The annual hacking contest Pwn2Own Ireland 2025 has come to an end, and ethical hackers took home a total of $1,024,750 in rewards. They discovered 73 new zero-day vulnerabilities during the three-day event. These zero-days are previously unknown flaws that could have been exploited by cybercriminals if left unfixed. The competition was organized to help improve global cybersecurity standards.
This year’s event focused on a wide range of technologies and devices. Hackers targeted printers, NAS (network-attached storage) systems, messaging apps, home networking equipment, smart-home devices, and wearable gadgets. Popular smartphones like the Apple iPhone 16, Samsung Galaxy S25, and Google Pixel 9 were also part of the challenge. The goal was to demonstrate how easily these everyday devices could be compromised.
Pwn2Own Ireland 2025 was organized by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI), which is part of Trend Micro. The event took place in Cork, Ireland, from October 21 to 23, 2025. Several big tech companies including Meta, Synology, and QNAP co-sponsored the competition. Each successful exploit earned the participants both cash prizes and points toward the overall championship title.
On the first day alone, researchers exposed 34 zero-day vulnerabilities and earned around $522,500 in cash prizes. Each exploit had to be demonstrated live in front of the judges. The remaining days saw even more successful demonstrations, bringing the total number of unique exploits to 73 by the end of the event. Every vulnerability discovered will be reported to vendors for patching.
One of the most talked-about moments came when a team from Interrupt Labs hacked the Samsung Galaxy S25. They used an input validation flaw to gain access to the device’s camera and location tracker. This clever exploit earned them $50,000 and several ranking points. It proved that even flagship smartphones are not immune to serious security risks.
The biggest winner of the event was Summoning Team, which earned $187,500 and claimed the title of “Master of Pwn.” The team achieved multiple successful exploits across several categories. The second place went to ANHTUD, which earned $76,750, and Synactiv secured third place with $90,000 in total rewards. These teams showed exceptional skill and deep technical understanding.
The primary goal of Pwn2Own is to make technology safer by discovering vulnerabilities before criminals can exploit them. Once the event ends, all identified bugs are shared responsibly with the affected companies. This allows them to develop security patches to protect users worldwide. The process helps improve the safety of software and devices we all use daily.
In conclusion, Pwn2Own Ireland 2025 was a major success for both researchers and the cybersecurity industry. It revealed how even trusted devices and platforms can hide dangerous flaws. With 73 zero-days uncovered and over a million dollars awarded, the event proved the importance of ethical hacking. Every fix that comes from these discoveries makes the digital world a little more secure for everyone.
Stay alert, and keep your security measures updated!
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