Microsoft Corporation India announced an initiative called
'Security Shootout' aimed at promoting secure code writing amongst Indian
developers. It is aimed at the 6,50,000-strong developer community in India and
will test their skills at writing secure code by pitting them against the best
in the country.
Security Shootout is part of Microsoft's ongoing security
mobilization efforts, under which it works closely with partners and customers
to promote software security. Through this initiative, it is also making an
extensive collection of security resources available to developers, such as
webcasts, blogs, articles, white papers and books. The developer with the best
secure coding skills will be given a customized Scorpio Passion.
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in this initiative can also win over 7,500 prizes, which include Toshiba Tecra
M4 laptops for the runner-ups and other prizes like pocket PC's and 80GB USB
2.0 powered external hard disk drives. Also, the top 500 participants will get
security certification vouchers, which will help them hone their code
development skills over a long term. Developers have to register themselves on www.securityshootout.com
before April 19, 2006.
The Microsoft Security Shootout comprises three online
rounds. From the first round, the top 1,000 will move to the next stage, from
which only 100 participants will be selected to battle in the final round. The
finalists will then be given an application with vulnerabilities built in, that
they have to identify and neutralize.
DQW News Bureau New Delhi, April 5