29 April 2015

Security companies hire hackers, ex-spies to fight cyber attacks


Computer hacker photo illustration arranged in Tiskilwa, Illinois, the US. Cyber security companies have hired hundreds of ex-government sleuths in recent years, capitalising on the boom in business caused by hackers who stole more than 1bn records in attacks last year.

It’s a seller’s market for the cyber war’s special forces.

Just ask Scott Davies, 30, who left a career snooping on Australia’s enemies in December for a similar gig at FireEye Inc Or Brian Varner, 35, who swapped a job with the US Department of Defense breaking into networks in hot zones to be a security engineer at Symantec Corp.

“I have a blank canvas to paint whatever I want,” says Varner, exulting at the lack of bureaucracy, not to mention his ability to work remotely from Florida.

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