Reveals the history of espionage and its use of and dependency on technology, beginning with the Second World War and continuing through the Cold War and into the present Internet age where hackers and surveillance are commonplace.

The intertwining forces of computers and espionage are reshaping the entire world: what was once the preserve of a few intelligence agencies now affects us all. BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera's narrative takes us through the Cold War and the birth of the Internet to the present era of hackers and surveillance. The book is rich with historical detail and characters, as well as astonishing revelations about espionage carried out in recent times by the UK, US, and China. Using unique access to the National Security Agency, GCHQ, Chinese officials, and senior executives from some of the most powerful global technology companies, Corera has gathered compelling stories from heads of state, hackers, and spies of all stripes into a groundbreaking exploration of the new space in which the worlds of espionage, diplomacy, international business, science, and technology collide.--Adapted from dust jacket.