As the Pentagon seeks to vastly expand its cyber warfare efforts, experts and hackers warn that hackers who have the skills to wage this war are not a good fit for America’s straight-laced military culture. In short, potential soldiers in cyber warfare break the military mold.
The Defense Department’s Cyber Command plans to add up to 4,900 workers in the coming years. But to fill these positions, the Pentagon will have to tap into an odd recruiting pool: people known more for their distrust of authority and for their belief in open information than their commitment to protecting the country, according to Todd Harrison, a senior fellow for defense budget studies at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
Recruiting is a “hard thing to do, given the career paths of hackers and the military,” Harrison said. “The typical military career path, in which it takes years to advance, isn’t going to seem very attractive to the hacker. In the software world, you can be CEO of a billion dollar company when you’re in your twenties.”
“There are a lot of things about military culture that may not be attractive to these real hacker types,” Harrison added.
In fact, a group of hackers has recently made the U.S. government one of its targets. As revenge for the suicide of Internet activist Aaron Swartz, who was facing up to 30 years in prison for illegally downloading academic papers, the powerful hackers group Anonymous last week threatened to attack the Justice Department’s network.
Harrison said that the fast-paced nature of cyber warfare – hackers constantly need to find new ways to beat security, making techniques that work today useless in a matter of months – would only complicate recruitment efforts.
“You constantly need to be recruiting 22 year olds,” he said. “If you’re in your 30s you’re too old.”
This would leave people with expertise in cyber warfare, as well as with years of access to highly classified information, without work. At the very least, these redundant workers pose a possible security risk.
Chris, who said he was speaking from the Czech Republic, said forum participants were posting about the Pentagon’s announcement in recent days. But he said he doubted many would be interested in working for the Pentagon or the federal government.
“I've heard quite a lot about the United States trying to fight the cyber crime,” he said. “Generally our [hackers] society knows about these attempts to catch the bad guys, but very few have interest in joining them.”
Chris added that he didn’t think the U.S. government could locate the hackers who are capable of penetrating military systems. He said these hackers operate in secret forums that are extremely difficult to penetrate.
“The real bad people that do all these huge bugs operate in private,” he said. “It's really, really difficult to get there. I don't believe that the government could get to them.”
However, Harrison said not to underestimate the current capabilities of America’s cyber army compared to cyber operations in countries like China and Russia. Few details are known about what the group actually does. On rare occasion, success stories like the infiltration of an Iranian nuclear facility are leaked.
Quarterback play was a bugaboo for the Gators in 2012, and Muschamp is losing Jacoby Brissett to NC State, but he picks up Max Staver. Staver's not as highly rated as some of the more high-profile quarterbacks, but he fits what Muschamp is looking for: a big, physical guy who can stretch the field and is not afraid to carry the ball.
Kelvin Taylor is going to look to challenge for time at the running back spot, and there are defensive players who will use the departures as an opportunity to play early. Alex Anzalone and Daniel McMillian are both early enrollments, and that means they will have more time to digest the playbook and compete for early playing time.
Nick Saban is at it again. The four-time BCS Championship winner is just a wizard on the recruiting trail. He is in the running for some elite recruits, but his current list stands up by itself as a top-notch group. Saban has a knack for meshing his project players with guys who already possess college bodies and mixing them into one class.
This class is headlined by three top-level running backs, and as is Saban's way, he'll let them sort that out themselves in August. If they are up to snuff, they'll get reps on Saturdays. If not, they will be sitting on the sideline watching. Competition is a beautiful thing.
There is a lot to talk about with Saban's class. He has linebackers to continue the embarrassment of riches at that position, plus the quarterback who just seems to fit his mold. Offensive line talent and a lot of wide receivers help too.
However, the big get for the Tide is tight end O.J. Howard. This is a kid who has some real skills when it comes to catching the football and getting open down the field. He has the ability to really open up the offense in Tuscaloosa, and that will be a major problem for defenses. An elite, pass-catching tight end paired with the power rushing attack is a true nightmare for SEC safeties.
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