[Infowarrior] - University opens school for hackers

Mon Jun 19 15:30:58 EDT 2006

University opens school for hackers

By Andy McCue
http://news.com.com/University+opens+school+for+hackers/2100-7355_3-6085375.
html

Story last modified Mon Jun 19 12:17:25 PDT 2006

A degree course in computer hacking has been launched by a Scottish
university in response to industry demand for IT security experts.

The University of Abertay in Dundee will run the Bachelor of Science
undergraduate course in "Ethical Hacking and Countermeasures" starting in
the next academic year in October.

Around 30 students will be enrolled in the course, which the university says
will provide a graduate with knowledge of how illegal computer attacks can
be performed and how they can be stopped.

The course catalog description says: "In the same way that police detectives
need to know how thieves can steal, computer systems administrators need to
know what hackers can do."

The university said it has launched the degree course in response to demand
for people with the skills to test the security of corporate IT networks.
"There are an increasing number of compliance regulations and insurance
policies that insist businesses carry out security checks on their
networks," a representative for the academic institution said.

The university also stressed it will be vetting students "very carefully" in
accordance with Home Office guidelines and that they will be monitored
closely throughout the course. "We are not going to give them the full set
of tools on day one," the representative said.

Although many existing undergraduate computing degrees cover elements of
this new course, Abertay claims to be the first U.K. university to offer a
dedicated degree course in hacking.

There are also ethical hacking courses and qualifications offered by private
sector IT training organizations such as the Training Camp, which launched a
course two years ago.

Andy McCue of Silicon.com reported from London.