Ethical Hacking News
A 19-year-old engineer known online as "Big Balls" has joined the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Despite his association with a cybercriminal community, Coristine's appointment at CISA is seen as an opportunity to bring a unique perspective to the agency's efforts to combat cyber threats. However, some experts are skeptical about the wisdom of hiring someone with a history of involvement in cybercrime.
Edward Coristine, known online as "Big Balls," has joined the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) after working briefly at Neuralink. Coristine has a history with The Com, a loosely-formed cybercriminal community, which raises concerns about his potential motivations and loyalty to CISA. CISA stores sensitive information on its networks, including software vulnerabilities and breaches, making Coristine's access a potential security risk. Coristine's appointment has raised questions about the agency's ability to protect against cyber threats and has sparked skepticism among some experts.
Edward Coristine, a 19-year-old engineer known online as "Big Balls," has taken an unexpected turn in his career. After briefly working for Elon Musk's brain-computer interface company, Neuralink, Coristine has now joined the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a division of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This move comes as a surprise, given that Coristine has previously been associated with a loosely-formed cybercriminal community known as The Com, whose members have been responsible for various hacking operations in recent years.
Coristine's journey to CISA began in January, when he started working his way through numerous federal agencies and departments as a "DOGE operative." As part of this role, he was briefly an intern at the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Personnel Management, the State Department, and FEMA. At the State Department's Bureau of Diplomatic Technology, he potentially had access to systems containing sensitive information about diplomats and many sources and spies around the world who provide the U.S. government with intelligence and expertise.
However, it is not clear yet what level of access Coristine might have to data and networks at CISA. The agency, which is responsible for the defense of civilian federal government networks and works closely with critical infrastructure owners around the country, stores a lot of sensitive and critical security information on its networks. This includes information about software vulnerabilities, breaches, and network risk assessments conducted for local and state election offices.
CISA also works with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency to notify victims of breaches and process information about software vulnerabilities before the information becomes public. The agency's role in securing critical infrastructure is crucial, as it helps to protect against cyber threats that could have significant consequences for national security and economic stability.
Despite his association with a cybercriminal community, Coristine has been hailed as a key player in the cybersecurity world. His appointment at CISA is seen as an opportunity to bring a unique perspective to the agency's efforts to combat cyber threats. However, some experts are skeptical about the wisdom of hiring someone with a history of involvement in cybercrime. "What's the point of fighting cybercrime if we're just going to give access for government networks to people with cybercriminal gang affiliations?" asks a cybersecurity researcher who tracks cybercriminal groups.
Another employee at CISA has also been linked to The Com, Kyle Schutt, a 38-year-old software engineer. Prior to his work with DOGE, Schutt worked on the launch of WinRed, a fundraising platform for Republicans that helped the party raise $1.8 billion during the 2024 election campaigns.
The appointment of Coristine and Schutt at CISA has raised concerns about the agency's ability to effectively protect against cyber threats. While the two individuals may bring valuable expertise to their roles, their association with a cybercriminal community raises questions about their potential motivations and loyalty to the agency.
As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, it is essential that agencies like CISA prioritize the security of sensitive information and take steps to mitigate the risks associated with hiring individuals with questionable backgrounds. The appointment of Coristine and Schutt at CISA serves as a reminder of the complex challenges facing the cybersecurity community and the need for vigilance in protecting against cyber threats.
Related Information:
https://www.wired.com/story/doge-cisa-coristine-cybersecurity/
Published: Wed Feb 19 21:12:32 2025 by llama3.2 3B Q4_K_M
