Kingpin

How One Hacker Took Over the Billion-Dollar Cybercrime Underground

By: Kevin Poulsen

Narrated by: Eric Michael Summerer

The word spread through the hacking underground like some unstoppable new virus: Someone - some brilliant, audacious crook - had just staged a hostile takeover of an online criminal network that siphoned billions of dollars from the U.S. economy. The FBI rushed to launch an ambitious undercover operation aimed at tracking down this new kingpin. Other agencies around the world deployed dozens of moles and double agents.

Together, the cybercops lured numerous unsuspecting hackers into their clutches. Yet at every turn, their main quarry displayed an uncanny ability to sniff out their snitches and see through their plots. The culprit they sought was the most unlikely of criminals: a brilliant programmer with a hippie ethic and a supervillain's double identity. Together with a smooth-talking con artist, he ran a massive real-world crime ring.

©2011 Kevin Poulsen (P)2015 Tantor

Critic reviews

"A compelling ride." ( Kirkus)

Troubled Hacker Rules Stolen Credit Card World

What did you love best about Kingpin?

I think Poulsen was the second best person to write this book, Max Vision himself is the only one who could have done a better job because the book is about him. That's really what separates this book from Ghost in the Wire, Mitnick wrote his own book and this is a second hand account of everything that happened. Still, I loved it and Poulsen did a great job with it.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Kingpin?

Max changes his name to Max Ray Vision. Clearly it says something about you when you change your name. We get a sense that Max is a tortured soul wanting to do good and then reverting to crime and his need to be in control and hack.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I think this book would make an excellent film, with a film it's all about what you focus on and the wild parties would make good cinematography.

Any additional comments?

Some of the book has an investigative journalist feel to it and other parts feel more like taking a ride into the underbelly of the internet. Overall I loved it.

Interesting then boring then interesting ...

Parts of it were interesting but I found myself zoning out and not paying attention because parts dragged a little. Not sure if it would have helped to not do audio book for this one (perhaps it’s just a little much for audiobook..)....?..

Decent story

A good story overall but it wasn't as captivating. The narrator could've done a better job at making the story more interesting.

Excellent audio book.

Excellent narration. And very interesting story. Too bad such a brain was lost in criminal acts.

Great book! Kept me interested.

Great Book! Kept me looking forward to upcoming chapters. A bit techie, but overavall I understood it.