Spam Nation

The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime - from Global Epidemic to Your Front Door

By: Brian Krebs

Narrated by: Christopher Lane

Length: 8 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

There is a Threat Lurking Online with the Power to Destroy Your Finances, Steal Your Personal Data, and Endanger Your Life.

In Spam Nation, investigative journalist and cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs unmasks the criminal masterminds driving some of the biggest spam and hacker operations targeting Americans and their bank accounts. Tracing the rise, fall, and alarming resurrection of the digital mafia behind the two largest spam pharmacies - and countless viruses, phishing, and spyware attacks - he delivers the first definitive narrative of the global spam problem and its threat to consumers everywhere.

©2014 Brian Krebs (P)2014 Brilliance Audio, all rights reserved.

Risky topic, but Br. Krebs hits it out of the park

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

Not only would I recommend it to my Cyber Security Colleagues, I will and have recommended it to a number of technical & non-technical & Leadership professionals that can use the stories in Brian's book to put some context around many of the things we encounter everyday...anywhere from a DDOS attack, phishing email or stolen credit card numbers.

What did you like best about this story?

I enjoyed the level of detail that Brian was able to provide - you can't make this stuff up! It takes a great story teller to explain the technical crud and avoid putting your audience to sleep. Brian does a good job grabbing you, let go a few times, and then loops everything back around in the end.

Which scene was your favorite?

I really liked That he was crazy enough to travel overseas and meet some of these people...it's not for the faint of heart, and I will bet that Brian was much more nervous than he let on.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

unfortunately, I have a bit of a personal conection to a few chapters from the book...not with Mr. Krebs, although I have seen him at a couple industry events. My biggest reaction was more of - ahaaa, that is why this stopped happening, or "that explains a lot".

Any additional comments?

I did the kindle and audio versions, the audio was great, but I had to get past the Russian narratives, after a while, ey just became funny parts of the story...as They were probably meant to be.

Thorough but a bit dry

If you could sum up Spam Nation in three words, what would they be?

Gonzo tech journalism

What was one of the most memorable moments of Spam Nation?

When Krebs finally goes to Russia; after the slow burn of the preceding 10 or so chapters this climax was sincerely exciting.

Which character – as performed by Christopher Lane – was your favorite?

As great as his Russian accent is, it was the New Yorker that gave me the biggest smile.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Krebs's trip to Russia.

Any additional comments?

I appreciate how personal this book is. It's not just a journalistic account of the activities of an unscrupulous subculture, but it's also introspective and includes the author and his perceptions in the narrative. The first-person account makes the story all the more interesting. It's not all edge-of-your-seat riveting intrigue, but all the detail is essential background into an ever-changing modern criminal landscape.

Spamtastic

I recommend this book for anyone who wants to understand the extent of the spam problem and what's behind it. Very well researched.

Missed the mark

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Maybe if someone wants a glimpse into this seedy underworld, sure. Mostly this book was too long, felt labourous, and fairly boring.

If this book were a movie would you go see it?

Only if rewritten.

Poor Narration

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Interesting content but difficult to follow.

How did the narrator detract from the book?

The narrator's Russian accent was achieved by slurring words to the point that he couldn't be understood.

A riveting look behind the mask of spam

As someone who works in the IT Security space, I now have a deeper respect for the fight against spam, thanks to this book. excellent work Mr. Krebs.

Surprised How Riveting a Technology Book Could Be

Any additional comments?

I expected a wonky technology book but found myself caught up in the drama and colorful personalities of a virtual war that impacted all of our lives, though most knew little about. I was equally impressed with the narrator's ability to to switch between accents and reflect the personalities of the subjects involved. By far one of my favorite audiobooks to date.

Who knew that Spam was so interesting

What made the experience of listening to Spam Nation the most enjoyable?

Great book that really digs into the spam problem and what drives those to spend so much time and effort sending spam.

I wish I had this updated every month

Lots of good information that you need to understand spam. I would like to be more current on the information.

Eye opening

I've always wondered what was going on behind the scenes of cyber scams and it is nice to have Brian share some of his insights.