Comments on: You call this an army? The terrifying shortage of U.S. cyberwarriors

By: dogsoldier

dogsoldier — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:37:01 +0000

It’s hard to attract young computer geek talent to govt. work.

RDH on February 25, 2013 at 3:14 PM

Yeah, we’re losing because the people running the shop on our side are complete idiots. Gatekeeping my ass. The RoE in cyberspace is not what they think it is.

If we want to stop them we need people who can think like they do.

you won’t have admin permissions on the machine you’re working on. Forget installing Chrome with the latest extensions, you’ll be lucky to get version 2 of Firefox! Or you might not have access to the Internet at all!

Yeah DOS 6 r0x. !

By: RDH

RDH — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:14:57 +0000

This was an interesting take. In particular:

Cyber defense is often the opposite of a creative activity; in many of these jobs you're going to find yourself acting as an enforcer, a mere gatekeeper.

and

In classified settings, you are severely restricted in the sources and kinds of technologies you use. You'll be leaving your smartphone and your iPad in your car or in a locker outside the SCIF. You won't have admin permissions on the machine you're working on. Forget installing Chrome with the latest extensions, you'll be lucky to get version 2 of Firefox! Or you might not have access to the Internet at all! Also, forget about telecommuting or riding your bike to work; your job will be in a well-defended federal facility or an anonymous office park in the suburbs.

It's hard to attract young computer geek talent to govt. work.

By: MelonCollie

MelonCollie — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:11:09 +0000

Either that, or hire cyber-mercenaries. Can’t Congress issue Letters of Marque? ZenDraken on February 25, 2013 at 3:08 PM

The only person I've ever heard seriously discussing issuing LoM's is Ron "Evil isolationist j00-h8ing not-zee" Paul. Make of that what you will.

By: ZenDraken

ZenDraken — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:08:33 +0000

To become a cyber professional working in government, your record has to be exceptionally clean. That rules out pretty much any U.S. teen who’s written a malicious script or vandalized a website.

So hire the naughty teens as temporary contractors, have them help train a cadre of professionals.

Either that, or hire cyber-mercenaries. Can’t Congress issue Letters of Marque?

By: Youngs98

Youngs98 — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:46:13 +0000

If you paid these people what they’re worth, then we’d be ok. The Government however, can’t or won’t do that. Sorry folks.

By: MelonCollie

MelonCollie — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:24:39 +0000

I did learn how to make DOS add 1 + 1. Do I get a Uncle Sugar job?

Limerick on February 25, 2013 at 2:19 PM

My first program at the proud age of 7, IIRC:

10 PRINT “Give me more computer time”
20 GOTO 10

…father was not amused.

By: Limerick

Limerick — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:19:27 +0000

I did learn how to make DOS add 1 + 1. Do I get a Uncle Sugar job?

By: Ben Hur

Ben Hur — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:04:46 +0000

Sorry. The US’s push to lead to the world in green energy is WAY more important…..

By: astonerii

astonerii — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:04:38 +0000

No way, with all the gays who have been green lighted into the military they do not have enough? I guess they better hire some al qaeda members and some Chinese Nationalists! Or maybe what we need is to free up more people to join the military, perhaps pedophiles and child porn pushers should be green lighted admission into the military.

By: MelonCollie

MelonCollie — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 19:03:04 +0000

Someone who knows pen tools and how to use them. I won’t explain. Do you all remember a show called “It takes a thief?”

dogsoldier on February 25, 2013 at 1:58 PM

Never saw it, but after a little Googling I’m seeing a lot of references between pen tools and photo-editing software…and I think I get your drift.