Every hacker I've met is a gamer': why the next generation of tech talent could be found in unlikely places

"For many young people at school or college, having a firm grasp of digital skills sits at the heart of future learning and earning opportunities. But for their teachers, ensuring these skills are used for good is a complicated lesson. According to The Hacking Games an organisation dedicated to helping young people with hacking skills get jobs in cybersecurity criminal gangs are increasingly searching popular online gaming environments for talented teenagers who they can groom into working for them."

"It's a path no educator would want a pupil to go down, which is why Co-op which sponsors Co-op Academies Trust has partnered with The Hacking Games. Co-op Academies Trust operates in the north of England, serving more than 20,000 students across 38 primary, secondary and special schools, and one college. Together, Co-op and Co-op Academies Trust aim to steer pupils with coding skills towards careers in ethical hacking."

"In recent years, we've seen our students become increasingly interested in technology particularly gaming and in exploring how these passions could lead to future careers. Through our involvement with The Hacking Games, it's been fascinating to discover the transferable skills between gaming and ethical hacking, especially within the field of cybersecurity. Our students have found this connection both exciting and inspiring."

Many young people in school or college see digital skills as central to future learning and earning opportunities. Teachers face a complex challenge ensuring those skills are used ethically. Criminal gangs increasingly search popular online gaming environments for talented teenagers to groom into criminal cyber work. Co-op partnered with The Hacking Games to redirect pupils with coding skills toward careers in ethical hacking. Co-op Academies Trust serves over 20,000 students across 38 schools and a college in northern England. Students are discovering transferable skills between gaming and cybersecurity and are excited by applying gaming skills to legitimate, rewarding digital careers.

Read at www.theguardian.com