Google Offers $1M to Hackers, Goldman Gets Wells Notice: Hot Trends

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Popular searches on the Internet Wednesday include Google(GOOG) as the company announces it will offer $1 million in rewards to hackers who can infiltrate Chrome.

Google said it will pay hackers who are participating in the Pwnium hacking contest not only for infiltrating Chrome but for other targets as well. Google said it will pay $20,000 to any contestant who can hack Windows, Flash or a device driver, which would be problems users of all browsers could face. Google will up the ante for those who can hack Chrome, offering $40,000 each to those who can hack flaws specific to Chrome and $60,000 to those who can exploit only bugs in Chrome. The only other requirement is that those who exploit any flaws must submit the details to Google's security team.

Google said it's willing to pay such high figures in order to test Chrome against some of the world's most innovative hackers in a safer setting where not only will flaws be identified, but fixed.

Goldman Sachs(GS) and Wells Fargo(WFC) are hot topics as both banks revealed they have received "Wells notices" from the Securities and Exchange Commission, which indicates the SEC plans to recommend legal action against the banks and gives the banks time to prepare.

The legal action pertains to the banks' actions involving mortgage-backed securities deals at the time the financial crisis was beginning. Goldman's Wells notice pertains to a $1.3 billion subprime mortgage-backed securities deal the bank underwrote in late 2006. Wells Fargo said its Wells notice related to the bank's disclosures involving mortgage-backed securities.

These Wells notices are the latest in a string of investigations and action the U.S. government is taking to hold banks accountable for their contribution to the subprime housing crisis.

Costco(COST) is another popular search as the company reported better-than-expected fiscal second-quarter earnings and revenue.

Costco's performance beat expectations as profit rose 13%. The wholesale club operator reported net income of $394 million, or 90 cents per share, up from $348 million, or 79 cents, a year ago. Revenue from membership fees also rose to $459 million from $426 million.

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Hackers grab Goldman CEO's personal data

(CNET) 

Hackers today released personal information for Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein.

The document, posted to the Pastebin Web site, includes the CEO's age, recent addresses, details of litigation he has been involved in, as well as registration information for businesses, but no sensitive information such as financial data.

Goldman Sachs representatives did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

A group using the handle "CabinCr3w" took credit for the data dump, but did not say why Blankfein was targeted. Goldman Sachs benefited from the U.S. government's bailout of insurance giant American International Group and is accused of practices that contributed to the economic crisis.

Michael Moore helps to "Occupy Wall Street

On Monday, CabinCr3w released information about a New York police officer who is seen in videos spraying pepper spray into the faces of women protesters who are penned behind a police barricade net at the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations. The officer, identified as Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna via videos and close-up photos of his face and name on his badge, appears to walk over to the group of women and spray them directly in the face unprovoked.

A case of false arrest and civil rights violations is pending against Bologna in a claim brought by a protester involved in the 2004 demonstrations at the Republican National Convention, The Guardian reported.

New York Police representatives have not responded to a CNET request for comment on the pepper spray allegations, but told The New York Times that the pepper spraying was appropriate and alleged that the video was edited, a claim that legal advocacy group USLaw.com, which analyzed the video in slow motion, denies.

In a Tweet yesterday, CabinCr3w says "To the people asking...we are part of anonymous [SIC] just a group of like minded people taking on the world."

Hundreds of people have camped out in Zuccotti Park and 1,000 or more, including filmmaker Michael Moore and actress Susan Sarandon, have joined in protests and street marches as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The group, whose protests are in their second week, is calling for an end to the "monied corruption of our democracy" in the U.S. and is borrowing a page from the Arab Spring uprisings that overturned several regimes earlier this year.

The Occupy Wall Street organizers claim that the protests are spreading to more than 50 U.S. cities and span at least three continents.

Comment reply The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

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Hackers grab Goldman CEO's personal data - CBS News

(CNET) 

Hackers today released personal information for Goldman Sachs Chief Executive Officer Lloyd Blankfein.

The document, posted to the Pastebin Web site, includes the CEO's age, recent addresses, details of litigation he has been involved in, as well as registration information for businesses, but no sensitive information such as financial data.

Goldman Sachs representatives did not immediately respond to a call seeking comment.

A group using the handle "CabinCr3w" took credit for the data dump, but did not say why Blankfein was targeted. Goldman Sachs benefited from the U.S. government's bailout of insurance giant American International Group and is accused of practices that contributed to the economic crisis.

Michael Moore helps to "Occupy Wall Street

On Monday, CabinCr3w released information about a New York police officer who is seen in videos spraying pepper spray into the faces of women protesters who are penned behind a police barricade net at the "Occupy Wall Street" demonstrations. The officer, identified as Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna via videos and close-up photos of his face and name on his badge, appears to walk over to the group of women and spray them directly in the face unprovoked.

A case of false arrest and civil rights violations is pending against Bologna in a claim brought by a protester involved in the 2004 demonstrations at the Republican National Convention, The Guardian reported.

New York Police representatives have not responded to a CNET request for comment on the pepper spray allegations, but told The New York Times that the pepper spraying was appropriate and alleged that the video was edited, a claim that legal advocacy group USLaw.com, which analyzed the video in slow motion, denies.

In a Tweet yesterday, CabinCr3w says "To the people asking...we are part of anonymous [SIC] just a group of like minded people taking on the world."

Hundreds of people have camped out in Zuccotti Park and 1,000 or more, including filmmaker Michael Moore and actress Susan Sarandon, have joined in protests and street marches as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. The group, whose protests are in their second week, is calling for an end to the "monied corruption of our democracy" in the U.S. and is borrowing a page from the Arab Spring uprisings that overturned several regimes earlier this year.

The Occupy Wall Street organizers claim that the protests are spreading to more than 50 U.S. cities and span at least three continents.

Comment reply The posting of advertisements, profanity, or personal attacks is prohibited. By using this Web site you agree to accept our Terms of Service. Click here to read the Rules of Engagement.

View the original article here