From Hacker to Hero

What if your next great cyber defender is a teenager gaming in their bedroom right now?

In this Threat Talks episode, Lieuwe Jan Koning and former FBI Supervisory Special Agent William McKean (founder of The Redirect Project) explore how young digital natives go From Hacker to Hero.

They chart the journey from gaming and online communities to real-world intrusions.
Then they show how to redirect that curiosity into ethical hacking, cyber defense, and a Zero Trust mindset at home and at work.

You’ll get practical questions to ask kids, simple “safe word” tactics, and concrete steps security leaders can use to grow defenders instead of future attackers.

Key Topics Covered
From gamer to attacker: How curiosity, gaming communities and digital “mentors” funnel kids into cybercrime, and how to redirect that path toward ethical hacking.

Psychology of recruitment: Why belonging, status and rewards override an undeveloped moral compass, and how grooming patterns mirror terrorism and gang recruitment.

Parent & educator playbook: Practical ways to talk about online life, spot early warning signs, use “safe words,” and apply a Zero Trust mindset at home.

Diversion, not destruction: How programs like The re_direct Project, HackShield, re_B00TCMP, Hack_Right, and The Hacking Games turn justice-involved kids into defenders instead of life-long offenders.

• (00:00) - - Introduction
• (01:25) - - What does FBI’s cyber division do
• (05:40) - - Children as hackers
• (08:14) - - From hacker to helper
• (10:31) - - It all starts with curiosity
• (17:56) - - What about AI development
• (21:27) - - Other mechanisms to worry about
• (22:32) - - 27:17 What can we do to help
• (27:17) - - The re_direct Project
• (33:45) - - What should the consequences be for child hackers
• (37:09) - - Recommendations for parents
• (42:02) - - What can organizations do

Additional Resources
ON2IT & Threat Talks
• ON2IT – Zero Trust Innovators: https://on2it.net/
• Zero Trust as a Service: https://on2it.net/zero-trust/
• Threat Talks podcast hub: https://threat-talks.com/

Episode Guest & Projects Mentioned
• The re_direct Project (youth cyber diversion & mentorship): https://www.redirectproject.org/
• HackShield (elementary school cyber game): https://www.hackshieldgame.com/
• Dutch Police re_B00TCMP “Reboot Camp”: https://www.politie.nl/informatie/re_b00tcmp.html
• Hack_Right juvenile cyber program: https://www.om.nl/onderwerpen/cybercrime/hack_right
• The Hacking Games (ethical hacker esports): https://www.thehackinggames.com/

If this episode helped you rethink your From Hacker to Hero strategy for your family or your workforce, don’t forget to hit Like, subscribe to Threat Talks.

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