5 thoughts on “The Country’s In The Very Best Of Hands”

  2. Amazing that they rotate agents every 3-4 years from non-IT related units. I’m sorry but not just anybody is going to be able to just sit down and start coding pattern-based heuristic algorithms. Or, for that matter even begin to keep up with the conversation with someone who does.

    My guess is there is still an old guard aspect to the FBI’s culture that pines for the days when crimes could be solved pushing a pencil. The cybersecurity unit is probably even looked upon as a resting place for agents that they don’t know where else to shuttle off to because they are useless. But hey, they might get lucky and least figure out how to organize a personal folder in Outlook.

  3. From chichat with network security types that have applied or know someone who has applied, even hires explicitly for that department are (or were) on a “strictly white hat” basis.

    “You reverse-engineered a device driver? Did that violate the EULA? Defend your actions.” -> gone.

    Instead hiring people like: “I install a mean firewall.”

    This was several years back though, I don’t know if they’ve bought a clue yet.

  4. Cyber security is a serious issue. The FBI and other agencies need to take a mature look at the issue and adapt to meet this new threat. Rotating agents every 3 years “because that’s the way we’ve always done it” is remarkably stupid when it comes to areas requiring in-depth expertise.

    One of my coworkers is a retired Air Force electronics and cyber intel specialist. He gave us a classified briefing last year on what’s happening in the cyber world. It was grim. When I left the briefing, I was seriously considering changing my retirement plans to buying some land, installing my own energy sources, and stockpiling guns, ammo, and food.

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