The Danish Defence Intelligence Service (Forsvarets Efterretningstjeneste, FE) opens applications for its hacker academy for the first time in six years. The training lasts five months and prepares participants for offensive cyber operations. The application deadline is 1 March 2026.
– FE can offer completely unique frameworks and tasks for hackers, as we are the only ones legally allowed to conduct offensive hacking operations against targets abroad, says Thomas Ahrenkiel, head of the Danish Defence Intelligence Service, in a press release.
The training starts on 3 August 2026 and is aimed at individuals with exceptional talent in IT security. FE states that they are seeking the top two percent in the field to work with Computer Network Exploitation (CNE). The activity involves compromising adversaries' networks to gather information.
There are no formal requirements for education or background to apply. According to the intelligence service, candidates are instead tested on IQ, learning ability, personality, and technical skills. Great emphasis is placed on the ability to work in a team.
– We have people who come directly from primary school. We have people with a doctorate. We have young people. We have older people. You don't need to have followed a specific path to become a hacker at FE. The most important thing is to have the right attitude, the right skills, and the willingness to train and learn new things, says "Oscar", who works as a hacker at FE after previously completing the Hacker Academy.
The Hacker Academy was last conducted in 2020, and the training concept is inspired by special forces methods, according to FE. Candidates who pass the eye of the needle are offered employment with the agency after completing the training.