The thrilling untold story of the cyberweapons market―the most secretive, invisible, government-backed market on earth―and a terrifying first look at a new kind of global warfare.Zero day: a software bug that allows a hacker to break into your devices and move around undetected. One of the most coveted tools in a spy's arsenal, a zero day has the power to silently spy on your iPhone, dismantle the safety controls at a chemical plant, alter an election, and shut down the electric grid (just ask Ukraine).For decades, under cover of classification levels and non-disclosure agreements, the United States government became the world’s dominant hoarder of zero days. U.S. government agents paid top dollar―first thousands, and later millions of dollars― to hackers willing to sell their lock-picking code and their silence. Then the United States lost control of its hoard and the market. Now those zero days are in the hands of hostile nations and mercenaries who do not care if your vote goes miss
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLERWINNER OF THE FT & McKINSEY BUSINESS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD 2021'An intricately detailed, deeply sourced and reported history of the origins and growth of the cyberweapons market . . .Hot, propulsive . . .Sets out from the start to scare us out of our complacency' New York Times'A terrifying expose' The Times 'Part John le Carre and more parts Michael Crichton . . .Spellbinding' New YorkerZero day: a software bug that allows a hacker to break in and scamper through the world's computer networks invisibly until discovered. One of the most coveted tools in a spy's arsenal, a zero day has the power to tap into any iPhone, dismantle safety controls at a chemical plant and shut down the power in an entire nation - just ask the Ukraine. Zero days are the blood diamonds of the security trade, pursued by nation states, defense contractors, cybercriminals, and security defenders alike.In this market, governments aren't regulators; they are clients - payi
