CULT OF THE DEAD COW: HOW THE ORIGINAL HACKING SUPERGROUP MIGHT JUST SAVE THE WORLD Paperback – Illustrated, 2 June 2020

From now on I am going to recommend this book to everyone who wants to learn more how technologies work. People should have some idea about the past, and this book has details.

"Cult of the Dead Cow" is not just a book; it’s a journey through the evolution of cybersecurity seen through the eyes of its pioneers. As an old-timer in the cybersecurity field, I found this book to be a captivating blend of history, innovation, and the ethical dilemmas that shape our digital world. It chronicles how a group of hackers transformed into ethical activists, shaping policies and technologies that define our digital landscape today. With insightful storytelling and a deep understanding of the hacker culture, this book not only educates but also inspires a new generation to think critically about cybersecurity and its global impact. A must-read for anyone passionate about the intersection of technology, ethics, and security.

Even though the book is used it came in a really good condition almost like new. It has a hard cover which is nice and a paper cover that can be removed.

With “Cult of the Dead Cow: How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World,” Joe Menn adds to a growing library of works covering people that took the Internet from a fledgling experiment to a socio-economic driving force reshaping humanity. More importantly, it fills in the gaps, long unsatisfied, about the origins of many well-known personalities and companies in the security field. On the whole it is compelling, thrilling and important.The story covers the group’s insider jokes and audacious antics with a flare indicative of the scene’s 80s/90s shenanigans. Rounding out these jovial undertones, however, is a deeper exploration of uncharted waters: how to transition from a life of hacking into the professional world, how to ethically work for a government, and how to use the pulpit to drive change.The book both suffers from, and overcomes, the difficult challenge of covering a sprawling web of interconnected people that influenced, were influenced by, and became influencers for cDc.This was never going to be an easy book to write. In the ever-complex Venn diagram that were social relationships, cDc was neither the first, nor the last, influential hacker collective from this time period. Menn has done a nice job connecting a few key people from L0pht, w00w00 and @stake; there are others. Inevitably there are important people and stories missing from the pages of this book. Time, distance, visibility (and anonymity) are the enemies of stories such as these.In this way, Menn is part hagiographer, part historian. Readers expecting a complete archive of hacker history and all its players will be disappointed. Perhaps someday there may be a Gibbonesque attempt to catalog and narrate, in full, everything known about the early hacking scene(s). But Menn’s book is meant to be something else; it’s a chance for the reader to see the deeper impacts of early hacker culture as told by people that lived it.Younger readers, especially those newly coming into the infosec/cybersecurity profession, can see herein the origins of the long-unsettled debate around the ethics of technology and what it means to be a technologist. What does it look like to ask the hard questions about the tech you’re building? What does it mean to make software that billions of people use and what responsibilities do you bear as the creator? What role does government (and censorship) play in a [virtual] world without borders? Can we approach society’s overall well-being with the hacker mindset? Where are things going from here?Menn’s story of a colorful cast of characters (some who warrant a book of their own) makes the book a page-turner, but the real purpose (whether intended or not) lies in its discussion on technology and ethics: where it has incubated and where its going. It’s approachable for non-tech audiences and makes a great beach read. Highly recommend.

Being a cybersecurity professional, I am interested in the history of cybersecurity so I was very keen to read this book. It did not disappoint. From the early days of young gamers documenting their hacking exploits within closed internet chat forums to the more recent leaks from national cybersecurity agencies, the Cult of the Dead Cow (cDc) casts its shadow. The cDc evolved from those early innocent beginnings culminating in more high stakes activities involving nation states and infamous individuals.This book takes the reader on the journey, introducing various members who have been involve over the years including making some surprising revelations about the involvement of respected public figures during the formative years of the cult. The history of the secretive cDc is complex but author Joseph Menn navigates the plot and sub-plots in a way that is easy to follow. His revelations are made with sensitivity and sincerity avoiding the temptation to name and shame or idolise members.I enjoyed reading this book as it gave me an informative background to many of the news headlines that demonise individuals who act for the good of humanity. If you're a cybersecurity professional like me, you will find this book fascinating. But this book has a wider appeal so I recommend this to anyone who has a passing interest hacking computers.

Der CDC ist in meinen Augen die US-Version des Chaos Computer Clubs.Das Buch erzählt viele Anekdoten und bringt auch immer wieder bekante Namen in Spiel.Im Gegensatz zum CCC is der CDC kommerziell gegangen.Es wird auch darauf eingegangen, wo die Mitglieder heute sitzen, Sicherheitschef bei xxx, SIcherheitsberater bei yyy usw.