I was drawn to this book because cybercrime is for me one of the major issues of our age and although it receives a lot of attention, it does not receive enough considering its significance. The book includes a quote from the editor of Cybercrime magazine that by some unspecified measure this type of criminal activity would be the world’s third largest economy. Malicious and partisan abuse of social media has also had political and social consequences; it is a huge topic.

Author Laura S Scherling, who is also a designer and researcher, writes that “on more than one occasion, projects I worked on were hacked.” I would like to have heard more about this. She also says that she wondered why products were often not secure by design and that this is the question for which she sought answers in researching this book.

Although the book is an interesting read, I do not think she was completely successful in discovering the answer to the question, nor does the author’s research offer much hope of improvement.

The title of the book, The Future of Hacking, is unfortunate. Hacking is not the same as cybercrime and in fact Scherling discovers this, quoting an MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) group who explained that a hacker is “someone who applies ingenuity to create a clever result, called a hack.” In the IT world, anyone who is skilled at programming may be called a hacker and the term should not be hijacked to mean criminal.

The book is in four parts. The first describes what cybercrime means starting with an account of how a sewage system was attacked in Australia in early 2000. The second covers the history of both cybercrime and ethical hacking. The third is about “people who defend us” and discusses the various ways in which law enforcement and other protections are attempted. The fourth is about the “digital future” though it includes a chapter on individual cybercrime victims and the problem of victim blaming which is one of the best parts of the book.

The book is wide-ranging and it is great that Scherling has consulted so many people and organizations in researching the book, all carefully credited in the copious notes. I do think the book is mistitled though, not only because of the problem with the word hacking, but also because it gives little insight into what the future might hold. There is an emphasis towards the end of the importance of cybersecurity awareness; yet it is obvious that this is insufficient. The ending of the book is inconclusive and I was left wishing that the author had asked more of her many contacts what they think will happen in future; will we ever get to grips with this type of crime, especially when nation-state backed, and if so, how can it be done?

The Future of Hacking contains a lot of information and has a very wide scope. The author clearly is very familiar with the subject and has interviewed many people while researching this publication. The book takes the reader through where hacking comes from, and hacking today, including ethical hacking. The book's main thrust is prevention and cybersecurity, but only in a general sense (it's not a how-to guide). It's an American book, and some of the advice/suggestions are specific to the USA, although it does cover other countries as well (partly for examples of good practices of cybersecurity awareness).

I found the book a bit dry. It covers a huge amount of material, and the title suggests a very wide scope. Having read it, I can't see myself doing anything differently, in addition to the steps I already take. The future it calls for, in a nutshell, is one where a lot more resources are devoted to cybersecurity and to raising awareness of the need for it. I can't disagree.

*The Future of Hacking* provides an eye-opening look into the evolving world of cybersecurity, blurring the lines between hackers and heroes. With in-depth interviews from global experts, it explores the critical role of ethical hacking, digital defense, and the real-world impact of cyber threats, offering both tech enthusiasts and newcomers a comprehensive understanding of the digital landscape. This thought-provoking book highlights the pressing need for cyber awareness in today’s interconnected society.

We live now in a world where online & phone scams have become something common. With the emergence of AI things have become even more blurry while we as consumers have yet to be prepared for this new reality.

The book addresses this concern, starting with a history of hacking, which is not an easy thing to accomplish as this is a domain that thrives on fluidity and mystery. This is precisely what drew me to this book and I am grateful to have received it in order to share my view on it.

The great value of this work lies in the bridge it creates between the science, its practitioners and everyday users. What stays with me after reading it is the immense need for awareness and education for users + the need for more cyber security, as the future of hacking is personalized.

I greatly appreciate it brings fourth stories of people on all levels of this matter, from hackers to cyber investigators to people who suffered from being hacked or scammed, all with curiosity, space and empathy. While, in the beginning I thought this would be a book for professionals, it's a book for everyone, so I highly recommend it.