Fantastic Listen

Really really really enjoyed this. Very interesting getting first hand information and insight as to what c compromised system looks like from a sysadmin point of view. Great listen

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Best listen in many a year. What a story!

Simply brilliant. I couldn’t stop listening. This book is engrossing and fascinating. Without doubt one of the best listens I’ve ever had.

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Fascinating, scary, frustrating

Not a lot has changed since the book was written. The three letter agencies still don't disclose bugs they find useful, and systems are not secure by design.

If you enjoyed Andy Weir's novels, then you will enjoy this non fiction story even more.

If you take a drink every time the word "bailiwick" is mentioned, make sure you have plenty of drink available, because it's going to be a wild party.

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Well paced and fascinating story. I felt invested in it

The story was amazing in several regards. That computer hacking and laws surrounding it were still new, which prevented any national security organisations from investing in the problem.

It was up to a student and his pure curiosity to catch this hacker. As the problem keeps getting deeper, you see Cliff's world as a student expand into networking across multiple organisations. Each entity refuses to give any pointers and help, resolving everything to secrecy. Every discovery Cliff makes on this hacker uncovers something more sinister the organisations were unprepared for. The personal investment and systematic problems create an interesting read for the reader.

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I loved it

This was an excellent story that was told beautifully, the author and narrator put you right there, highly recommend.

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Very detailed

Awesome, couldn't stop listening to it. Would recommend if you are into technology and technology related things.

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Intriguing book with excellent dlivery

The book has a gripping story. the computer and cyber security parts are explained in an eloquent way. The delivery by the narrator is excellent

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Great story but iffy presentation at times.

I enjoyed this account. The fact that it happened decades ago in no way minimises its impact. It is let down a bit by the author's somewhat confusing stance on his own political leanings. He is basically a left-wing student type having difficulties with his realisation that most FBI, NSA and CIA personnel with whom he deals are basically decent people with no personal axes to grind. His relationship with girlfriend Martha is also at times nauseatingly sickly-sweet; they like to make quilts together and this gets several needless mentions - this guy is just too good to be true. He clearly wishes to be seen as an innocent abroad in a big bad world, and this too is irritating. These things apart, I found it a good listen.

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1 person found this helpful

Ah the old days of pdp11’s

In my yuf, i played with the machines and saw the the days Cliff details what a trip down memory lane, fascinating.
But sadly the same parasites from the same country (but with a different name today) still meddle with elections and electricity grids.

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Excellent book, never gets old

Although the technology has advanced quite a lot, and the techniques explained in the book are mostly of historical interest only, the book keeps giving a very entertaining story, and with an excellent narrator

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