How Modern Threats Are Redefining the Rules of Defense with Paul Chichester

Thomas Rid's "Cyber War Will Not Take Place" challenges the prevailing narrative of imminent large-scale cyber warfare. Rid argues that the reality of cyber conflict is far more nuanced and less dramatic than often portrayed. He analyzes historical precedents and technological limitations to demonstrate that widespread cyberattacks causing catastrophic damage are unlikely. The book explores the political and strategic dimensions of cyber operations, emphasizing the importance of understanding the motivations and capabilities of different actors. Rid's analysis provides a more realistic and less sensationalized view of the cyber threat landscape, urging a more measured and strategic approach to cybersecurity.

In this book, Clifford Stoll recounts his unexpected adventure as a computer systems manager at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. A 75-cent accounting error leads him to discover an unauthorized user on the system, later identified as a hacker named 'Hunter' who was stealing sensitive military information. Stoll's one-man investigation involves a high-stakes game of deception, broken codes, satellites, and missile bases, eventually gaining the attention of the CIA. The book details the early days of cybersecurity, the challenges of persuading government agencies to cooperate, and the race against time to safeguard sensitive information from falling into the wrong hands.