — and Google seems pretty sure no one will be able to exploit it this year either. Which browser should you use? Whichever one you want. But if you’re one of those who worries about tracking cookies and you use Internet Explorer — maybe you should give it some thought.

Google’s Giving $60,000 to Whoever Can Exploit Chrome

While both Safari and IE collapsed under the pressure from hackers at last year’s Pwn2Own contest, not one person was able to crack Chrome. This year, Google’s sweetening the pot with a million dollars in prizes to successful exploiters.

In fact, Chrome is the only browser in the contest’s six year history to not be exploited—like, at all. Therefore Google will hand out prizes of $60,000, $40,000, and $20,000 for contestants able to remotely commandeer a fully-patched browser running on Windows 7. Finding a “Full Chrome Exploit,” obtaining user account persistence using only bugs in the browser itself will net the $60k prize. Using webkits, flash, or a driver-based exploit can only earn the lesser amounts… read more here.

9 thoughts on “Google Chrome is the Only Browser That Has Never Been Exploited

  1. Mae

    I’m using chrome on one of my computers but I use firefox and internet Explorer because I like YOUR HOME PAGE
    I haven’t figured out how to insert your home page on Google Chrome.

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      Click the gear icon in the top right, click Options. On the “Basics” page (the first page you see), under On Start up, tick the radio button next to “Open the following pages” and type http://thundercloud.net/start/ . That’s all there is to it.

      Reply
  2. Gay

    I use both IE9 and Firefox browsers. I have heard of Google Chrome, but just never tried it as fairly happy with the two I’ve been using.

    I am not worried about tracking cookies, but was very interested to read your article stating Chrome had never been hacked. I think in another article you said Chrome is possibly faster than the other browsers as well. I will definitely try Chrome now; thanks for the information! Maybe I have a new browser!!

    Reply
  3. Pauline

    I downloaded google chrome and it took my menu and favorites bar out. So I had to go to add and remove and take google chrome out. now I’ve got my menu and favorites bar back. I am now using Internet Explorer. I am not afraid of cookies. I want to use google chrome but can’t because I have to have my menu and favorites bar I can’t do without it. I’ve tried twice to use google chrome and both times it tooke out my menu and favorites bar. Now T C if you can tell me how to have google chrome and keep my menu and favorites bar I will download google chrome immediately. I would love to use it.

    Pauline

    Reply
    1. Karen

      Not sure about the menu, but in regards to your favorites you can import all your favorites from the other browsers to Chrome.
      Just click on the wrench in the corner of the Chrome browser, click options,personal stuff, browsing data,import data from another browser.

      Reply
      1. infoave Post author

        I’ve installed Chrome on (really!) at least 50 computers and it has no affect on Internet Explorer’s menu bars or favorites or anything else. If menu bars are missing after installing Chrome then there are some serious Windows problems which need to be addressed.

        You’re right Karen — you can import all your favorites, browsing history, start pages, etc. from Firefox or Internet Explorer into Google Chrome. That being said — importing into Chrome does not remove them from the other browsers. Hence, it’s a good way to backup your favorites too.

        Reply
  4. infoave Post author

    Installing Chrome does not affect Internet Explorer’s menu bar or favorites or anything else, in any way.

    TC

    Reply
  5. Jann

    i think what pauline was talking about is that in chrome you don’t have the options of having the same menu and favorites bar that you do in IE. so, they’re “missing”. LOL i had to read what she was saying twice to understand, it’s also why i keep IE around. but chrome has been my primary browser for over a year and there’s still so much to learn about it.

    Reply
    1. infoave Post author

      You have the same options — they just don’t look the same. This allows Chrome to show more of the page you’re viewing. Google has a bookmarks folder and a bookmarks bar — if you want. Tools/Options are found by clicking the Wrench icon. Actually there are more options for Chrome.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to infoave Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *