Counting from Zero

Mick O'Malley #1

by Alan B. Johnston

Can a security expert save the Internet from a catastrophic zero day cyber attack by a network of zombie computers, known as a botnet? At what cost? “Credible and believable, this story is told by a subject matter expert. I could not wait to find out what happened next.” – Vint Cerf, Internet pioneer “The threat to the Internet from worms, viruses, botnets, and zombie computers is real, and growing. Counting from Zero is a great way to come up to speed on the alarming state of affairs, and Johnston draws you in with his story and believable cast of characters.” – Phil Zimmermann, creator of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) the most widely used email encryption program Today, every computer connected to the Internet is under constant attack from viruses, worms, port scans, and spam. Security professionals continually fight to contain newly unleashed cyber attacks, known as ‘zero day' attacks, only to have new attacks launched. Millions of computers have already succumbed, and, without their owner’s knowledge, have become slave computers - remotely controlled ‘zombies’. Under the control of organized crime and backed by foreign governments, these computers are morphing into collections known in the industry as botnets, short for robot networks. Internet security expert Mick O’Malley is the only one who recognizes the growing threat of the ultimate zero day attack on the Internet from a massive botnet, and his unique hacker skills and network of colleagues enable him to fight back. More cyber prep than cyber punk, Mick uses real-life tools and techniques to encrypt all his communications, and uses these skills to break the encryption used by the botnet. Mick uses encryption on a personal level, too, having multiple passports and multiple names and identities. While crisscrossing the globe in the air, on land, and at sea investigating the threat, Mick becomes the target of attacks on his reputation, his identity, and ultimately his life. Along the way, Mick meets Kateryna Petrescu, a beautiful Romanian firewall expert. Mick’s attraction to Kateryna develops as they work closely together and share the excitement and danger. Why is the government following Mick and trying to intercept his communications? Can he stop the zero day attack before it is unleashed? What will be the cost to Mick for his single mindedness? Unfolding across three continents, the new techno thriller "Counting from Zero" gives a realistic insider’s view of the thrust and parry world of computer security and cryptography, and the very real threat of botnets.

Genres: Fiction, Science Fiction, Thriller, Mystery

308 pages, Paperback

First published February 25, 2011

About the author

Originally from Australia, Alan B. Johnston grew up in the United States surrounded by technology. Always going to become an engineer, he experimented with amateur radio, coding and creative writing from an early age, and traveled the world with his family. He has a doctorate in electrical engineering, and has worked in industry and taught at a number of universities. He has written five best-selling technical books and authored over thirty patents and international standards in real-time communications over Internet Protocol and in security, including co-authoring the ZRTP voice security protocol standard. He enjoys mentoring robotics teams and hacking around with Arduinos and Raspberry Pis. He lives near Seattle and continues to travel the world, ride motorcycles, and sail. Returning to Zero is his second novel, the continuation of the story of Mick O’Malley and the botnet started in his first novel Counting from Zero.

Reviews

[Jay Batson · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a pretty nefarious world out there on the Internet, and do you know who is on your side?

Mick O'Malley is. The author takes us on an entertaining ride through an off-your-radar showdown between bad guys, who want to use the Internet's resources against you, and the good guys who protect you. Though there's a few supporting characters, the primary defender of us all is Mick O'Malley, a selfless internet security jockey who is equally driven by the thrill of the hunt as his actual desire to neutralize the threat - even at high personal physical risk.

The author definitely knows his actual tech. The book is littered with accurate descriptions of actual tech, and how it works - and done so in a way that (I think) non-tech people will understand & appreciate. This greatly increases the credibility of the book. (There are still a few "it's just fiction" slight of hand moments, when Mick quickly "breaks into" things that a real-life Mick couldn't actually do, much less do quickly. But these are few, and don't detract from the rest of the goodness.)

I'm sufficiently happy with this that I'll be starting the 2nd book about Mick - today.

Full disclosure: For a time in my career I was acquainted with the author. He does, in fact, know his security quite well. He's not a guy who googled "Internet Security", read a few pages, then wrote a book. He actually does know his stuff, which makes the book a good read. Note: I haven't spoken to the author in years, and so I believe my review stands on its own, and is not influenced by my past relationship. Also, note that I received a copy of the book for free from him, without a commitment to do a review, and under the condition that I could review it with integrity. I believe I have done so.

Also, for reference, here is my description of my star-rating rules.

[Val Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

With a flurry of quirky characters, I found myself smiling throughout this book. Mick is your typical computer geek that is obsessed with security and the lengths he goes to, at first, made me think he was going overboard. As the story progressed I found that as far as computer security goes, you can never be too careful. I enjoyed the different array of characters. Each one was distinctly unique and all had a quick sense of humor. Kateryna's character made me laugh because she was from another country and kept trying to figure out what everyone was saying. The relationship twist is something I didn't see coming.

The plot in Counting from Zero was gripping. Mick travelled all over the world and Mr. Johnston did an exceptional job of painting a detailed portrait of each location in which a convention was held, especially Las Vegas. (I was raised there and it took me down memory lane.) It is very important that you pay close attention to the beginning because the author is developing the plot as well as the characters. There are some spots that you can't miss. As I read on, the action kicked in and I was holding my breath. This was an outstanding plot line. Lots of action, strong characters and the ability to make me laugh while I am learning something are all things I look forward to in a book. This book delivered!

One of the best things about this book is that it is not only entertaining but it's educational as well. Being a computer major in college, I was very excited to be able to review Counting from Zero. Although this book uses a lot of computer lingo, Mr. Johnston has done an exceptional job of explaining what each term means. A person with no computer background or knowledge can still enjoy this book with a clear understanding of what the author meant to say. In fact, a lot of what is explained in this book was explained in a better, if not more concise way than my teacher was able to explain. It was one of those "Aha" moments for me when, what my teacher explained and the example Mr. Johnston used both clicked into place. To Mr. Johnston, I would like to thank you for writing a book that not only educated and entertained me but helped me as well. I look forward to reading more of your work. You did an exceptional job with Counting from Zero.

If you are a computer user on any level, this is a must have book for you to own. Alan B. Johnston brings forth a very real possibility that, to an extent, is already happening in the real world. Buy this book and encourage others to do the same. Although this is a book of fiction, it is based on knowledge that simply MUST be shared. Along with a short biography of the author, you will find a list of recommended reading and internet sources should you want to read further into internet security. I found this to be an added bonus. With a world full with computer technology, it is very possible that we will see situations close to what are in this book in our lifetime. Educate yourself and those around you. Counting from Zero is a book that has just been added to my "read several times" shelf. I highly recommend it!

[Beverly Frisby · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Counting from Zero” is an intriguing work of fiction that has its roots in reality taking place every day around the world. The plot contains a balance of action, intrigue, drama, humor and romance.
The main protagonist, Mick O’Malley, is a security expert who travels the world to solve computer problems for corporations. Mick seems a little obsessive about his own security, but as the story evolves, the reader comes to realize Mick may not be as extreme as first thought.
Mr. Johnson’s descriptive writing of the different convention settings allow the reader to visit these places in their mind. It is evident from the rich details Mr. Johnston thoroughly researched each place written about in the story.
The relationship Mick has with his sister, Jolene, and niece, Sam, is a close one. No matter where Mick might be, he takes the time for a video call to read “The Lord of the Rings” with Sam and answer her questions about computers.
Along with Mick, we meet several of his friends, some who are rather eccentric, all who are as concerned with computer security as Mick. The romantic interest for Mick is Kateryna Petrescu, whom he meets at a security conference in Japan. Kateryna’s character made me laugh as she struggled with some of the English language used by Mick’s friends.
Mick & Kateryna’s relationship deepens as Mick takes on an international organization and Kateryna assists him. Twist and turns in the plot will keep the reader turning the pages until the surprising ending.
At the end of the story, there is a short biography of Alan Johnston, along with a list of recommended reading and Internet sources. I welcomed this information as an added bonus for learning more about Internet security. I highly recommend this book to everyone!
You can read more about "Counting from Zero" and learn about Alan B. Johnston by visiting his website, http://countingfromzero.net/

[Adam · Rating 2 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I received a free copy of this book from the author for review.

Counting from Zero is the tale of a young and brilliant computer security expert who becomes embroiled in an effort to destroy a malevolent network of compromised computers on the internet before they can be used for nefarious ends. Alec Robertson, aka Mick O'Malley, is first alerted to trouble by a zero day exploit which takes over both his own personal servers as well as those of other organizations throughout the world, ostensibly for sending spam e-mail. Mick discovers there is more to this attack than what first appears, and his effort to discover the source of the attack and end it has him spanning the globe.

There are a number of issues I had with this story that kept me from potentially enjoying it. I have enjoyed reading books such as Daemon and Zero Day which revolve around the topic of computer security and the internet. I was looking forward to another story in this vein. Unfortunately, the story seems highly distracted. Dialogue between characters is sometimes non sequitur, which was jarring. For instance, an early scene tells of two characters in the cab exchanging brief and disjointed comments, and then immediately exiting the cab. How long and awkward was that cab ride? The mood of the characters swings wildly between tense and dark to light hearted. Further, a great deal of the content of the book fails to add to the plot or the characters. Throughout the book are blog post style entries from a security website which act to inform the reader and expand on a particular bit technology. In addition, wherever a bit of tech is referenced in the main story, the tech is explained in sometimes unnecessary detail. These would have been better suited as footnotes, or perhaps left out entirely, as I would have to guess that most who will be interested in this book will be at least somewhat familiar with the topics; at least enough so to be able to understand the story. In addition, the main character expounds on his interest in fixing his motorcycles, learning about WWII and the Manhattan Project, enjoying time with his sister and niece, and so on. Unfortunately, the many pages devoted to these interests have a very weak tie in with the story, if at all. The motivations of the characters in the book are never very clear either.

In addition to my frustrations with the storytelling, I also found that I did not enjoy some elements of the story itself. The main character, Mick, is not just a security expert. He is a motorcycle mechanic, stunt man, hacker, frog man, and aspiring adulterer. Basically James Bond with a keyboard. For a security expert, he also makes some very bad choices. For instance, after being threatened, he receives a note to meet a strange informant at an unfamiliar location. Does he notify anyone, or even take something to protect himself with? Nope, just waltzes up to the door and knocks. For a character who is so careful with their network security, it is frustrating to see physical security given so little thought.


On of my biggest frustrations with the main character was his pursuit of Kateryna. After some initial flirtation, Kat tells Mick that she is married. Rather than ending the romantic pursuit and engaging professionally, Mick continues to pine for her and pursue her. While I could forgive Mick's minor social faults and still find him a likable hero, this angle on his personality really put me off. I can't cheer for a character who aspires to be a home wrecker. We never learn much about Kat's husband, Milos, other than that Kat is bored with him.

The portrayal of women in the story as a whole has room for improvement. There are only three female characters that I recall:
- Kateryna, the married, exotic love interest who engages in idol worship of Mick.
- Liz, Mick's ex, who plays a throw-away part in the story.
- Jasinski / Turing, a punky hacker who not-so-subtly propositions Mick for sex.

So 100% of the female characters in the story either currently or have in the past had an attraction to Mick. Hmmm....


All of that aside, I do think there are some things the author gets spot on in the story. First is the way in which most computer experts attending a conference don't ask questions because they are looking for an answer, but instead to test the knowledge of the speaker. It's a practice I don't care for, but it is definitely something that happens at most conferences, and it was nice to see it acknowledged here. There is also some good advice for security that, if taken with a grain of salt, could enhance the readers understanding of their personal exposure on the internet, and how to protect themselves.

I feel a bit guilty giving such low marks to a book that the author was generous enough to offer for review, but I feel that this honestly reflects my impression. The basic story has merit, but I found too many elements detracted from the story and I could not enjoy it.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mick O'Malley is an expert in computer security. Some would say he's a bit over-the-top when it comes to his own security and privacy. But there are many threats out there, and he is determined to keep his own information secure. So when Mick uncovers the potential threat of a massive zero day attack by a huge botnet, he takes on the challenge of stopping it before it's too late.

In Counting from Zero, Alan B. Johnston throws us into the world of computer security through the eyes of one man whose expertise seems beyond compare. There are many other characters along the way, including a Russian firewall expert with whom he develops a close relationship, a few interesting colleagues, and his sister and niece who provide a bit of a personal story to offset the technical. But this story is really about Mick and his personal mission to stop the botnet from initiating a catastrophic attack.

Unfortunately, this was a tough read for me because of the technical details that Johnston included. He talks about spam and peer-to-peer systems and worms and of course botnets. While he explain these things rather well, mostly through fictional blog posts that separate the different chapters, there's a bit too much detail for me. Counting from Zero often reads like a nonfiction book about computer security ~ and at times about motorcycles and World War II, which are two of Mick's passions. I tend to prefer simpler descriptions over lengthy details.

I think this book would appeal more to those who have a strong interest in learning about internet security through a fictional story rather than a technical manual, and those who work in security fields who can relate more to Mick and the other characters.

[Landon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to win a copy of this book from the Goodreads Giveaways. Alan does an amazing job with his first novel, "Counting from Zero."

You can count on being entertained as well as educated. Mr. Johnston's writing style is very impressive and with his previous book writing experience and knowledge of the internet and computer world, he educates the reader on internet and computer security and brings the very important issues being overlooked by many to the attention of all who read this book.

Being a mechanical engineer myself, I really enjoyed Alan's attention to detail and the very informative writing style. I unfortunately do not know as much as I would like about the internet and computer world. I found myself sharing facts from this book with family and friends.

The characters are well developed and I can't help relate to the main character Mick in many aspects. The book is very entertaining and informative. I would recommend this book to anyone who has the slightest interest in the internet and in the computer world. It may be hard for those who have absolutely no interest in these subjects to get into this book, but living in the time we do now, I don't think there are many not interested.

4 out of 5 stars from me Alan! Thanks for the book!

That is How Lou Sees It. www.howlouseesit.blogspot.com

[Rick Zwiep · Rating 4 out of 5]

A contemporary page turner for the technically fascinated crowd. You don't have to be a geek to appreciate the story line, but it helps if you work or play in tech. The author takes care to weave technical explanations into the book so those not versed in the latest computer security, internet and voip technology and their potential vulnerabilities are not lost.

I appreciated the book's technical accuracy - scenarios were realistic and not overly dramatized or simplified for the sake of the narrative.

My only disappointment was that the book could have been a more intricate and better developed story. It felt a tad superficial in the sense that when I got to the end, I thought "oh, it's over already...". The climax leaves room for a sequel, much like Daniel Suarez did with Daemon.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

All the intrigued of a elaborate spy novel with great computer science mixed in!!

I was pleasantly surprised by this book technical computer jargon mixed with lots of spycraft and intrigue! I dont know if Johnston will continue to write books like this but i hope he does I have become a big fan!

[Dave Umrysh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Phenomenal! This is by far one of my favorite books, I could not put it down. The author knows his Computer Science and has written very likable and easy to identify with characters. (Plus the chapters are numbered in hexadecimal!)

[Ixby Wuff · Rating 4 out of 5]

Can a security expert save the Internet from a catastrophic zero day cyber attack by a network of zombie computers, known as a botnet? At what cost? "Credible and believable, this story is told by a subject matter expert. I could not wait to find out what happened next." - Vint Cerf, Internet pioneer "The threat to the Internet from worms, viruses, botnets, and zombie computers is real, and growing. Counting from Zero is a great way to come up to speed on the alarming state of affairs, and Johnston draws you in with his story and believable cast of characters." - Phil Zimmermann, creator of Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) the most widely used email encryption program Today, every computer connected to the Internet is under constant attack from viruses, worms, port scans, and spam. Security professionals continually fight to contain newly unleashed cyber attacks, known as 'zero day' attacks, only to have new attacks launched. Millions of computers have already succumbed, and, without their owner's knowledge, have become slave computers - remotely controlled 'zombies'. Under the control of organized crime and backed by foreign governments, these computers are morphing into collections known in the industry as botnets, short for robot networks. Internet security expert Mick O'Malley is the only one who recognizes the growing threat of the ultimate zero day attack on the Internet from a massive botnet, and his unique hacker skills and network of colleagues enable him to fight back. More cyber prep than cyber punk, Mick uses real-life tools and techniques to encrypt all his communications, and uses these skills to break the encryption used by the botnet. Mick uses encryption on a personal level, too, having multiple passports and multiple names and identities. While crisscrossing the globe in the air, on land, and at sea investigating the threat, Mick becomes the target of attacks on his reputation, his identity, and ultimately his life. Along the way, Mick meets Kateryna Petrescu, a beautiful Romanian firewall expert. Mick's attraction to Kateryna develops as they work closely together and share the excitement and danger. Why is the government following Mick and trying to intercept his communications? Can he stop the zero day attack before it is unleashed? What will be the cost to Mick for his single mindedness? Unfolding across three continents, the new techno thriller "Counting from Zero" gives a realistic insider's view of the thrust and parry world of computer security and cryptography, and the very real threat of botnets.

[Mikael · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really like the story in this book. I don't mind being lectured on new technology (although it was a bit old and well known by now), I guess I read the book to late. That said, I didn't like the book. The main character has more money than he can spend, is well educated and only works on what he likes, and is happy all the time. How can you possibly relate to that kind of person. On top of this the book is written in third person. Every emotional whirlwind and action sequence is efficiently nullified and communicated without any kind of suspense. I only held out because I wanted to know the end of it.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Handy Computer Security

This is not a math book. This is a book about computer security told in the form of a novel. In between the action packed chapters is an informative and useful addenda with security tips. I felt the overall theme of the book was too lone wolf. The brave individual fighting bureaucratic stupidity and corrupt corporations cupidity.

[Andy Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Awesome!! A bit anti-climactic at the end, honestly: all this work, poof, botnet neutralized? But still a fun read!

[inra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Counting From Zero by Alan B. Johnston is not the type of book I usually read. Too much computer-related talk can be quite confusing to my not-so-computer-savvy mind. However, I decided to pick this one up because it's been years since I read a book revolving around an Internet Armageddon - and I'm actually glad I did!

The last tech centered book I read wasn't a favourite of mine. Since it was also the only tech centered book I had read, I decided to give up on the genre completely. Something about how pages after pages of nothing but code talk fried my brain must've had something to do with it. With Counting From Zero, I didn't have that problem! Sure, it took me a few pages to get into the groove of it, but overall the story is very understandable - even the more technological aspects are simplified so that all readers can enjoy this read. There were also some short chapters every one in a while that explained a certain term that was important to the story that I also found very helpful. In fact, I now feel way more competent when it comes to computer security than I did before. If you're avoiding this book because of the intimidating subject matter, fear not -if I can get through it, anyone can.

Another thing I liked was the pace of the book. I never felt like there was a truly dull moment, even though most of the action only picks up at the very end of the book. Also, the main character, Mick, was extremely likable and three-dimensional. He was great, but unfortunately most of the other characters were flat in comparison.

Unfortunately, the ending was kind of ambiguous and left a lot of questions unanswered. It's a great build-up for a sequel, though. As a stand-alone, not so much. As I previously stated, most of the action picks up at the very end of the book. Just as things began to get interesting they were abruptly stopped.

I do feel like I walked away from this book with more knowledge than before. Plus, it was an entertaining read that I couldn't put down. Even though it has some faults, Counting From Zero is not a bad first novel at all.

I received a copy of this book from a Goodreads First Reads giveaway.

[Karol · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like technothrillers with the Internet and the inherent lack of security surrounding it as topic. Unfortunately there aren't that many available at this point in time. So I was quite happy when finding out about this book and after having read Mark Russinovich's "Zero Day" the expectations were quite high.

Unfortunately my expectations weren't met by any means. I'm not competent enough to judge whether or not Alan B. Johnston is a good writer, however personally I don't like his style of writing very much. Especially the imposed way of plugging in his personal hobbies and experiences so much (like the "insights" into biking, sailing or the ZRTP protocol) into the novel not only does not add anything of value, but for my taste it actually makes the whole novel suffer, because it feels so totally out of place.

Nevertheless I think that the basic idea is interesting and, more or less, plausible. Personally I don't get why such a praised security expert as Mick needs that long to figure out that the messages are hidden in the attachments of the mails, whereas it seems to me that it would basically be the first thing to look at, but I guess that this kind of things are needed to keep the story thrilling. Apart from that I couldn't find any major issues with the technological concepts, which are presented throughout the book.

However what really turns this book down is the ending. I don't know whether Alan B. Johnston was on a deadline or why he screwed things up so much here. Not only is it really short and incomplete compared to the rest of the book, but also is it illogical. Why would Mick choose to pretend to be dead and live apart from his friends and family rather than returning home. I don't get the reason for that, which renders the whole story unsatisfying for me.

[Vivian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Your computer may be part of a global attack and you don't even know it. At least that's part of the premise in COUNTING FROM ZERO by Alan B. Johnston. The problem begins and ends with internet security.

Most of us think we are prepared against viruses, worms, and malware with antivirus programs, etc., but there are those that use email encryption programs, change their passwords weekly, and use only open source software. Or at least there are in the fictional world of COUNTING FROM ZERO and one such person is Mick O'Malley. To say that Mick takes paranoia to an extreme is a bit of an understatement, but it appears that he is justified with his paranoia. Mick works in computer security and knows exactly what havoc viruses, malware, worms, spam, etc. can wreak on a computer or on a computer system. His work takes him around the world, often on speaking engagements or conferences on computer security. He discovers a new attack while in Japan and thus begins the first zero day (initial day of attack). The intrigue in discerning why this attack has been launched and its purpose sends Mick traveling around the world and has others following his every move.

I'm not much of a computer person. I understand the basics and am quite happy in my ignorance . . . or I was until I read COUNTING FROM ZERO. Mr. Johnston is known in the computer security industry and has combined fact with fiction to the point that I'm paranoid about internet security. There was much that I didn't understand but Mr. Johnston did a credible job of explaining terminology and making things as simple as possible. COUNTING FROM ZERO is one scary suspense thriller to the point that I was actually afraid to turn my computer on and log into the internet.

[Paige Lucken · Rating 3 out of 5]

(I wanted to give this book 3.5 stars not 3)

Counting From Zero fits the paradigm of the modern thriller and brings the fear right up-to-date with the threat of a global cyber attack.

Mick O'Malley, after spotting and fixing some 'zero day' attacks on the internet takes it upon himself to try to discover more. With a little help from his friends, a bit of a love interest and some running from the bad guys this story follows his journey to find out who is behind the attacks, how they are achieving them and how to eliminate the threat.

Mick is an internet security consultant who is particularly paranoid about his security and has a tendency to become slightly repetitive in this area. He is a typical computer 'geek' (bad clothes and all) and he is also a bit of a techno snob and elitist. Mick is not a hard guy to like, but as he is not a typical protagonist it takes a bit more work on the part of the reader to see him as the hero.

This novel is both educational and entertaining and is very obviously written by an expert in the field of internet security. The structure is very much like 'Sophie's World' (Jostein Gaarder)in the manner that it stops to educate the reader and then continues on with the tale.

Through reading this book I have learnt a lot more about the internet and internet security, but possibly to the detriment of the story and characters. If anything this book is too detailed in its descriptions of 'botnets' etc. and this leaves little space to build up the pace and the tension in the story.

I think that there is a lot of potential here and that a second book could be a lot more punchy and pacey.

[J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woe is he who believes that passwords and virus protection software sufficient to safeguard internet users’ information from being reviewed, stolen or used to undermine individual freedoms.

***

Network administrators strive to use their advanced programming skills and encryption skills to protect computers and the information stored on them. Excerpts from an imaginary Security and Other Lies Blog are interwoven throughout the story to explain how administrators protect against a steady stream of security threats. In this story, administrators and programmers at the top of their field are so paranoid about the safety of the information on the internet that they use disposable cell phones, encrypt all correspondence and continuously change passwords.

Author Alan B. Johnston’s main character, Mike O’Malley, demonstrates extreme paranoia to obtain self preservation as one attempt after another is made on the internet, his accounts and even his life. World renowned for his skills, Mike uses many aliases, multiple passports, off shore accounts and untraceable modes of transportation to keep out of reach of government officials and those who plot to take over the internet, as he bounces from one continent to another. This fast paced book will have you running to your computer to feverously change all passwords, update virus protection and add additional firewalls.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

FIRST READS GIVEAWAY
Counting from Zero is a modern day thriller, weaving a tale of international intrigue on the net. One man's paranoia may be justified, as he investigates a spybot of epic proportions and his own identity is compromised.
I found this book to be exciting and dynamic. Alan Johnston obviously knows what he's talking about, and fits comfortably into the role of storyteller with a casual grace I was not expecting.
The only downside for this novel would be the limited demographic of readers who would enjoy it. It is fairly technical, and really only for readers who are, at the very least, computer literate. Johnston does do an excellent job at teaching the reader the necessary lessons to follow the story, but it would be difficult to follow with no previous background.
I did find it odd, that the main character was so paranoid for his identity, but had no regard for his physical being. He wasn't even slightly perturbed by the random gun-toting thugs threatening his life, but Heaven forbid they know his real name! He is also too trusting... doesn't he know there's always someone on the inside?
Peculiarities aside, the book did keep me turning pages, right to the end.

[Bill Thibadeau · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author is obviously very adept in the internet and VoIP world and especially with the related security issues. Unfortunately, the bulk of readers are not and this book will not appeal to them or have them dismissing it early never to again read Alan Johnston. That is unfortunate IMHO.

I am a novice in the IT security world. I trust the internet pretty much but do use the tools provided through Comcast and Microsoft essentials to protect me. I did not understand a great deal of the binary speak but I took the time to look past that. I think the writing style is very readable. The characters are alive and their personalities show through. I enjoyed this thriller even though the ending was nothing more than a set up for the sequel and continuing saga of the botnet.

The author has written a novel that deserves a read but he must understand that he is severely limiting his audience. I hope that the sequel is less technical (although some is necessary for the storyline) and more engaging for the average reader. Alan Johnston is a good writer. I only hope he can stray from the in-depth IT techno babble speak.

Give this book a try!

[Michael Martz · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author is certainly a subject matter expert on internet security and writes in understandable language about it. Unfortunately, fleshing out what sounded like a credible story and creating an enjoyable experience for the reader were beyond his reach. I'm sure his PhD dissertation was well-received, but deep subject matter expertise in a technical area doesn't often yield a great novel on the subject.

I liked the general topic of the book, but the problems I had were around how the flow of the story was interrupted by terrible dialogue, incredible occurrences, and annoying writing techniques (for example, the blog question and answer pages). Many of the situations described were very believable, such as the chapters centered on technical conferences, but overall it was far too dependent upon unlikely happenings to ring true. It seemed as if the writer veered off-course as soon as he moved out of the realm of internet security. That's too bad, since the premise of the book was really interesting and the story had a lot of potential.

This wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't well-written.

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Does it bother you when a website or favorite program asks that you change your password or make it stronger? You might consider reading Counting From Zero, which brings the world of cyberthreats to your doorstep.

Mick O'Malley is a computer nerd, but knows enough about computer security to make a living from it. He travels the world attending security conferences, explaining the threats and offering countermeasures. All of that seems to be working fine, until one of his own clients gets hit by a powerful new attack.

O'Malley gets to work on solving the problem, but it's much different than any other attack he's seen. He digs in and find this particular issue is grabbing more and more of his time. He also meets a woman named Kateryna, who's a fellow security expert, but also pushes his emotional buttons.

Johnston's first novel builds momentum and the stakes get higher as O'Malley strives to understand the true goals of the attack and figure out who's behind it. The book builds toward a rousing concluion and brings the world of cyberthreats to vivid life.

[James Scholes · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting look at zero day attacks from an author who is clearly a professional in his field. However, the balance between the novel's fictional storyline and technological concepts wasn't quite right. Sometimes there was too much detail, other times detail was completely omitted (such as in the case of the introduction, or lack thereof, awarded to Sam, and the ambiguous 'transferring' of files from Turing's/Jasinski's computer). Also, the writing style aired on the repetitive side, particularly in the first few chapters, but overall, an enjoyable read.

[Dan Orth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent storyline with likable characters make this an excellent book. As someone with a IT background a found the first few chapters a bit slow, as a lot of computer security concepts were speller out, however I can apprecriate the author leveling the playing field for both technical and non-technical readers. The author does know his stuff and as such this adds to the overall believability of the book.

[Dara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was entertained and educated about Internet security all at the same time. I appreciated the way Alan included his techy advice blog in his novel and how he broke down the complex technical information by using relatable analogies. I gained a much better understanding, or increased paranoia, ;) of how important it is to secure our personal information online! I really also enjoyed the dynamics of all his flavorful characters! Great read!

[Dennis Madison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by the premise of this book and the first few pages prompted me to buy it. Unfortunately this was one of those books that I had to force myself to finish. My main complaints are:
1) I just really didn't like the main character - I found him to be pompous;
2)simple things, or things unrelated to the story, were over explained (eg. counter-steering on a motorcycle).

I actually feel bad I didn't like this book.

[Linda Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fast moving and mysterious, I recommend for all my geek friends out there.

Fast moving and mysterious, I recommend for all my geek friends out there.


The main character is slightly too capable and rounded. Perhaps the master of too many things. But likeable, and lots of both open and veiled threats to him that linger.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyed reading this techno-thriller, and had a hard time putting it down the farther I got into the book. Also liked the interspersed techie explanations - even though some were a little over my head, did not detract from enjoyment of the book.

[Gerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The characters were great, the story was very interesting. I have very little knowledge of computers so some of the technical things were over my head but it really made a person think!

[Derek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Danger of crypto viruses,spam, spyware, etc. It started off well but the characters were too flat and cliche for me. The technical aspects were interesting, but the author stopped short of conclusion of the plot.