Cyberspies

By: Gordon Corera

Narrated by: Gildart Jackson

Length: 17 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's Summary

The previously untold - and previously highly classified - story of the conflux of espionage and technology, a compelling narrative rich with astonishing revelations, taking listeners from World War II to the Internet age.

As the digital era becomes increasingly pervasive, the intertwining forces of computers and espionage are reshaping the entire world; what was once the preserve of a few intelligence agencies now affects us all. Corera's compelling narrative takes us from the Second World War through the Cold War and the birth of the Internet to the present era of hackers and surveillance. The book is rich with historical detail and characters as well as astonishing revelations about espionage carried out in recent times by the United Kingdom, the United States, and China. Using unique access to the NSA, GCHQ, Chinese officials, and senior executives from some of the most powerful global technology companies, Gordon Corera has gathered compelling stories from heads of state, hackers, and spies of all stripes.

Cyberspies is a groundbreaking exploration of the new space in which the worlds of espionage, diplomacy, international business, science, and technology collide.

©2015 Gordon Corera (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

One in a Million

In my lifetime I've read/listened to hundreds of books and not even one, including legendary works such as Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations, came close to the superior quality of this presentation in terms of articulation & presenting a very complex subject into the easily understandable logic.

It's as if the author served filet minion in every sentence including only the most succulent meaningful richness of intellectual information & logic all presented beautifully in chronological order so that the evolution of cyber-technology built upon itself in an orderly flow of rich content.

The highlights for myself:
1. Rare, once classified information of the NSA, GCHQ, Five Eyes, etc. that give light to the mechanics of international intelligence gathering.
2. Beautiful Chronological order of the information took the reader on a journey through time
3. Articulation; the author has a rare natural talent at organizing & presenting information highlighting intuitive thoughtfulness in regards to all the evidence before us. There seems not a wasted word, every sentence was there for an important piece of the overall intellectual infrastructure.

If any reason to listen again to this presentation it is this rare, unique gift the author demonstrates at articulating subject matter into digestible, meaningful, orderly content that gives sense a thorough completeness backed by rich sources. A once in a lifetime read, it wouldn't surprise me to see this book spoken about for the next 100 years.

11 of 12 people found this review helpful

Thought Provoking

Living just south of a huge data center, I've been curious about the complicated issues of security vs. liberty. This book did a good job keeping a neutral tone, laying out relevant facts with well documented first-hand accounts. I also enjoyed the uniquely British perspective of the author, though the text was very accessible for readers of any nationality.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

I'm paranoid now!

This book goes back in time to show the history, mindset and culture of spying and how it evolves and diverges into today's technological world. I liked the perspectives of each culture as it relates to governments and private industry. A good read for anyone in the tech or comm fields.

4 of 5 people found this review helpful

Interesting!

I really enjoyed this book. Lots of information reagarding both the history & current situation of cyber espionage. The reader has an educated British accent that is easy for this Californian to understand and adds to the international flair of the audio version of this book. Highly recommended if you are interested in cyber espionage!

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

A history lesson on our cyber world.

Well Narrated story about our western surveillance cyber systems. I learned a lot from this author; good choice to buy this audiobook.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Comprehensive and interesting review of cyber

Very interesting review of computers and spies from WWI to modern day. Well researched and put together.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Thrilling, scary, informative look at cyberspace

Any additional comments?

A magnificent and even-handed look at the history of cyber spying from World War I to the present. The tales of espionage, especially the story of Enigma, and the cooperation between America and Britain are spellbinding.

The analysis of the similarities and differences between spying on governments and spying on private industries was well explained. The near disappearance of old notions of privacy can make anyone using a digital device nervous, but the author gives a very clear picture of the trade-offs between security and stability and privacy.

Our adversaries are highly skilled in cyberspying and our enemies are also skilled in using the internet and all telecommunications to coordinate their terrorist activities. The same tools that keep us safe could be used by a more totalitarian system to crush dissent or even innovation. We have let more than one genie out of the bottle and there is no putting them back again.

Excellent narration by Gildart Jackson.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Great read

Altered my outlook on the pros and cons of surveillance and provided a detailed history of the evolution of the field.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent overview of the history and politics of cyber security

I found this to be a well written(and performed) overview of the history and current questions facing all societies about the use of Information technology.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful

Excellent history of where technology meets spying

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. The book is well written and well researched. It brings historical perspective to some of the burgeoning issues in a world more and more enmeshed in technology.

Any additional comments?

Well-researched and engaging history of spying (both governmental and corporate) and how it intersects with technology. Corera starts all the way back in WWI with the cutting of Germany's telegraph line and runs right through into the present, post-Snowden era. The book is expansive and in depth, managing to thoughtfully explain the counterbalancing of security concerns with privacy rights, and pointing out that the interconnectedness of things has only changed the thrust of spying from human sources to cyber ones. The books inclusion of corporate espionage and the ever more entangled relationship between various companies and their domestic governments (not to mention demands by foreign governments) rounds it out as more than just the typical spy versus spy history. Highly recommended.

2 of 3 people found this review helpful