In order to demonstrate the strengths of the security engine of the VIA C7 processors, VIA Technologies will give hardware that worth $5000 to anyone who can crack the StrongBox encryption software that uses PadLock technology of the C7 in under 60 minutes.

The competition will take place during Hack-in-the-Box conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. VIA is challenging attendees to break the encrypted virtual drive application called VIA StrongBox which secures data through the power of the VIA PadLock Security Engine included in VIA C7-series processors. To successfully hack the strongbox, participants must break its defenses and read a document stored inside. VIA will provide the equipment for the challenge which includes three VIA C7-M processor-based notebooks installed with VIA StrongBox. Each notebook is installed with Windows XP and will not be connected to the local area network and will not have Internet access.

According to the rules of the competition, the exploit or attack must be reproducible. Intruders are free to use any bootable CDs or other means to circumvent the encryption system and recover the document from the virtual drive. However, the attack should in no way involve destroying or damaging the notebook, removing the casing or tampering with the internal electronics as well as using a keystroke logger.

When enabled, the VIA PadLock Security Co-processor can be used to make data unreadable to unauthorized readers by encrypting information in real-time. VIA C7-series core extends the VIA PadLock Hardware Security Suite to include execution (NX bit) protection, Montgomery Multiplier support for RSA encryption and secure Hash (SHA-1 and SHA-256) algorithms in addition to the VIA PadLock RNG and VIA PadLock ACE that were featured in the VIA C5P Nehemiah processors.