FBI reaches out and calls hackers

"We need your expertise and input as we develop strategies to battle cybercrime in the 21st century." That's FBI cybercrime unit chief Daniel Larkin addressing the Black Hat security conference yesterday. News.com reports:

"The people we're going after are not just the script kiddies anymore. These people are making a lot of money," Larkin told the Black Hat audience of hackers and security professionals. "I am a recovering technophobe; I used to be really afraid of you all. But I realize that you all are really important."

In other words, at Black Hat, the FBI signalled it is looking for help from Black Hat attendess. "Critical information on terrorism and cybercrimes could be in your hands and might be in your hands before they reach ours," he said. Uh-oh, the FBI needs help from these guys?

"It is not reassuring," security consultant Tom Thomas said. "It confirms what we already suspect. There is great technical inadequacy, if not downright ineptness, at the FBI. Therefore they are, perhaps desperately, seeking help from almost anyone."

The new, needy FBI is willing to play ball with sources, like ISPs. The FBI has been criticized in the past for going completely silent after a report was filed. "We realize that we need to give back information," Larkin said.