Description

The United States military now views cyberspace as the "fifth domain" of warfare, alongside land, air, sea, and space. The Pentagon, the National Security Agency, and the CIA field teams of hackers who launch cyber strikes against enemy targets--and amass staggering quantities of personal information on all of us. These same virtual warriors, along with a growing band of private-sector counterparts, are charged with defending us against the vast array of criminals, terrorists, and foreign governments who attack us with ever-increasing frequency and effectiveness. Journalist Shane Harris infiltrates the frontlines of this fifth domain, explaining how and why government agencies are joining with tech giants like Google and Microsoft to collect huge amounts of information and launch private cyber wars. The military has also formed a new alliance with tech and finance companies to patrol cyberspace, and Harris offers a penetrating and unnerving view of this partnership. Finally, he details the welter of opportunities and threats that the mushrooming "military-Internet complex" poses for our personal freedoms, our economic security, and the future of our nation.--From publisher description.