does the fbi hire hackers

Introduction：

1、The Government Is Looking for Hackers — To Give Them Jobs

2、Careers for FBI Special Agents in the Cyber Division

The Government Is Looking for Hackers — To Give Them Jobs ♂

　　When you think of “hackers,” the first image that comes to mind is probably that of a young computer-smart criminal working in a basement somewhere to gain access to private networks and data without authorization. You probably don’t think about hackers collecting a paycheck from a major company like Lockheed Martin, Boeing, or Raytheon — and you certainly don’t expect that they would be working for the federal government.

　　Yet Uncle Sam is in fact looking to hire hackers. So-called “white hat” hackers, who use their skills legally to identify and solve security problems (as opposed to “black hat” hackers who engage in criminal activity) are in high demand. Government networks are under near constant attack from hackers, ranging from minor criminals who just want to see how far they can go to nefarious foreign operatives who want to harm our national security, and agencies including the FBI, NSA, and CIA believe that hackers can help build our defenses against these criminals.

　　The problem, though, is that finding, hiring, and training qualified hackers is easier said than done. Hackers know that the jobs are there, but they aren’t always enthusiastic about taking them.

　　The fact that the government is having so much trouble hiring hackers to help secure the nation’s networks is mystifying to many. After all, who wouldn’t want to have free rein to hack, without getting in trouble with the law? The thing is it’s not quite that simple. There are a number of barriers that the government has to overcome in order to hire hackers. Among them:

　　Competition From Private Industry. The feds aren’t the only ones who want to tap into hackers’ knowledge to ensure cybersecurity. Businesses, from large companies with extensive, complex networks to developers of cybersecurity products are eager to hire experienced hackers who can provide an insider’s view and identify weaknesses. To do so, they are dangling a very appealing carrot in front of the hackers: huge salaries. The average cybersecurity professional earns between $80,000 and $100,000 per year, but some private companies are offering nearly double that to attract the best and brightest talent. The government simply cannot afford to offer equivalent paychecks, although they can offer benefits that private industry cannot always give, including a higher degree of job security and access to the most advanced tools and equipment.

　　Hiring Standards. Anyone who works for the federal government must have security clearance, and meet the minimum standards of employment. This usually means a squeaky clean criminal record, clean drug screenings, and residency in the U.S. for at least five years, among other standards. Unfortunately, many people with adequate skills and experience don’t meet all of the criteria for government employments. Many people with high level skills, for example, are from overseas, which creates an automatic five-year waiting period to even apply for jobs.

　　Hacker Culture and the Government Don’t Always Mix. The fact is many people with the skills that the government is seeking aren’t enthusiastic about working for Uncle Sam. They don’t want to work in such a conservative, rule-and-procedure driven environment as the government, or deal with complex layers of bureaucracy.

　　And while by no means are all cybersecurity experts drug users, the FBI notes that the prevalence of marijuana usage among the hackers with the skills they need is hampering their efforts to hire the best talent. The FBI currently has a policy banning the use of marijuana for three years before applying for a job (a requirement that’s admittedly difficult to enforce) leading many talented individuals to take their skills elsewhere — including private companies that don’t have such restrictions.

　　Given that hackers are proving invaluable to cybersecurity efforts, there’s been a lot of talk recently about what the government can do to attract more of them to government work. According to one report, relaxing hiring rules (i.e., reviewing applicants on a case-by-case basis, and removing blanket restrictions on drug use or previous run-ins with the law) is one way to fill some of the highest-priority positions, but there is justifiably some concern about entrusting national security to those who would not be granted security clearance under normal circumstances.

Careers for FBI Special Agents in the Cyber Division ♂

　　Due to the multi-jurisdictional nature and high level of sophistication of most computer-related crimes, the FBI’s Cyber Division is the lead agency for investigating these incidents.  Whether the malicious code originates from a foreign government or company, or was created by a domestic hacker, threats to the digital infrastructure that underpins commerce and other facets of daily life in America represents a danger to national security and public safety.

　　The nation’s most qualified and talented information systems experts are selected for Special Agent jobs in the FBI’s Cyber Division. Supported by a variety of professional staff, these Special Agents safeguard many of the nation’s most important systems like air traffic control, telecommunications networks, financial systems and the safety systems of the nation’s nuclear power plants.

　　Since the FBI refocused its mission from crime prevention and investigation to national security, it has made the nation’s cyber security its primary national security issue. The FBI recognizes that cyber intrusions into vital systems can cause damage that may lead to significant loss of life. The clearest case of such intrusions was evidenced by the computer viruses that penetrated the Iranian nuclear weapons factory and set back that country’s nuclear program several years.

　　As the threats to America’s digital infrastructure grow and advance due to technological innovation, the Cyber division is required to predict and counter the potential methods of attack. In addition to recruiting the most talented computer scientists in order to deconstruct the malicious code involved in cyber-attacks and develop counter-intrusion measures, the Cyber Division also uses its considerable resources to pursue the designers of malicious code through traditional law enforcement techniques. Special Agents within the Cyber Division may be assigned to Cyber Action Teams, which are able to fly to any location around the globe in order to investigate or apprehend perpetrators.

　　Special Agent jobs within the Cyber Division will involve the following functions:Investigate a data theft, corruption or attempted attack using digital forensicsInterview suspects and personnel relevant to a cyber-attackMaintain constant awareness of emerging and developing methods of cyber intrusionsDevelop partnerships with leading computer experts and organizations to help create security systems and analyze malicious codeIdentify and recruit the most qualified and talented counter-intrusion expertsMaintain the security systems of the FBI and related agencies

　　Like all Special Agents, those assigned to the Cyber Division enter at the GS-10 pay grade with the potential to progress up to the GS-14 or GS-15 level if they obtain a supervisor or executive career.  In 2012, the salaries associated with these pay grades were