Dawn of the Code War

America's Battle Against Russia, China, and the Rising Global Cyber Threat

By: John P. Carlin, Garrett M. Graff

Narrated by: Kevin Stillwell

The inside story of how America's enemies launched a cyber war against us-and how we've learned to fight back
With each passing year, the internet-linked attacks on America's interests have grown in both frequency and severity. Overmatched by our military, countries like North Korea, China, Iran, and Russia have found us vulnerable in cyberspace. The "Code War" is upon us.
In this dramatic book, former Assistant Attorney General John P. Carlin takes readers to the front lines of a global but little-understood fight as the Justice Department and the FBI chases down hackers, online terrorist recruiters, and spies. Today, as our entire economy goes digital, from banking to manufacturing to transportation, the potential targets for our enemies multiply. This firsthand account is both a remarkable untold story and a warning of dangers yet to come.

Critic reviews

"John Carlin has written a crucial book- for practitioners and laymen alike-about the evolution, impacts, and implications of the abuses we've all witnessed, and many have personally experienced, in the cyber domain. Cyber is yet another example of the dual-edged nature of technology: huge benefit to mankind on one hand, and the potential for great harm on the other. And, unique to this book, is the historical description of how we have tried to respond to the harmful activities that occur all too frequently in the cyber domain. An interesting read, with vivid detail. John represents a superb amalgam of legal insight and great writing skill. A must read in my view."—James Clapper, New York Times bestselling author and formerDirector of National Intelligence

"This book is thrilling, important, and deeply fascinating. Cybersecurity is key to modern life: an imperative for us as a nation and each of us personally. It's about protecting our personal data, our businesses, and our democracy. John Carlin has been on the front lines, defending us against attacks from China, North Korea, Russia, Syria, and criminal gangs. The riveting stories of these secret battles for our digital safety teach us much about what America can-and must-do to protect itself."—Walter Isaacson, New York Times bestselling author of LeonardoDa Vinci

"By turns electrifying, illuminating, inspirational, and difficult to put down, [Dawn of the Code War] describes how 'criminals, terrorists, and spies' have used the Internet for their gain, and how the U.S. government along with international allies, has assessed and addressed these threats... Similar in energy to Carl Bernstein's All the Presidents Men, it informs of current cyberthreats while offering stirring success stories and cautions about the future of the code war... A deeply intriguing look into cybersecurity threats facing the United States that will fascinate anyone interested in technology and/or political intrigue." —Library Journal

"Given the threats Carlin enumerates, including election hacking and the theft of intelligence files, responses "created and refined in real-time" are increasingly necessary-but not forthcoming. Given the lack of developed policy, if you're alarmed by the thought of Russian election tampering in 2016, you're likely to be even more so come the midterms-and by this dire book."—Kirkus Reviews

great story z

I liked the story and look forward to another updated version about techno threats in our future.

Must Read for Cybersecurity Professionals

Dawn of the Code War brought together the state of cybersecurity through 2018. If you do nothing else, listen to the last chapter and epilogue, it is refreshing to hear real world solutions presented and not just the salacious details of cybercrime.

The only thing that kept me from 5 stars was the length of the audiobook. Kudos on getting this project completed, please write a short book on 2018 to 2020, including the 2020 election. Thanks!

very good info with just a little political bias

overall very good book, eye opening information about China and the amount of technology theft that has gone on over the past couple decades.
great insight into government policy and the attempts to deal with Internet security gets a bit partisan at the end kind of a FBI director Comey fanboy. the author criticizes Trump for using a cell phone but does not mention Hillary Clinton's use of private servers. however most of the book is unbiased and worth the credit.

must read/listen

the book does a great job at explaining the challenges of cyber security. a must read for everyone.

Urgent and clear.

A very detailed look at the history of US cybersecurity policy, attacks, and countermeasures. Author is highly experienced and very insightful. A must read for anybody in the field.