DHS Seeks "Ethical Hackers" To Protect Federal Net Infrastructure

Death Metal sends this excerpt from an AP report: "General Dynamics Information Technology put out an ad last month on behalf of the Homeland Security Department seeking someone who could 'think like the bad guy.' Applicants, it said, must understand hackers' tools and tactics and be able to analyze Internet traffic and identify vulnerabilities in the federal systems. In the Pentagon's budget request submitted last week, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the Pentagon will increase the number of cyberexperts it can train each year from 80 to 250 by 2011. With warnings that the US is ill-prepared for a cyberattack, the White House conducted a 60-day study of how the government can better manage and use technology (PDF) to protect everything from the electrical grid and stock markets to tax data, airline flight systems, and nuclear launch codes. ... Nadia Short, vice president at General Dynamics Advanced Information Systems, said the job posting for ethical hackers fills a critical need for the government."

Comments

airline flight systems, and nuclear launch codes?

[nurb432]

Why are those even remotely accessible?

While i see a need for networking ( at least in some cases ) they should be on their own completely dedicated line.

Ethical "Hackers".. of course

[nurb432]

If you are old school, hacking IS ethical, and any damage/profit beyond learning is against the "code".

Amazing how powerful the media is in twisting definitions, public perception and alienating an entire culture.

Re:Ethical "Hackers".. of course

[nurb432]

umm the term hacker predates the commercial internet.

True it doesn't predate people that suck at golf however.

Keep them Happy

[aoheno]

Someone who really knows how to game Technology needs to be kept very very happy if he or she is not to turn on you.

During the Cold War certain 'Special Forces' were used to entice secrets from many using torture free and very 'personal' interrogation techniques in undisclosed hotel rooms. No amount of technology can stop that unless the hacker has a smart phone implanted to record and transmit everything.

This opens the question of whether there need to be several such persons in separate undisclosed locations, that are tasked with monitoring each of the others.

Re:Civilans Need Not Apply.

[Jah-Wren Ryel]

Us civilians are stuck. We're well qualified for the jobs, but we'll never be considered if we apply for the jobs.

Your analysis is false. As someone who does not hold a clearance you have a slight handicap because it means that if they hire you, you won't get able to start on the "meat" of the work for a few months while your clearance is processed.. But if your skills are good, then they will hire you and put you on a desk in an unclassified area to get yourself up to speed on as much of the program as is unclassified. I know a lot of people who have done exactly that. You do not have to be ex-military to get a clearance.

Re:Civilans Need Not Apply.

[TheRaven64]

I've held security clearance in the past (it lapses if you don't renew it periodically, and I didn't), and I know a few people who got jobs that required a higher level of clearance than I had. Although the job adverts will say you require clearance, this usually means that any offer will be conditional on the clearance being granted. You can still apply without it and if they think you are qualified then they may offer you the job. The offer will say 'pending security clearance' or similar on it, and you will then have to undergo a background check (exactly how detailed this is depends on the level required, but it can usually be done in a couple of months). It is quite rare for someone to fail - most people who might tend not to apply. If you do need to go through the process, then don't lie. They don't care if you're gay or smoked pot, but they do care if you have secrets that someone can blackmail you about.

Re:Civilans Need Not Apply.

[gmhowell]

You do not have to be ex-military to get a clearance.

But it sure as hell helps out.

If the GP has a resume that looks as good as he thinks, some hiring manager at some DOD contractor somewhere will find him a security eligible position while waiting for a TS/Q to come in.