UK cyber defence unit could recruit convicted hackers

Convicted computer hackers could be recruited to the UK’s new Joint Cyber Reserve Unit if they pass security vetting, the head of the unit Lt Col Michael White told Susan Watts on BBC’s Newsnight.

When questioned whether he would recruit someone with a criminal record for hacking but had all the other skills, Lt Col Michael White said: “If they could get through the security process and if they had the right capabilities and the vetting authority were happy with that, then why not?”

But Former Lulzsec hacker and spokesman Jake Davis said employers may be reserved to do so: “If you are a black hat hacker you obviously have an ideology or some kind of inset belief that the type of people that would be hiring would be scared of in case of another Snowden situation. So it’s ironic because it would be highly beneficial to employ hackers, especially at a corporate level, but they are scared to do it.”

In the programme former Lulzsec hacker Mustafa al-Bassam and Dr David Day, a professor of computer forensics at Sheffield Hallam University – who helped convict him – meet for the first time.

Following the interview, when questioned by Susan Watts as to whether he would employ Mustafa, Day replied, “he might.”