Dark Territory

The Secret History of Cyber War

By: Fred Kaplan

Narrated by: Malcolm Hillgartner

Length: 9 hrs and 2 mins

Publisher's Summary

As cyber attacks dominate front-page news, as hackers join the list of global threats, and as top generals warn of a coming cyber war, few books are more timely and enlightening than Dark Territory: The Secret History of Cyber War by Slate columnist and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Fred Kaplan.

Kaplan probes the inner corridors of the National Security Agency, the beyond-top-secret cyber units in the Pentagon, the "information warfare" squads of the military services, and the national security debates in the White House to tell this never-before-told story of the officers, policymakers, scientists, and spies who devised this new form of warfare and who have been planning - and, more often than people know, fighting - these wars for decades.

From the 1991 Gulf War to conflicts in Haiti, Serbia, Syria, the former Soviet republics, Iraq, and Iran, where cyber warfare played a significant role, Dark Territory chronicles, in fascinating detail, an unknown past that shines an unsettling light on our future.

©2016 Fred Kaplan (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Best narrator - Malcolm Hillgartner

I believe that cyber warfare or terrorism Is the greatest threat of our age, a much more likely threat than conventional warfare, and way more likely than nuclear war. This book outlines many of the main characters who've shaped the landscape of that arena on the governmental side and is a worthy read (listen).

The narrator, Malcolm Hillgartner, is one of the best in the business, not because he can do a variety of voices (not his strength), but because his voice has weight and authority - you just enjoy hearing him tell this kind of a story. I recommend this book and this narrator

Less technical, more historical. Very topical.

Most people with a fair amount of technical savvy, who are also tuned into the general flow of politics may find the story slow. But the topic is definitely worth a read. The story is mostly a high level historical account without much gripping technical detail or suggestions about potential risks for the future.

We are all wandering in Dark Territory.

Possibly more relevant now than ever before, Kaplan's book provides an in depth, and extremely readable, history of cyberwarfare. Beginning in the Reagan presidency and continuing through the Obama administration, you won't find a better researched source of information on digital war and security.

Also, Malcom Hillaryner's performance is perfectly suited to this sort of material. Very highly recommended.

Footnote: Watch the movie "Wargames" before starting this. The book makes several references to it, plus it's just a great movie on its own. Not required of course, but you'll get a better experience out of Dark Territory afterwards.

What's the point?

Too many and never ending details, names, dates, ranks positions etc. I bought audible version. Would imagine print version to look like an event log or a guest entry register in an office reception. Very boring and very poor story telling by the author. Am getting more and more skeptical about Amazon editorial reviews these days.

A good, single sided view, of the history of hacking.

The listen is very good overall.
You must realize that this book tells the history from only one perspective... But still very good.

Too short

The book was really good, i ran through this one in two sittings. It runs a good length and is very dense, this subject needs an anthology

Great

This book is not as technical as I thought but gives an overall progress of current events in the cyber realm, as well as the start of US cyber offensive.

Must hear!

This was a fascinating book, laying out all the details and participants involved in discovering and wrestling with all the issues involved in cybersecurity and cyberwarfare. You will never understand tomorrow's news if you don't have this background as your foundation.
I am recommending this book to everyone.

not technical

I was looking for the technical aspects of this history. this book is political / anthropological, with absolutely no technical details.

Excellent

Excellent break down on the history of cyber war. Highly recommend for all cyber professionals