[funsec] Rules keep hackers from helping government

[phester]

http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110301_1957.php

Friendly hackers and other computer whizzes who could help bolster 
government's cyber defenses often are unable to collaborate with the 
Homeland Security Department because of outdated policies that Congress 
and the White House must reform, former DHS Secretary Tom Ridge said on 
Tuesday.

...

Despite such opportunities, members of the hacker community remain wary of 
working with the government. They know how to find network weaknesses, but 
might be leery of sharing such talents, if lending a hand requires 
navigating through too much red tape.

...

"The [regulations] are written to the extent where, we're not really going 
to trust people in the private sector because, heaven forbid, they might 
be financially advantaged either with a contract or just general 
information."

__


Maybe they can use the federal courts to steal hackers' work, like Sony is 
doing with GeoHot.