This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends Book Summary

Book Summary

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Brief Summary

"This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends" by Nicole Perlroth is a non-fiction book that explores the world of cyber weapons and the threat they pose to global security. The author provides an in-depth investigation into the development and proliferation of these weapons, as well as the role of government agencies, corporations, and hackers in their creation and use. The book also highlights the dangers and potential consequences of cyberattacks on critical infrastructure, such as power grids and financial systems. Overall, "This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends" offers a chilling account of the current state of cyber warfare and the urgent need for better security measures to protect against these threats.

About the Author

Nicole Perlroth is an American journalist who is known for her work covering cybersecurity and digital espionage. She has been a staff reporter for The New York Times since 2011, where she covers cybersecurity, national security, and privacy. Perlroth has won numerous awards for her reporting, including the 2019 McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage and the 2019 Cornelius Ryan Award for Best Nonfiction Book for "This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends" And including the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Explanatory Reporting, which she shared with her colleagues at The New York Times for their coverage of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election.

Before joining The New York Times, Perlroth was a correspondent for Forbes Magazine, where she covered venture capital and cybersecurity. She has also worked as a producer and correspondent for CNN, where she covered breaking news and produced award-winning documentaries on the Middle East and Africa.

Perlroth is a graduate of Princeton University, where she earned a degree in English literature. She also holds a master's degree in journalism from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. She is a frequent speaker and commentator on cybersecurity and has appeared on numerous television and radio programs, including CBS This Morning, NPR's All Things Considered, and PBS NewsHour.

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Politics

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Quick Summary

"This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends" by Nicole Perlroth is a meticulously researched and deeply disturbing account of the global cyber arms race. The book is an exploration of the rise of cyber weapons, the vulnerabilities of our digital infrastructure, and the potential consequences of a catastrophic cyber attack.

The book begins with the story of an unassuming cybersecurity researcher named Ruben Santamarta, who discovers a critical vulnerability in a commercial airplane's satellite communication system. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to take control of the plane and cause it to crash, and yet the manufacturer has done nothing to fix the problem. This discovery leads Perlroth on a journey into the shadowy world of cyber weapons, where governments and criminals alike are developing sophisticated tools to exploit weaknesses in our digital systems.

Throughout the book, Perlroth weaves together the stories of the people and organizations involved in the global cyber arms race. We meet the hackers who are developing new tools and techniques to break into networks and steal sensitive data, the intelligence agencies who are hoarding vulnerabilities for use in future attacks, and the companies that are selling spyware and other tools to governments around the world.

As Perlroth uncovers the extent of the problem, she also reveals the enormous consequences of a major cyber attack. She examines the potential impact on critical infrastructure such as power grids, water systems, and transportation networks, and considers the possibility of a catastrophic attack that could bring down entire economies and destabilize governments.

Ultimately, Perlroth argues that the global cyber arms race is a threat to national security, economic stability, and individual privacy. She calls for greater transparency and accountability in the development and use of cyber weapons, and suggests that the only way to mitigate the risks is through international cooperation and a renewed focus on cybersecurity.

"This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends" is a sobering and thought-provoking book that offers a detailed and nuanced look at one of the most pressing issues of our time. It is a must-read for anyone interested in technology, cybersecurity, and the future of global security.

Detailed Summary

The first chapter of the book is titled "Patient Zero." The author begins by describing how she was attending the annual hacker convention known as DEF CON, where she was approached by an individual who claimed to have found a major vulnerability in the security of the internet. This person, who remained anonymous, had discovered a bug in the Domain Name System (DNS), which is the system that translates domain names into IP addresses. This bug could potentially allow an attacker to redirect traffic from legitimate websites to malicious ones. The author is initially skeptical, but as she investigates further, she realizes the severity of the issue. This vulnerability would allow hackers to intercept emails, reroute internet traffic, and even take control of critical infrastructure systems.

Chapter two is titled "The Bug Hunters." The author introduces several...