Cybercrime is a Growing Concern Among Young Gamers: How Can We Redirect Them Towards Legitimate Careers?
As the gaming industry continues to grow, so does its influence on young people's skills and interests. However, with great power comes great risk - cybercriminals are increasingly targeting gamers who possess valuable coding talents. This phenomenon raises important questions about how we can redirect these individuals towards legitimate careers in cybersecurity.
According to Fergus Hay, co-founder and CEO of The Hacking Games, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping young people develop their coding skills, "If you're being arrested at 17, you're being weaponised at around 11." This highlights the importance of identifying and addressing the root causes of cybercrime among young gamers.
The Hacking Games' platform uses gaming titles to assess a candidate's hacking abilities and match them with roles and jobs that they will excel in. The goal is to redirect young people who might be lured into criminal activity by social media platforms and other online influencers.
"We're not just talking about fixing the symptoms, we're talking about creating a generation of ethical hackers," says John Madelin, cybersecurity expert and co-founder of The Hacking Games. "It's a matter of identifying those natural-born hackers who are naturally inclined to this field and guiding them towards it."
The financial rewards of cybercrime can be substantial, with some young people earning tens of thousands of pounds or dollars in cryptocurrency. However, this comes at a great cost - the average annual global cost of cybercrime is expected to reach $23 trillion by 2027.
To address this issue, Co-op Academies Trust has partnered with The Hacking Games to launch a pilot scheme across their schools. The programme will focus on careers education and provide young people with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue legitimate careers in cybersecurity.
"This is a generation of natural-born hackers who are either going to be a liability or an asset," says Madelin. "If you can get to them before they go down the wrong path, you can inspire them to become ethical hackers."
The Hacking Games' approach highlights the importance of early intervention and education in redirecting young people towards legitimate careers. By providing them with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in cybersecurity, we can help create a safer online environment and prevent the misuse of their talents for nefarious purposes.
Ultimately, the success of this initiative depends on our ability to understand the motivations and interests of young gamers and provide them with relevant education and training. By doing so, we can unlock a new generation of ethical hackers who will help protect our digital world from cyber threats.
As the gaming industry continues to grow, so does its influence on young people's skills and interests. However, with great power comes great risk - cybercriminals are increasingly targeting gamers who possess valuable coding talents. This phenomenon raises important questions about how we can redirect these individuals towards legitimate careers in cybersecurity.
According to Fergus Hay, co-founder and CEO of The Hacking Games, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping young people develop their coding skills, "If you're being arrested at 17, you're being weaponised at around 11." This highlights the importance of identifying and addressing the root causes of cybercrime among young gamers.
The Hacking Games' platform uses gaming titles to assess a candidate's hacking abilities and match them with roles and jobs that they will excel in. The goal is to redirect young people who might be lured into criminal activity by social media platforms and other online influencers.
"We're not just talking about fixing the symptoms, we're talking about creating a generation of ethical hackers," says John Madelin, cybersecurity expert and co-founder of The Hacking Games. "It's a matter of identifying those natural-born hackers who are naturally inclined to this field and guiding them towards it."
The financial rewards of cybercrime can be substantial, with some young people earning tens of thousands of pounds or dollars in cryptocurrency. However, this comes at a great cost - the average annual global cost of cybercrime is expected to reach $23 trillion by 2027.
To address this issue, Co-op Academies Trust has partnered with The Hacking Games to launch a pilot scheme across their schools. The programme will focus on careers education and provide young people with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue legitimate careers in cybersecurity.
"This is a generation of natural-born hackers who are either going to be a liability or an asset," says Madelin. "If you can get to them before they go down the wrong path, you can inspire them to become ethical hackers."
The Hacking Games' approach highlights the importance of early intervention and education in redirecting young people towards legitimate careers. By providing them with the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in cybersecurity, we can help create a safer online environment and prevent the misuse of their talents for nefarious purposes.
Ultimately, the success of this initiative depends on our ability to understand the motivations and interests of young gamers and provide them with relevant education and training. By doing so, we can unlock a new generation of ethical hackers who will help protect our digital world from cyber threats.
people think gaming is just about having fun but it's actually super legit too 
, and the ones who are good at coding should be redirected to legit careers in cybersecurity instead of being part of the problem 
... it's crazy how much money is made from cybercrime tho 
, like tens of thousands of pounds or dollars in crypto... 
Bad news alert! 
... it's like, what's the point of having all these skills if you're just gonna use them to steal money or cause trouble? 
. We need to step up our education game and provide them with real skills that'll help them make a difference 
.
those young gamers have some serious skills tho! I mean, it's crazy how much money they can make on the dark web. But at the same time, it's wild that some people are trying to redirect them into cybersecurity careers. Like, why not? It's a legit field and we need more people with these skills 
. It's like a big game of cat & mouse 
- but instead of chasing each other, let's chase the skills that will keep them safe online 
. They're so smart and talented, but the lure of easy cash is just too much to resist 
. It's not just about fixing the symptoms, it's about creating a generation of ethical hackers who can help protect our digital world 
.
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. Can't wait to see how this pilot scheme goes down 
but some get roped into dark side 
It's time to teach them how to use their skills for good 
instead of evil 
Cybersecurity is key 
They're not just coding wizards, they're our digital guardians 
.
! Redirecting young gamers towards legit careers in cybersecurity is like, the ultimate win-win 
. The idea of using gaming titles to assess their hacking abilities and match them with roles is pure genius 
! Let's get these young prodigies on board and inspire a new generation of ethical hackers 
. This initiative could be the key to unlocking a safer online world 
, and I'm all about it 
.
.
. Like, if they're already showing signs of being into hacking, why not give 'em a chance to use those skills for good? It's all about finding that balance between creativity and responsibility.
. Education is key here, and if we can make it engaging and fun, kids will actually learn something valuable 
... using gaming titles to assess their skills and match them with roles and jobs? Genius! And I love how they're focusing on careers education and providing the necessary tools for young people to pursue a career in cybersecurity. We need more initiatives like this, especially since cybercrime is going to be such a huge problem by 2027 
... but at the same time, it's inspiring to see them being recognized as natural-born hackers and given the chance to use their talents for good. We need more role models like John Madelin who understand the importance of ethical hacking