Online security? Hackers prove iPhone and most browsers don't cut the mustard

You might have thought that downloading the latest version of modern browsers and keeping up to date with security patches would keep your data safe online - but think again.

Yesterday was the first day of the Pwn2Own hacker contest in Vancouver, which offers a total of $100,000 in prizes for security experts and hackers who can negotiate their way past the security of platforms like Internet Explorer, Firefox and the iPhone. And the bad news is that Microsoft's Internet Explorer, Apple's Safari browser and iPhone operating system, and Mozilla's Firefox all fell at the first hurdle.

Internet security is big news, with consumers undertaking so many data-intensive activities online - from sharing information on social networks to online banking; and companies like Mozilla, Apple and Microsoft invest years of development time in trying to make sure that their software is safe from malicious attacks. However, competitions like Pwn2Own show that they're not keeping up with the capabilities of smart hackers, at least when there's a healthy legal incentive.

The hacking contest is part of the CanSecWest security conference in Vancouver, and apart from being an opportunity for hackers to show off their skills, it is also a way for new security vulnerabilities to be highlighted before they can be maliciously exploited. Only new hacks are acceptable - hackers cannot exploit known vulnerabilities, big prize money is offered, and would-be hackers draw lots for the first pop at each platform.

The competition runs until Friday, during which time other smart-phones will be put through their paces.