An intriguing, beguiling, fascinating, daunting, and sobering story for the wonk in the deepest part of me. Years from now this may be seen as the first of many books about digital warfare. And the question may linger: why didn't we do more back then? ( )

FFS, no. This book is essentially about the Conficker worm/botnet from some years ago. Conficker is reasonably interesting as a subject, but this book is painful for two reasons. First, it's basically a book about a nerdy topic, for nerds, who know nothing about anything in this area -- sort of like writing a military book with lots of military topic for people who have never read a military memoir and who know nothing about the military or related topics. It's simultaneously too detailed and too simple, as it includes a lot of stupid and irrelevant details (describing a stereotype of a hacker but then quickly noting the people in the story don't meet that stereotype), doesn't have any real unifying theory or understanding of the material, and is just painful to read. Secondarily, it makes overly ambitious claims and then doesn't even try to live up to them. Skip -- find a decent 5 page summary of Conficker instead. ( )

This book started out great but then it's almost as if the author gets bored with it and it limps to the finish. While it lasted it was a good story about how computer viruses and worms are combatted and the people that do this work. ( )

Not very good ( )

Conficker was a malicious worm that was slowly working itself into millions of unknowing computers. A Cabal was formed of savvy computer guys to try and stop it from further advance, clean up where it already appeared, and try to figure out who was behind it and what was their motive. Gentle instruction is given to the reader who may not be proficient in Internet-speak. Those who are may find this book grindingly boring as they might be totally conversant in the subject, but those of us who are not will find it helpful.

Surprisingly, this story does not end with millions of computers crashing and the FBI breaking down doors arresting perps but the deadline passed without incident and the worm continues to this day, seemingly under its own steam. Attacks using this worm still continue but no world wide calamity occurred. The people who fought against it presumably continue if they haven't moved on to other threats. No big celebration of victory was held as the battle still hasn't been won. Even so, the message of the book is clear - we need to continue to be vigilant about future attacks and, for Pete's sake, people, don't pick up a USB in a parking lot and stick it in your computer!!! ( )