Review of "Masters of Deception: The Gang That Ruled Cyberspace"

 

Michelle Slatala and Joshua Quittner write excellently about the first wave of cybercrime in their book “Masters of Deception: The Gang That Ruled Cyberspace.” But the best parts of the book are not the parts about technical details involved in crime, but the parts about places and people. For example, they write “Just like Paul’s neighborhood, Elmhurst over the years saw one generation of immigrants supplanted by another. This is the natural rhythm of New York City, where waves of newcomers wash in, and up, and out as the strivers move through the city on their way to suburbs and assimilation” (30). While the story about cybercrime is interesting, the tapestry the authors paint about New York City and the environment that shapes the main individuals featured in the book is the most fascinating aspect of the work. Slatala and Quittner write a compelling story about individuals in ordinary circumstances finding themselves in extraordinary circumstances. More detail about the external environment of the featured individuals would have made the book more interesting.