Federal intelligence agencies are hiring hackers to test the security of government infrastructure and to attack foreign targets.

The recruitment drive, which offers recruits "a licence to hack", comes after a number of attacks on government agencies including the Department of Human Services during the census collection period.

Experts have warned of glaring holes in Australia's cyber security policy. Credit:Westend61

Other targets include Austrade, the Defence Science Technology Group and the Bureau of Meteorology, which was breached last year by Chinese-based hackers.

Another 97 federal departments have reportedly been told to encrypt more data amid hundreds of attempted intrusions every month.