Samsung announced the launch of its inaugural Mobile Security Rewards Program, a new vulnerability initiative which invites members of the security community to assess the integrity of Samsung’s mobile devices and associated software to identify potential vulnerabilities in those products.
“As a leading provider of mobile devices and experiences, Samsung recognizes the importance of protecting users’ data and information, and prioritizes security in the development of each of its products and services,” said Injong Rhee, Executive Vice President and Head of R&D, Software and Services of the Mobile Communications Business at Samsung Electronics.
The program is Samsung’s latest initiative to demonstrate the company’s commitment to enabling secure experiences for all its customers. The rewards program kicked off with a pilot in January 2016 to ensure an efficient and productive introduction to the broader security community.
Additionally, since October 2015, Samsung has been releasing monthly security updates for its flagship devices. This regular pace of updates would not be possible without the cooperation and assistance of security researchers across the globe, the company said.
The program will cover all of Samsung’s mobile devices currently receiving monthly and quarterly security updates, a total of 38 devices (the number of devices receiving monthly and quarterly updates may vary by market or region). In addition, the program will reward submissions for potential vulnerabilities in the latest Samsung Mobile Services, including Bixby, Samsung Account, Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass, among others.
Dependent upon the severity of a given submission, as well as the researcher’s ability to provide proof of concept, Samsung will issue rewards of up to $200,000. The Mobile Security Rewards Program is effective immediately, the company said.
