Dark Territory

April 1, 2016

Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Kaplan (The Insurgents) provides an intriguing account of the new arms race. Starting with Ronald Reagan questioning the capabilities of a cyberattack after watching the movie WarGames, the U.S. interest in cyberwarfare began to unfold. The government realized that while other countries might be vulnerable to attacks, America, too, was susceptible to such invasions. A mad scramble to build up defenses and offensive capabilities ensued over the course of the next 25 years and hasn't stopped since. Kaplan does a good job tracing the history of this military landscape, demonstrating that the fear of warheads passing in the sky is now replaced with hospitals being shut down and banks cleared of funds via keystrokes. What is remarkable is how recent these actions are, and that governments are still determining the basics, such as if a cyberattack constitutes an act of war. Though people worldwide sit comfortably at home or in coffee shops looking at websites, cyberattacks are happening daily. We just don't see them. VERDICT A thought-provoking read on a topic that is increasing in relevance. For fans of the history of warfare, technology, and the film Sneakers. [See Prepub Alert, 9/28/15.]--Ryan Claringbole, Dept. of Public Instruction, Madison, WI

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