TECHNOLOGY-CYBERWARRIORS/ (FEATURE)

> * Private sector, anti-establishment causes both rivals * Could China, Russia "patriotic hackers" turn on masters? By Peter Apps, Political Risk Correspondent LONDON, April 20 (Reuters) - Cyberspace is likely to be a key battleground for states in the 21st century but recruiting those with the technical skills to fight there and retaining their loyalty will be a tough task. From hacking attacks aimed at information theft and commercial espionage to the Stuxnet computer worm believed to have been designed to attack Iran's nuclear programme last year, information warfare is rising rapidly. Code making and breaking has been a prized skill in the art of espionage since ancient times but the swiftly moving pace of technology and the sometimes erratic personas of those at the cutting edge pose many challenges. "There is absolutely not enough of them, you need an order of magnitude... more than we have at the moment," said John Bassett, associate fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London and a former senior official at Britain's Government Communications Headquarters (GCHQ).

"From hacking attacks aimed at information theft and commercial espionage to the Stuxnet computer worm believed to have been designed to attack Iran's nuclear programme last year, information warfare is rising rapidly"In both Western countries and emerging powers such as China and Russia -- seen as viewing cyber warfare as a key area of interest -- governments have been recruiting hard through competitions, universities and sometimes social media sites. A Reuters special report last week showed some U.S. experts were concerned Beijing was already pulling ahead in the cyber espionage field, revealing that proxy talks between the two powers were already underway on avoiding unintended escalation. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ For a PDF of the special report on cyber espionage, click here: link.reuters.com/duh98r ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> In an era of heightened confrontation and technical advances, retention is a challenge. Skilled specialists can burn out, be poached by the private sector or can be tempted by criminal or anti-establishment causes.

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