Telecommunications company TelstraClear has hired a teenaged former hacker to give advice to its corporate customers.
Owen Walker, 19, of Whitianga, admitted to cyber crimes after being investigated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the United States while still at secondary school.
He was later discharged without conviction.
TelstraClear has now contracted Mr Walker to help its internet customers minimise the risks of having their computer networks controlled by outsiders.
Communications manager Chris Mirams says Mr Walker will focus on "botnets", which can consist of millions of computers that are remotely controlled for criminal means.
Mr Mirams says an increasing number of New Zealand businesses are being hit by botnets.
