Spam Nation: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime - From Global Epidemic to Your Front Door

A New York Times bestseller and winner of a 2015 Prose Award! There is a threat lurking online. A secret war 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. Blending cutting-edge research, investigative reporting, and firsthand interviews, this terrifying true story reveals how we unwittingly invite these digital thieves into our lives every day. From unassuming computer programmers right next door to digital mobsters like "Cosma"—who unleashed a massive malware attack that has stolen thousands of Americans' logins and passwords—Krebs uncovers the shocking lengths to which these people will go to profit from our data and our wallets. Not only are hundreds of thousands of Americans exposing themselves to fraud and dangerously toxic products from rogue online pharmacies, but even those who never open junk messages are at risk. As Krebs notes, spammers can—and do—hack into accounts through these emails, harvest personal information like usernames and passwords, and sell them on the digital black market. The fallout from this global epidemic doesn't just cost consumers and companies billions, it costs lives too. Fast-paced and utterly gripping, Spam Nation ultimately proposes concrete solutions for protecting ourselves online and stemming this tidal wave of cybercrime—before it's too late. "Krebs's talent for exposing the weaknesses in online security has earned him respect in the IT business and loathing among cybercriminals... His track record of scoops...has helped him become the rare blogger who supports himself on the strength of his reputation for hard-nosed reporting." —Bloomberg Businessweek Now a New York Times bestseller! 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. Blending cutting-edge research, investigative reporting, and firsthand interviews, this terrifying true story reveals how we unwittingly invite these digital thieves into our lives every day. From unassuming computer programmers right next door to digital mobsters like "Cosma"--Who unleashed a massive malware attack that has stolen thousands of Americans' logins and passwords-Krebs uncovers the shocking lengths to which these people will go to profit from our data and our wallets. Not only are hundreds of thousands of Americans exposing themselves to fraud and dangerously toxic products from rogue online pharmacies, but even those who never open junk messages are at risk. As Krebs notes, spammers can-and do-hack into accounts through these emails, harvest personal information like usernames and passwords, and sell them on the digital black market. The fallout from this global epidemic doesn't just cost consumers and companies billions, it costs lives too. Fast-paced and utterly gripping, Spam Nation ultimately proposes concrete solutions for protecting ourselves online and stemming this tidal wave of cybercrime-before it's too late. "Krebs's talent for exposing the weaknesses in online security has earned him respect in the IT business and loathing among cybercriminals ... His track record of scoops ... has helped him become the rare blogger who supports himself on the strength of his reputation for hard-nosed reporting."--Bloomberg Businessweek Now A New York Times Bestseller! 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. Blending Cutting-edge Research, Investigative Reporting, And Firsthand Interviews, This Terrifying True Story Reveals How We Unwittingly Invite These Digital Thieves Into Our Lives Every Day. From Unassuming Computer Programmers Right Next Door To Digital Mobsters Like Cosma-who Unleashed A Massive Malware Attack That Has Stolen Thousands Of Americans' Logins And Passwords-krebs Uncovers The Shocking Lengths To Which These People Will Go To Profit From Our Data And Our Wallets. Not Only Are Hundreds Of Thousands Of Americans Exposing Themselves To Fraud And Dangerously Toxic Products From Rogue Online Pharmacies, But Even Those Who Never Open Junk Messages Are At Risk. As Krebs Notes, Spammers Can-and Do-hack Into Accounts Through These Emails, Harvest Personal Information Like Usernames And Passwords, And Sell Them On The Digital Black Market. The Fallout From This Global Epidemic Doesn't Just Cost Consumers And Companies Billions, It Costs Lives Too. Fast-paced And Utterly Gripping, Spam Nation Ultimately Proposes Concrete Solutions For Protecting Ourselves Online And Stemming This Tidal Wave Of Cybercrime-before It's Too Late. Krebs's Talent For Exposing The Weaknesses In Online Security Has Earned Him Respect In The It Business And Loathing Among Cybercriminals... His Track Record Of Scoops...has Helped Him Become The Rare Blogger Who Supports Himself On The Strength Of His Reputation For Hard-nosed Reporting. -bloomberg Businessweek 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. Blending cutting-edge research, investigative reporting, and firsthand interviews, this terrifying true story reveals how we unwittingly invite these digital thieves into our lives every day. From unassuming computer programmers right next door to digital mobsters like "Cosma" who unleashed a massive malware attack that has stolen thousands of Americans' logins and passwords, Krebs uncovers the shocking lengths to which these people will go to profit from our data and our wallets. Not only are hundreds of thousands of Americans exposing themselves to fraud and dangerously toxic products from rogue online pharmacies, but even those who never open junk messages are at risk. As Krebs notes, spammers canand dohack into accounts through these emails, harvest personal information like usernames and passwords, and sell them on the digital black market. The fallout from this global epidemic doesn't just cost consumers and companies billions, it costs lives too. Fast-paced and utterly gripping, Spam Nation ultimately proposes concrete solutions for protecting ourselves online and stemming this tidal wave of cybercrime, before it's too late. "Krebs's talent for exposing the weaknesses in online security has earned him respect in the IT business and loathing among cybercriminals. His track record of scoops has helped him become the rare blogger who supports himself on the strength of his reputation for hard-nosed reporting." Bloomberg Businessweek "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. Blending cutting-edge research, investigative reporting, and firsthand interviews, this terrifying true story reveals how we unwittingly invite these digital thieves into our lives every day. From unassuming computer programmers right next door to digital mobsters like "Cosma"--Who unleashed a massive malware attack that has stolen thousands of Americans' logins and passwords--Krebs uncovers the shocking lengths to which these people will go to profit from our data and our wallets. Not only are hundreds of thousands of Americans exposing themselves to fraud and dangerously toxic products from rogue online pharmacies, but even those who never open junk messages are at risk. As Krebs notes, spammers can--and do--hack into accounts through these emails, harvest personal information like usernames and passwords, and sell them on the digital black market. The fallout from this global epidemic doesn't just cost consumers and companies billions, it costs lives too. Fast-paced and utterly gripping, Spam Nation ultimately proposes concrete solutions for protecting ourselves online and stemming this tidal wave of cybercrime--before it's too late"--Publisher's description "In Spam Nation, investigative journalist and cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs unmasks the criminal masterminds driving some of the biggest operations targeting you and your bank accounts. Tracing the rise, fall, and alarming resurrection of the digital mafia behind two of the largest spam pharmacies - and countless viruses, phishing, and spyware attacks - he delivers the definitive narrative of this global problem and its threat to consumers everywhere. Even those who never open junk messages aren't safe. These days, through junk mail, spammers can hack into email accounts, harvest personal information like usernames and passwords, and sell them on the digital black market. Fast-paced and utterly gripping, Spam Nation is a vital call to action to stem this tidal wave of cybercrime before its too late." -- book cover Explores 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--amazon.com. Parasite -- Bulletproof -- The Pharma Wars -- Meet The Buyers -- Russian Roulette -- Partner(ka)s In (dis)organized Crime -- Meet The Spammers -- Old Friends, Bitter Enemies -- Meeting In Moscow -- The Antis -- Takedown -- Endgame -- Epilogue: A Spam-free World: How You Can Protect Yourself From Cybercrime. Brian Krebs. Includes Bibliographical References. Now in paperback, an expose of the global cybercrime epidemic and its threat to consumers everywhere.