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Now a New York Times bestsellerThere is a Threat Lurking Online with the Power to Destroy Your Finances Steal Your Personal Data and Endanger Your LifeIn Spam Nation investigative journalist and cybersecurity expert Brian Krebs unmasks the criminal masterminds driving some of the biggest spam and hacker operations targeting Americans and their bank accounts Tracing the rise fall and alarming resurrection of the digital mafia behind the two largest spam pharmacies-and countless viruses phishing and spyware attacks-he delivers the first definitive narrative of the global spam problem and its threat to consumers everywhereBlending cutting-edge research investigative reporting and firsthand interviews this terrifying true story reveals how we unwittingly invite these digital thieves into our lives every day From unassuming computer programmers right next door to digital mobsters like Cosma-who unleashed a massive malware attack that has stolen thousands of Americans logins and passwords-Krebs uncovers the shocking lengths to which these people will go to profit from our data and our walletsNot only are hundreds of thousands of Americans exposing themselves to fraud and dangerously toxic products from rogue online pharmacies but even those who never open junk messages are at risk As Krebs notes spammers can-and do-hack into accounts through these emails harvest personal information like usernames and passwords and sell them on the digital black market The fallout from this global epidemic doesnt just cost consumers and companies billions it costs lives tooFast-paced and utterly gripping Spam Nation ultimately proposes concrete solutions for protecting ourselves online and stemming this tidal wave of cybercrime-before its too lateKrebss talent for exposing the weaknesses in online security has earned him respect in the IT business and loathing among cybercriminals His track record of scoopshas helped him become the rare blogger who supports himself on the strength of his reputation for hard-nosed reporting -Bloomberg Businessweek.