Pentagon looking to recruit young hackers

As the security threats to the nation's military and civilian computer systems grow, the government needs top-flight cybersecurity specialists, those who know how to defend and those who know how to attack. So what could be better than trying to recruit from today's youthful talent pool and find people with the smarts to break into advanced digital networks?

To this end, the government soon will launch its Cyber Challenge--three new national competitions for high school and college students. The contests will test skills, such as attacking and defending digital targets, stealing data and tracing how others have stolen it. Successful participants will be invited to cyber training camps in the summer of 2010 run by the military and funded in part by private companies. Some will be offered internships at agencies, including the National Security Agency and the Department of Energy.

One of the challenges will be run by the Air Force. It is called Cyber Patriot, and will focus on network defense and blocking hackers attempting to steal data.

The Department of Defense's Cyber Crime Center will expand its three-year old Digital Forensics Challenge to include high school and college participants. This contest will focus on tracing digital intrusions and reconstructing incomplete data sources.

There also will be a Network Attack Competition challenging students to find and exploit vulnerabilities in software, compromise enemy systems and steal data.

For more on hacker recruitment:
- see this Forbes article