A teenager in a hoodie hacking systems in a dark bedroom has become the cultural stereotype. But what if that picture is completely wrong? What if the world’s next generation of cybersecurity defenders are actually sitting in front of Roblox, Minecraft or Call of Duty right now, developing the exact skills governments and organisations desperately need.
My guest Fergus Hay, co-founder and CEO of The Hacking Games, believes we are witnessing a massive shift in how cyber talent is discovered and developed. Millions of young gamers are building problem solving, pattern recognition and creative thinking skills every day. The challenge is not whether this talent exists, but whether we guide it towards protecting society rather than exploiting it.
We talk about the real risks young people face online, how criminal networks actively recruit talented teenage hackers, and why parents, educators and employers need to rethink how they view gaming, neurodiversity and talent. Fergus also shares how The Hacking Games is identifying young ethical hackers and connecting them with opportunities in cybersecurity, defence and technology.
- Ethical hacking explained: using creativity to break systems and improve them
- Gaming and cyber skills: puzzle solving, pattern spotting and teamwork
- The scale of gaming: 3.3 billion gamers globally, 93 percent of Gen Z play
- Recruitment risk: cybercriminals targeting talented teenagers online
- Parenting in the digital world: engage with children in their gaming environments
- Neurodiversity advantage: pattern recognition and creative thinking in cyber roles
- Alternative career paths: cybersecurity apprenticeships beyond traditional university routes
- The Hacking Games mission: identifying and directing young talent into ethical cybersecurity careers.
Resources and actions:
- Sign up for a future Safety Roundtable: https://safetyroundtable.co.uk/
- Connect with Fergus on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fergus-hay-013a41/
- Connect with Christian on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christian-harris-slip-safety/
