The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is on the lookout for men who have the qualities of a patriot and the skills of a hacker.
The agency has posted a job listing for a cyber special agent to be posted in various resident agencies all over the United States. Among the skills the FBI is looking for include highly technical computer skills, such as malware analysis, digital forensics and ethical hacking.
Given the increasing rise of computer crime incidences, it is not surprising why the FBI has started widening its pool of agents specializing in computer and cyber technologies.
One only needs to look at the case of the massive Sony Pictures Entertainment hacking to understand why the agency needs to expand its pool of talent in the field. In the past, FBI agents would respond to crimes, a physical bank robbery for instance, by closing off the scene of the crime, gathering physical evidence such as fingerprints and security footage, and interviewing witnesses.
Now, bank robberies can be conducted online, with the thieves hacking into the bank's network to transfer money electronically into their own accounts. With technology continuing to progress, these kinds of cyber intrusions are not going away, which is why the FBI needs agents who know how to think like hackers to get at hackers.
"Cyber permeates every aspect of what we do, whether it's counter-terrorism, criminal investigations, or traditional cyber attacks, as we've seen in the recent past," said Robert Anderson, Jr., executive assistant director for the FBI's Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch. "That's why these types of people are so important to get into the pipeline and come into our organization."
Among the cyber special agent's responsibilities will be to "conduct multi-faceted investigations of high-tech crimes, including cyber-based terrorism, computer intrusions, online exploitation, and major cyber fraud schemes" and "counteract operations that target national security and U.S. intellectual property to prevent potentially disabling attacks on the nation's physical, economic and electronic infrastructure."
"Cyber agents will be integrated into all the different violations that we work," said Anderson. "So whether it's counter-terrorism or counterintelligence investigation, they could be the lead agent in the case."
Anderson said the FBI will continue to include cyber specialists in the organization, but the current hiring campaign lasts until Jan. 20. Applicants are required to pass a rigorous application process, including a physical fitness test and the Special Agent Application process, which consists of a cognitive exam, language exam, written exam, panel interview and polygraph test. The FBI will further subject the applicants under a thorough background investigation.
All applicants must not be younger than 23 and not older than 37 years at the time of their filing of application.
If chosen, applicants are shipped off to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where they will undergo rigorous training for 19 weeks until they are assigned to the various resident agencies.
The bureau said applicants must make sure their families thoroughly understand the situation. It is very likely that special agents will be assigned away from home while they work a minimum of 50 hours a week, including odd hours, and should be on-call 24/7, including weekends and holidays.
Those who think they have what it takes to be a cyber special agent for the FBI can view the entire job listing and apply online.
