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Microsoft pays out $28K to IE 11 exploit hunters

Six researchers win cash prizes for finding a total of 15 bugs in the preview version of Internet Explorer 11.

Dara Kerr Former senior reporter
Dara Kerr was a senior reporter for CNET covering the on-demand economy and tech culture. She grew up in Colorado, went to school in New York City and can never remember how to pronounce gif.
Dara Kerr
Microsoft
Microsoft recently launched a bounty-hunting program for researchers to find bugs, security flaws, and vulnerabilities in the preview version of Internet Explorer 11. And, now, a handful of hunters have come to claim their prize.

A total of six researchers have found 15 vulnerabilities within the preview version of Internet Explorer 11. And, Microsoft has paid them more than $28,000 to date.

Microsoft announced its month-long bug bounty program for IE 11 in June. The company's goal is to stamp out security vulnerabilities in its software as early on as possible. Microsoft offered researchers up to $11,000 per critical exploit found.

IE 11 is an integral part of Windows 8.1 while at the same time it will most likely be a target for hackers and malware writers. For Microsoft, getting the security vulnerabilities squashed earlier rather than later is its primary motivation.

IE 11 for Windows 8 is scheduled to ship with Windows 8.1 on October 18.

(Via Neowin)