University of Tulsa's cyber security program is vital for the U.S. The university teaches theory along with practical training in its espionage course in the world of Internet.
The university has stalking and spying in the Cyber Corps as part of its curriculum.
"Students learn not only how to go through trash, sneak a tracking device on cars and plant false information on Facebook. They also are taught to write computer viruses, hack digital networks, crack passwords, plant listening devices and mine data from broken cellphones and flash drives," reported Bendbulletin.com.
The website claimed that students spy on their classmates as part of their education. Over the years, several students have joined CIA and the Pentagon's National Security Agency, which keeps the threats posed by cyber-offenders at bay.
The cyberspace has brought the world closer. People from different parts of the world have access to information from any corner of the earth but it has also given birth to several security challenges.
Earlier this year, secretary of defense, Leon E. Panetta, noted the importance of an effective cyber-security in guarding the nation's interest and preventing the terror element from exploiting the new frontier (read: cyberspace).
Panetta addressing Business Executives for National Security, New York City, said that the new frontier 'come with new perils and new dangers', besides hijacking sensitive details related to business and national security.
"The greater danger facing us in cyberspace goes beyond crime and it goes beyond harassment. A cyber attack perpetrated by nation state's violent extremists groups could be as destructive as the terrorist attack on 9/11. Such a destructive cyber-terrorist attack could virtually paralyze the nation," he said.
"An aggressor nation or extremist group could use these kinds of cyber tools to gain control of critical switches. They could, for example, derail passenger trains or even more dangerous, derail trains loaded with lethal chemicals," he added.
"85 percent of the 260 graduates since 2003 have gone to the NSA, which students call 'the fraternity,' or the CIA, which they call the sorority," said Sujeet Shenoi, a pioneer in cyber program, according to Bendbulletin.com.
Shenoi provides his students both classroom and practical learning. Students work alongside the Secret Service and help them to crack the cases.
"Working alongside U.S. Secret Service agents, Tulsa Cyber Corps students have developed techniques for extracting evidence from burned or shattered cellphones," Hugh Dunleavy, head of the secret service criminal division, said in a written statement, according to the website.
Reportedly, Pentagon spend about $3 million annulay in enhancing its cyber security wing. Students, who aspire for a career in cyber security, have a better scope to work for federal agencies.
