Nicole Perlroth, a cybersecurity reporter for the New York Times and author of "This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends," delves into the shadowy world of zero-day brokers who sell malware to exploit vulnerabilities. She shares her gripping encounters with espionage, including a hacking attempt linked to the Chinese military. The conversation reveals the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, the intense competition for zero-day exploits, and the implications of government-sponsored cyber operations. A fascinating exploration of digital threats and ethics.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
NYT Hack
The New York Times was hacked by Chinese military in 2012, likely seeking journalist sources.
Nicole Perlroth, embedded with security teams and the FBI, observed the attacker's routine.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Other Hacks Revealed
After the NYT published their hack, other news agencies revealed similar attacks.
One colleague's computer was confiscated as it was used to stage attacks within the NYT network.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Source Protection
Protect sources and conversations using pen and paper, burner laptops, and encrypted apps like Signal.
Meet sensitive sources regularly without devices, relying solely on handwritten notes for security.
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This book, written by Nicole Perlroth, delves into the secretive world of cyberweapons, exploring the origins of state-sponsored cyberattacks, the evolution of cyberweaponry, and the potential catastrophic consequences of the ongoing cyber arms race. It includes stories of high-profile cyberattacks like Stuxnet and WannaCry, and discusses the roles of private companies, criminal groups, and individual hackers in this market. The book is based on years of reporting and hundreds of interviews with current and former government officials, cybersecurity experts, and hackers, and is praised for its engaging and terrifying portrayal of modern global warfare[1][3][5].
Zero day brokers are people who make or sell malware that’s sold to people who will use that malware to exploit people. It’s a strange and mysterious world that not many people know a lot about. Nicole Perlroth, who is a cybersecurity reporter for the NY Times, dove in head first which resulted in her writing a whole book on it.
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