This story is the biggest bunch of BS.

I listened to this story on NPR. Instead of actually relying on hard data, the reporter simply found someone who estimated there are only 1,000 qualified "cyber" professionals in the US. The source presented no hard data, just a gut feel that there aren't enough people. This figure is about as well-sourced as the claim (often repeated) that the underground malware economy is bigger than the market for illegal drugs.

Meanwhile, instead of calling outside the beltway, NPR also called up Alan Paller, the head of the SANS Institute, who parroted the same line. How Paller can say that there are less than 1,000 qualified security professionals with a straight face is beyond me. SANS claims to have trained over 150,000 people. Does that mean that 99% of their "graduates" are therefore unqualified?

The worst part about this is that NPR did not even bother to disclose Paller's blatant conflict of interest. Contrary to popular belief, SANS is NOT a non-profit. It's in business to make a buck. I can't think of a better way to plump up the attendance rolls than to manufacture scare stories about "shortages" of professionals.

I've got no real issues with Paller other than the fact that he's just another garden-variety huckster. I've got a bigger problem with NPR, who was just plain sloppy.

• On Bluetooth phone viruses, apparently the next big thing in malware (2004): "If you don't know about bluejacking these messages can be quite a shock" (2004)
• On the groundswell of Mac malware: "This means two real viruses have emerged for the Mac OS X platform in less than a week. The question on everyone's lips is - when will we see the next one, and will it have a more malicious payload?" (2006)
• On "naming and shaming" (his words) countries from whose IP address space spam appears to emanate: "A new dirty 'gang of four' - South Korea, Brazil, India and their ringleader USA - account for over 30% of all the spam relayed by hacked computers around the globe." (2010)

It is a bit rich that he's asking Tavis whether he "feels good about himself." Just saying.