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Search supremo Google has been inviting UK internet users who tamper with their 'secure' products and programs to visit the company's HQ to try out for a job. A series of candidates have been called to Mountain View in California, after they tried illegally to tweak Google products or hack the search site for company secrets. The phenomena, dubbed 'Google Hacking' is now so prevalent that stand-alone sites have been set up to display already exposed secrets, so hackers can't claim someone else's discovery as their own. Jon Barker, from Woking in Surrey, was one of those who believed Google had done well with its Gmail product but thought improvements needed making. He set about creating 'Pop Goes the Gmail' - a handy piece of software that enabled account holders to download their GMail messages via POP3. After tens of thousands of downloads and some cash to show for it, Barker awaited the backlash from Google for his breaking of Gmail terms and conditions. "The terms of service [for Gmail] forbid reverse engineering – which I had done," said Barker, speaking to the Independent Review. He said he was then contacted by a Vice–President at Google, who congratulated him on his creation and asked if was interested in a job. "I was expecting a lawsuit rather than congratulations," recalled Barker. His Google experience is similar to other Gmail users, such as 22-year-old Mark Lyon, who made his way from Mississippi to California, after passing a rigorous phone interview. He said his rogue creation of the 'Gmail Loader' - an application that allows other message formats to be loaded into GMail - afforded him interest from 37 different organisations, but none of them as interesting as Google. Lyon said on attending Google HQ he was overwhelmed by a unique corporate culture that among many ingredients blends the informal with hard work. "People were outside playing volleyball, and everyone I ran across, including those not interviewing me, was willing to stop and chat for a few minutes and tell me what they were up to. A few even asked my thoughts on their projects." His comments reflect innovative corporate code at Google that dictates that all staff spend 20 per cent of their time devoted to their own personal project of their choice. Like Barker, Lyon proved unsuccessful in passing his big day out even after confronting the all-day test of programming, maths and new ideas for Google. One candidate said he struggled more with the theory-based questions of the test, like 'how many different ways can you colour an icosahedron with one of three colours on each face?' For those fancying their chances, the site also runs 'Google Code Jam,' in which techies can use Java, C++, C# or VB.NET to battle Google engineers by cracking code and programming problems, for the first prize of $10,000. The 50 finalists who qualify in set times also receive a visit to Googleplex, where the chance of "changing the world" through getting a job at Google is on offer. Alternatively, those IT experts already cash-enabled and sure of their skill sets can forward their CVs to Google. The search giant states it is interested in outstanding software developers, computer scientists and product managers, who should "consider sending resume and a brief cover letter" to greatpeople@google.com. Jan 20, 2005 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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