So many friends are writing books these days: My friend Heather Vescent has co-authored the Cyber Attack Survival Manual. How cool is that?
I asked her how she got to co-author it. This is what she told me:
“My co-author, Nick Selby, is a cyber-crime investigator and I’m the technology futurist. I started out writing about the darknet and the Future of Money, but it snowballed into writing about the Internet of Things, gamergate, online harassment, the dread pirate roberts and sex and love.
While researching the sex and love chapter, I spent time on craigslist and in reddit channels I wouldn’t normally hang out in. Turns out, I have boring porn habits, but I have a lot of friends who like to talk about their sexy, kinky, online experiences. All the stories in chapter 10, from revenge porn to being hacked by your angry x (page 141), are true.
While writing the future of money chapter, I re-connected with some of my more nefarious friends to understand just how easy it is to launder money using bitcoin (page 121).
The Cyber Attack Survival Manual includes easy-to-read chapters on kids, viruses and malware, phishing and other scams, and how to react when your data is breached. Each chapter features friendly illustrations and easy-to-use charts, and each has sections on protecting yourself – for the everyday user, the power user, and members of the ‘Tin-Foil-Hat-Brigade’ – the ultra cautious user.”
Fun Fact: Like me, Heather legally changed her name to her internet name. She is now officially “Heather Vescent.” I looked at her license and everything.
Cyber Attack Survival Manual: From Identity Theft to The Digital Apocalypse and Everything in Between is available now in paperback.
Ms. Vescent (I just wanted to use her last name) will be speaking about “Surviving the Cyber Apocalypse” and signing books at the next dorkbot in Oakland on Wednesday, October 18. |