Cult of the Dead Cow
How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World
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Cult of the Dead Cow
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Narrated by:
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Jonathan Davis
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By:
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Joseph Menn
About this listen
The shocking untold story of the elite secret society of hackers fighting to protect our privacy, our freedom - even democracy itself...
Cult of the Dead Cow is the tale of the oldest, most respected, and most famous American hacking group of all time. Though until now it has remained mostly anonymous, its members invented the concept of hacktivism, released the top tool for testing password security, and created what was for years the best technique for controlling computers from afar, forcing giant companies to work harder to protect customers. They contributed to the development of Tor, the most important privacy tool on the net, and helped build cyberweapons that advanced US security without injuring anyone.
With its origins in the earliest days of the Internet, the cDc is full of oddball characters - activists, artists, even future politicians. Many of these hackers have become top executives and advisors walking the corridors of power in Washington and Silicon Valley. The most famous is former Texas Congressman and current presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke, whose time in the cDc set him up to found a tech business, launch an alternative publication in El Paso, and make long-shot bets on unconventional campaigns.
Today, the group and its followers are battling electoral misinformation, making personal data safer, and battling to keep technology a force for good instead of for surveillance and oppression. Cult of the Dead Cow shows how governments, corporations, and criminals came to hold immense power over individuals and how we can fight back against them.
©2019 Joseph Menn (P)2019 PublicAffairsListeners also enjoyed...
Critic reviews
"Long before there was a multi-billion dollar cyber industry, there were some ethical hackers who showed us that the Silicon Valley emperors had no clothes. They looked like misfits, but they showed us how insecure the Internet was and how to make it better. Joe Menn makes this previously untold story entertaining and relevant to today's cyber threats." (Richard A. Clarke, first White House "Cyber Czar")
"Cult of the Dead Cow reveals a story few know about the origins of white hat hacking and the heroes it celebrates. Despite the title, hacking isn't dead yet!" (Vint Cerf, co-inventor of the internet)
"Cult of the Dead Cow is an exhilarating and essential look into a part of the hacker underground that has shaped the modern world in profound ways. Readers will be amazed by this crew of eccentric, impassioned geniuses who have so often served as the Internet's conscience while lurking unknown in the shadows. The depth of Joe Menn's reporting is as astonishing as his storytelling - no one could have captured this tale better." (Ashlee Vance, author of Elon Musk: Tesla, SpaceX, and the Quest for a Fantastic Future)
What listeners say about Cult of the Dead Cow
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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Overall3 out of 5 stars
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Performance3 out of 5 stars
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Story3 out of 5 stars
- T. P. Goff
- 13-03-24
How CDC is so connected to other hacking groups
Interesting book worth listening. Probably more interesting for gen X’ers that remember the early internet
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- Anonymous User
- 12-11-19
Interesting and informative. Your mind will love..
Although not an US citizen, this book sheds slot of light over the subjects that technology advancement is bringing to us humans. With the amount that is now invested in AI and machine learning, it's also time to invest in humanizing technology and protecting our privacy.
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Overall5 out of 5 stars
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Performance5 out of 5 stars
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Story5 out of 5 stars
- James
- 19-07-19
Fascinating History of Hacking
Despite being focused on CDC the author does a fantastic job at summarising the broader history of hacking, touching on important points throughout the last few decades.
Anyone who has an real interest in hacking history should give this book a listen.
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2 people found this helpful
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Overall2 out of 5 stars
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Performance4 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- McLean
- 24-11-20
Glory be to the cult of the dead cow
I was hoping for something more in depth than this load of rubbish. It is essentially 7 hours of glorifying the key members of CDC without really explaining anything. Don’t get me wrong I wanted to learn about CDC and that is why I got this book but I really thought there would be more substance. It felt as though the author was just trying to blow smoke up the a** of members maybe to try and gain their respect?
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1 person found this helpful
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Overall1 out of 5 stars
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Performance1 out of 5 stars
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Story1 out of 5 stars
- Igs M
- 28-02-21
Utterly tedious
As someone that works in this field and remembers the phracking and BBS scene, I thought I would enjoy this book. Unfortunately i found it tedious with very little interesting content, and quit halfway through as it was just too dull to persevere with.
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