Pentagon seeks a few good computer hackers to test security

Screened high-tech specialists will be brought in to try to breach the Defense Department’s public Internet pages in a pilot program aimed at finding and fixing cybersecurity vulnerabilities.

Department officials and lawyers still must work through a number of legal issues involving the authorization of “white-hat hackers” to breach active Pentagon websites.

Defense Secretary Ash Carter said he will be “inviting responsible hackers to test our cybersecurity,” adding that he believes the program will “strengthen our digital defenses and ultimately enhance our national security.”

According to the Pentagon, it is the first time the federal government has undertaken a program with outsiders attempting to breach the networks.