Grant allows more ISU students to learn to fight computer hackers

The National Science Foundation is giving Iowa State University more money to train students to battle cyber hackers. I-S-U computer engineering professor Doug Jacobsen says the two-point-six million-dollar grant will provide scholarships for roughly 40 more students in the program. Jacobsen says students will learn a lot more than computer code. They’ll spend a lot of time emphasizing leadership, as that’s important to the effort. Jacobsen says the government is making an effort to protect the nation’s computer systems. He says there’s concern over general hackers, and those who might want to commit terrorism through disrupting computer systems. He says graduate and undergraduate students are eligible for the program.Jacobsen says there are currently 10 students officially enrolled in the program, with another 10 to 15 students taking some of the courses in the program. Iowa State is one of six schools receiving money to train students in computer security.