Netscape Offers Rewards To "Bug Catchers" MOUNTAIN VIEW, CALIFORNIA, U.S.A., 1995 OCT 11 (NB) -- Netscape Communications Corporation (NASDAQ: NSCP) has announced the "Netscape Bugs Bounty" program that rewards users who help the company find and report "bugs" in the beta versions of its recently released Netscape Navigator 2.0 World Wide Web browser software. Users who are the first to report a particular bug will be rewarded with various prizes depending on its importance. The contest begins with the beta versions of Netscape Navigator 2.0 that are already on the Internet. Full rules for the contest will be available on Netscape's home page at http://home.netscape.com . Speaking to Newsbytes, Roseanne Siino a spokesperson for Netscape, said, "As far as we can determine, this is the first contest of its kind. Netscape's whole approach to broad-based beta testing on the Internet was new, and we hope the contest will enliven the beta testing process." Users who are the first to report a particular bug will be rewarded with prizes depending on the "bug class." Users reporting "significant security bugs," as determined by Netscape, will collect cash prizes, while users finding any security bugs will win Netscape "merchandise." Users finding other "serious" bugs will be eligible to win "a choice of items" from the Netscape General Store. Siino pointed out that there are no caps on winners. Top prize will be $1,000 for any and all bugs in the top category: Severe Security Bugs. To win, the finder has to be the first, and, according to the company, it is important to be constantly using the current versions. The beta versions are available now for downloading on the Internet for free evaluation. Netscape's beta testing of 2.0 is already underway. Users who downloaded previous beta versions of the 2.0 software should download today's versions, which fix major and minor bugs identified since its initial release, including security bugs in the pre-release version of the Java language support integrated in 2.0. Netscape has released special beta versions of 2.0 that include Java for users wanting to test it. Because bugs will be reported and fixed on an ongoing basis, Netscape asks users to stay current on the beta version they are using, so that the latest software is constantly being refined. "We are continuing to encourage users to provide feedback on new versions of our software, and the Netscape Bugs Bounty is a natural extension of that process," said Mike Homer, vice president of marketing at Netscape. "By rewarding users for quickly identifying and reporting bugs back to us, this program will encourage an extensive, open review of Netscape Navigator 2.0 and will help us to continue to create products of the highest quality." Netscape has created two versions of its Netscape Navigator 2.0 beta, available for downloading from Netscape's home page at http://home.netscape.com . Version b1J for Windows 95, Solaris, and Irix platforms includes Java and is for users who want to participate in the bounty program. For general users or those on other Unix environments, Windows 3.1, and Macintosh, Netscape has posted beta versions without Java. After initial testing is complete, future beta versions for all supported platforms will contain Java. (Richard Bowers/19951000/Press Contact: Roseanne Siino, Netscape, 415-254- 1900) --****ATTENTION****--****ATTENTION****--****ATTENTION****--***ATTENTION*** Your e-mail reply to this message WILL be *automatically* ANONYMIZED. Please, report inappropriate use to abuse@anon.penet.fi For information (incl. non-anon reply) write to help@anon.penet.fi If you have any problems, address them to admin@anon.penet.fi