Countdown to Zero Day meticulously details the discovery and development of Stuxnet. Stuxnet was the world’s first digital weapon. It was created to slow the progress of Iran’s development of nuclear weapons.
I was enticed into reading this book because the topic reminded me of The Cuckoo’s Egg by Clifford Stoll. Both books explore the accidental discovery of a computer menace. However, Zetter’s book reads like a textbook compared to the easy storytelling of Stoll.
Countdown to Zero Day is well documented. It begins with the discovery of Stuxnet and explores the development of the weapon, how it was used, and the new dangers it presents.The history of Stuxnet’s life spans the presidency of Bush and Obama and the unique pressures that both of these men faced in their decision to use Stuxnet. The book also specifies the danger of using such a weapon. Now that Stuxnet has been used and discovered it is certainly being studied and copied by other countries for similar warfare.
This book was informative and thought provoking. It should be at the top of the list for any computer geek.
This book was given to me by Blogging for Books in exchange for a review.
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