I don’t typically read fiction books. So when I first began reading Countdown To Zero Day by Kim Zetter, I had to stop to double-check that what I was reading wan’t fiction. This book had such a gripping storyline from the opening page that it sounded just like a novel.
But it’s not. It’s a real story with possible deadly consequences for the computerized world.
Countdown To Zero Day is like a detective story or a spy thriller, where different groups are trying to unravel the mystery of a highly-advanced computer virus that appears to only be effecting a specific type of computer. The story alternates back and forth between the cyber-sleuths unraveling the Stuxnet virus, and a group from the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) trying to reveal Iran’s attempts to coverup their advancing nuclear weapons programs.
I really liked the format of the book. Kim wrote the book for computer techies that understand much of the computer jargon and basic operations of computer viruses, but for those who are technically-challenged, the abundance of footnotes will quickly allow the reader to feel more technically savvy.
The book follows this one particular case to address the larger question: Is cyber-warfare the next threat for all of us to address? That’s a good question, and the book allows lots of world experts to weigh-in. Techies and non-techies alike will enjoy this book!
I am a Random House book reviewer.
Craig T. Owens 