Think you could hack the Pentagon? Well, now you’re encouraged to try.
The Department of Defense is inviting vetted hackers to test the government’s cybersecurity.
The pilot program is called "Hack the Pentagon"—and it’s the first of its kind in the history of the federal government.
Hackers who’d like to participate in the cyber bug bounty program first have to register and be subjected to background check before they start testing the vulnerability of the department’s public websites.
“I am always challenging our people to think outside the five-sided box that is the Pentagon,” stated Secretary of Defense Ash Carter in a press release. “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.”
The Department of Defense says they will release more information in the coming weeks. The program is set to launch in April.
Participants could receive a monetary reward and other recognition for their efforts.
Check out the full release from DoD here.
