‘It’s not a get out of jail type thing’: AFP luring young hackers for anti-espionage work

HACKERS who have exposed security vulnerabilities in government sites are being offered reprieves if they’ll use their skills to help police.

Federal police have been trying to convince young hackers to turn their “dark side” talents for good.

EXCLUSIVE

YOUNG hackers who have exposed gaps in the online defences of sensitive government and industry sites are being offered reprieves if they consider using their skills for police counter espionage work.

As the Federal Government will today hand the biggest law enforcement budget boost in decades to combat terrorism, the Australian Federal Police has launched a targeted recruitment campaign to hire hackers — including ones they’ve caught trying to break into their own systems and other government departments.

Sources have told News Corp Australia, AFP agents have been cautioning young hackers in formal interviews with their parents, and trying to convince them to turn their “dark side” talents for good.

“It’s not a get out of jail type thing, more recognising that these guys have been mucking about with no malicious intent and getting into systems and us telling them they’d be better off working with us than against us,” one source said.

The Australian Federal Police has launched a targeted recruitment campaign to hire hackers.

The AFP declined to go into the offers being made but said each candidate would get a job on merit as it sort to boost personnel.

“As part of the crime diversion process, the AFP does seek to channel the energy of young offenders into more productive pathways,” a spokeswoman said.

“As for recruitment, applicants to the AFP are assessed on their skills, character and their ability to comply with AFP’s professional standards.

“A prospective applicant must disclose all convictions (spent or otherwise), and their suitability for employment will be assessed by the AFP delegate with consideration to their entire application.

Hackers who have exposed gaps in the online defences of sensitive government and industry sites are being offered reprieves if they consider using their skills for police counter espionage work.

“Should an applicant fail to meet the AFP’s character standards, then the applicant may be excluded for a period of time.”

The FBI in the US has also struggled to attract top recruits and last month its Director James Comey hinted it could adjust arduous Quantico physical training for hackers unlikely to ever undertake field work like many TV crime dramas featuring desk-bound computer experts working remotely with those in the field.

“The need to recruit people with specialist digital skills or experience in cyber has been identified as a key initiative to ensure we can meet future law enforcement challenges,” the AFP said, dismissing it was following FBI initiatives.

“This is a topic that the AFP has discussed with its domestic and international partner agencies over recent years, and a great deal of work is continually being undertaken to identify the specific skills and areas of expertise AFP members require now, and will need in the future.”

The AFP has dedicated cyber experts working out of Singapore, The Hague, London and Washington.

Originally published as ‘It’s not a get out of jail type thing’: AFP luring young hackers for anti-espionage work