Key facts
- The UK's Cyber Choices program aims to divert young individuals with hacking skills away from criminal activity.
- Police officers provide one-to-one support, encouraging professional training and cybersecurity careers.
- The program has seen over 1,150 referrals in the past eight years.
- Many participants are neurodiverse, with a particular aptitude for technology.
- Authorities link young hackers to significant cyber-attacks on major organizations.
A UK police program called Cyber Choices is working to redirect teenagers with hacking skills away from criminal activities and towards legitimate cybersecurity careers. The initiative, which operates similarly to a 'hacker rehab course,' involves police officers like PC Sam Cooper visiting young individuals at home to explain the consequences of cybercrime and encourage them to pursue professional training and qualifications.
Lucas, a 16-year-old who was caught hacking his school computers, is one such individual. His mother's intervention led to PC Cooper's involvement, who is now guiding Lucas toward a potential university cyber-security course. The program aims to harness the technical aptitude of these young people, many of whom are neurodiverse, before their curiosity or online influences lead them into serious offending.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) reports a significant increase in referrals to the Cyber Choices scheme, with over 1,150 cases in the last eight years. Authorities are concerned about the growing role of young, English-speaking hackers in major cyber-attacks, including those targeting Transport for London and MGM Grand. Critics have raised concerns that teaching cyber skills to individuals with a history of hacking could inadvertently make them more capable offenders. However, Paul Foster, the NCA's cyber prevention lead, argues that the alternative—allowing these talents to go unguided—would be far worse.
Success stories like Izak, a 21-year-old cybersecurity professional who was once a teenage hacker, highlight the program's potential. Izak was encouraged to use his skills for good after being introduced to the program by the police. The program's approach involves sustained, positive encouragement over months of one-to-one meetings, focusing on diverting interests toward legal and professional pathways.