Department of Defense to test its cybersecurity with 'Hack the Pentagon' competition
The Department of Defense is inviting vetted hackers to test
its cybersecurity as part of a unique “Hack the Pentagon” competition.
Although similar “cyber bug bounty” initiatives have been
used in the corporate sector, this is the first in the history of the federal
government.
“I am always
challenging our people to think outside the five-sided box that is the
Pentagon,” said Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, in a statement announcing the
competition Wednesday. “Inviting
responsible hackers to test our cybersecurity certainly meets that test. I am confident this innovative initiative
will strengthen our digital defenses and ultimately enhance our national
security.”
As part of the pilot program, which starts next month, the
Defense Department will let qualified participants search for vulnerabilities
in its public webpages. The vetted hackers will take part in a “controlled,
limited duration program that will allow them to identify vulnerabilities on a
predetermined department system,” according to the department. Critical
Pentagon systems, however, will not be part of the initiative.
People taking part in the competition could be eligible for
financial rewards and other unspecified recognition, according to the
Department of Defense.
Tod Beardsley, security research manager at cybersecurity
specialist Rapid 7 welcomed the Pentagon plan. “The acknowledgement from the
Pentagon that open and free security assessments on its websites are valuable,
and even encouraged, is a huge step forward for the DoD and the U.S.
government,” he told FoxNews.com, via email. “The terms are a little more
restrictive than many similar programs, but this positive sentiment is a huge
win for modern security research and security researchers of all stripes.”
“Hack the Pentagon” is led by the department’s Defense
Digital Service, which was launched last year. More details on the competition
will be announced during the coming weeks, according to the Defense Department.
Defense Department systems get probed and attacked millions
of times a day, officials say. Last year the Department of Defense suffered a
cybersecurity breach after Russian hackers infiltrated an unclassified defense
computer network.
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