Teenage hackers help authorities enhance web security

Teenage hackers are being recruited by Britain's security forces to help protect IT infrastructure from malicious online forces.

Britain faces at least 1,000 cyber attacks every day from a wider range of sources including terrorist organisations and organised criminals, but the expertise of youthful computer hackers is being used to help bolster security, potentially enhancing media downloads and VoIP solutions.

Many teenage experts are being tracked down through internet chat rooms and posted to Cheltenham's Cyber Security Operations Centre.

Lord West, the security minister, said: "You need youngsters who are deep into this stuff. If they have been slightly naughty boys, very often they really enjoy stopping other naughty boys."

As technology becomes more advanced, important infrastructure has come under the control of IT networks and these systems attract the attention of malicious forces.

Ensuring that computer security software downloads regular updates is one way that IT users can make their systems less vulnerable to attack.