Synopses & Reviews
The astonishing story of an obsessive hacker who broke into highly secured computer systems at banks, universities, federal agencies, and top-secret military weapons-research sites, At Large exposes the frightening vulnerability of the global on-line network.
Chronicling the massive manhunt that united hard-nosed FBI agents, computer nerds, and uptight security bureaucrats against an elusive computer outlaw, At Large is "a real-life tale of cops vs. hackers, by two technology writers with a flair for turning a complicated crime and investigation into a fast-moving, edge-of-your-seat story" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).
"A gripping mystery story that rips the glossy, high-tech cover off the on-line world to reveal the nest of bizarre subcultures lurking below". -- Dick Teresi, coauthor of The God Particle
"Has the narrative drive of a Tom Clancy techno-thriller combined with the rich, funny, poignant humanity of Soul of the New Machine". -- M. Mitchell Waldrop, author of Complexity: The Emerging Science at the Edge of Order and Chaos
Review
Jon Katz The New York Times Book Review Freedman and Mann understand technology, computers, and security issues. Their message in At Large is clear and convincing.
Review
Time Digital A thriller...spine-chilling...reads like a John Grisham novel.
Review
The San Diego Union-Tribune A fascinating story....Read it and you'll never look at the Internet or your computer quite the same.
Synopsis
Hailed as "a chilling portrait" by
The Boston Globe and "a crafty thriller" by
Newsweek, this astonishing story of an obsessive hacker promises to change the way you look at the Internet forever.
At Large chronicles the massive manhunt that united hard-nosed FBI agents, computer nerds, and uptight security bureaucrats against an elusive computer outlaw who broke into highly secured computer systems at banks, universities, federal agencies, and top-secret military weapons-research sites. Here is "a real-life tale of cops vs. hackers, by two technology writers with a flair for turning a complicated crime and investigation into a fast-moving edge-of-your-seat story" (Kirkus Reviews, starred). At Large blows the lid off the frightening vulnerability of the global online network, which leaves not only systems, but also individuals, exposed.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 297-298) and index.
About the Author
Charles C. Mann is the author of 1491, which won the U.S. National Academy of Sciences’ Keck award for the best book of the year. A correspondent for The Atlantic Monthly, Science, and Wired, he has covered the intersection of science, technology, and commerce for many newspapers and magazines here and abroad, including the New York Times, Vanity Fair, the Washington Post, and more. In addition to 1491, he was the co-author of four other non-fiction books. He is now working on a companion volume to 1491.David H. Freedman is a contributing editor for Inc. Magazine, and has written on science, business, and technology for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Harvard Business Review, Fast Company, Science, Wired, and many other publications. His newest book, Wrong, about why experts keep failing us, came out in June, 2010. His last book (coauthored) was A Perfect Mess, about the useful role of disorder in daily life, business, and science. He is also the author of books about the US Marines, computer crime, and artificial intelligence. Freedman's blog, “Making Sense of Medicine,” takes a close, critical look at medical findings making current headlines with an eye to separating out the frequent hype. He lives near Boston.