The National Crime Agency’s Cyber Choices program is working to divert talented teenagers away from criminal hacking by redirecting their technical skills toward legitimate cybersecurity career paths.

Key Points

• The Cyber Choices scheme has received over 1,150 referrals in eight years, with nearly 600 cases occurring within the last three years.
• Program officers provide one-to-one mentorship to help young hackers transition from illicit activities to professional training and university qualifications.
• Authorities report that many young offenders are neurodiverse and initially begin hacking out of curiosity rather than criminal intent.
• Teenage hackers have been linked to significant 2024 and 2025 cyber-attacks against major organizations, including Transport for London and MGM Grand.
• Critics express concern that teaching advanced cyber skills to individuals already prone to hacking could inadvertently increase their capacity for future criminal activity.

Why it Matters

This initiative highlights the growing challenge of preventing young, tech-savvy individuals from being recruited into global cyber-crime syndicates. By intervening early, authorities aim to transform potential security threats into a skilled workforce for the cybersecurity industry.