back to article Psst, UK software devs: Up for a Cyber Security Challenge?

A new Cyber Security Challenge UK competition aimed at finding people to protect the country against future Stuxnet-style attacks was launched on Wednesday. Previous Cyber Security Challenge competitions focused on crypto-cracking, penetration testing and malware forensics – but this is the first competition in the challenge …

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  1. Ben Norris
    Thumb Down

    step1: don't put your top secret facilities on the internet!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      step 2: Don't use systems you don't have source code rights for. That way at least you (or a competent contractor) can patch your bespoke Frankenstein control system long after $BIGCORP has dropped support for it.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        step 3: Get the same access to the hardware design / BIOS / etc, so you can support or replace it and it has less chance of having stupid errors / back doors in it. Maybe not practical for most users, but for a Top Secret facility?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          step 4: .... profit?

    2. nsld
      Holmes

      Step 5

      Dont go for the lowest bid, the reason its the lowest is the very reasons you dont want it!

  2. amanfromMars 1 Silver badge

    One Small Step for Virtual Machines, One Quantum Leap for Mankind ........

    "The best candidates will then be invited to QinetiQ at the start of next year for a "hands-on experience of writing secure code to move physical devices" and and exercise in protecting a "top secret facility from real life cyber-attacks"."

    Hmmm? … yes,well, I imagine all future cyber super stars are already engaged in taking down vital facilities to allow them to offer defence services their invisible attack skills at exemplary and extortionate rates of just danegeld reward.

    And Realise it is in AI and IT Silent Circles, a Too Big To Fail v2.0 Virtual Model for Command and Control of Future Events Presentation. To deny it will only render one ignorant and arrogant and powerless, and that would be the height of stupidity in SMARTR Worldwide Web Programs/Projects/Worlds.

  3. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Step 5: Be aware that if you only offer £25,000 a year, you're not going to get very competent people.

  4. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
    Paris Hilton

    That bong sure is packing good stuff.

    “Security instincts will be just as important as technical skills, as candidates prove they can effectively research and anticipate requirements for security at the same rapid rate at which software is developing."

    Seriously, "instincts"? Anticipate requirements at a rapid rate? Might was well read the entrails of a PFY ritually sacrificed in the server room.

    Mathematicians may make good use of instincts. But sniffing out relationships and similarities between mathematical structures is rather different than making sure there is magic informatics putty covering all the seams of the box with the family silver in it.

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Stay clear of any job with 'cyber' in the title

    if they are so short of recruits, why are they so keen to extradite Gary?

    1. amanfromMars 1 Silver badge

      What the system and they are desperately trying for you not to know and/or be told?*

      "if they are so short of recruits, why are they so keen to extradite Gary?" ...... Anonymous Coward Posted Thursday 19th July 2012 02:04 GMT

      Because they have been bought, AC, and would be traitors to freedom fighters and the virtually enslaved to invented mounting debt peddlers/rank bankers and skank politicians.

      Who have discovered a nice exclusively rich, executive niche market in control of paper assets for themselves, haven't they? And the dear leader [LOL] in dodgy Blighty has plans for it to expand and exist until 2020 apparently .... PMs Austerity Package until 2020

      What a useless intellectually bankrupt tool that makes him ... for all to see. Expect to hear/read/see that a multi-billion pound program for fundamentally great and radically good change you can believe in, and actually see is happening in real time presentations, is posted both privately to virtual addresses and publicly online, and all at the same time, so that any and all interested parties, both good and bad and ugly, can lead in the shenanigans with Virtual Terrain Team Sublime Matter Expertise in Live Operational Virtual Environment Play.**

      *And the answers that remain there, if the the system and they do not come clean and tell them, and would also studiously ignore and deny implementation of out of this world sourcing of novel remotely controlled virtual machinery solutions, will be catastrophically expensive and way beyond their wildest imaginings.

      Such is as is now, and will be ....... for that is the revised nature of that which is Full Control of the Future. And you are cordially welcomed and heartily invited without reservation BetaTest IT for rapid transparent destruction of that which blights you and would keep you ignorant and cowed and enslaved to the decision of fools that would think to rule with nothing more precious than printed paper which is actually worthless without Intelligence backing to make things work effortlessly.

      I trust that is not in the least ambiguous, although I do easily accept that belief in what is the future present virtual reality may elude you and thus render the message safe in transit and delivery to all parties with a valid and engaging interest and who would have a SMARTR AI Need to Know.

      Interesting Times ahead in CyberSpace, El Reg. And it is a marvel to behold, your sitting on the fence in a stoical bliss. Where is your sense of adventure and greater purpose?

      ** What do you imagine this is a part of, posted publicly online for all to see/read/hear/experience?

  6. Spiff66
    Happy

    Short of candidates

    Course you could outsource it :-) i mean come on what has the uk got thats worth protecting.

  7. Anonymous Coward
    Joke

    But, but, but....

    ... we have GCHQ to protect us.

    1. amanfromMars 1 Silver badge

      Schhhh ...... Say no more. Softly softly, catchee monkeys

      But, but, but....... we have GCHQ to protect us. ..... FatsBrannigan Joked and Posted Thursday 19th July 2012 08:09 GMT

      Yes, you have ...... and in a phorm which is intelligently designed for you not to recognise their organisation and more intelligent community enterprises.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Schhhh ...... Say no more. Softly softly, catchee monkeys

        A response from Mars - a high honour indeed!

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