When Networking Academy Grads Turn to the Dark Side: Cisco’s Surprising Cybersecurity Plot Twist
Cisco’s Networking Academy, famed for its global accessibility, may have indirectly trained individuals linked to the notorious Chinese hacker group Salt Typhoon. While the program promotes digital literacy and ethical hacking, it seems some alumni took a detour from “cyber defense” to “cyber offense,” leaving Cisco in an ironic twist of fate.
Hot Take:
It’s a classic case of “With great power comes great responsibility”—except in this plot twist, the ‘great power’ is a Cisco Networking Academy education, and the ‘responsibility’ is not hacking your alma mater! Who knew that a course in ethical hacking could lead to a crash course in irony?
Key Points:
- Cisco’s Networking Academy aims to democratize IT education globally but inadvertently schooled potential hackers.
- Dakota Cary linked two Salt Typhoon hackers to the Academy, causing a stir in the cyber community.
- The hackers infiltrated telecoms, spying on high-profile targets, including political figures.
- Cisco argues that their Academy is about skills, not creating cyber villains, and is open to everyone.
- The incident underscores the complexity of global tech education amidst geopolitical tensions.
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