I ordered this book because I was fascinated by the Sony Pictures hack. I had read about it briefly in another book and just had to know more. A quick search on Amazon later, and for just €9 (about $10), the book was in my hands.

What I didn’t expect was how much I didn’t know about North Korea. The book starts with a brief but eye-opening history of the country, covering the extravagant lifestyles of the Kim dynasty—Kim Jong-un, his father, and his grandfather—in stark contrast to the brutal poverty of ordinary citizens. While we all know about the country’s dictator, few hear about the people catching bugs on the beach for food due to famine. That alone makes this read worth it.

The book then shifts to North Korea’s most notorious hacker group—Lazarus. Officially, the country denies their existence, but global investigations tell a different story. Their cybercrimes include:

• DarkSeoul (2013): Attacks on South Korean broadcasters, banks, and ISPs.
• The Sony Pictures Hack (2014): Retaliation for The Interview (which, by the way, is hilarious and streaming on MAX).
• WannaCry (2017): A devastating ransomware attack that shut down half of the UK’s National Health System and disrupted industries worldwide.
• Bank Heists: Stealing billions from international banks, including the Bangladesh Bank heist.
• Crypto Thefts: Hacking cryptocurrency exchanges and draining millions in Bitcoin.

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.

The stolen money? It doesn’t go to the North Korean people. It funds luxury watches, expensive cars, massive TVs, helicopters, and likely, nuclear weapons.

What struck me most was the underlying wisdom in the book. Many of these massive cyber heists happened because of simple phishing emails—employees clicking on suspicious links, opening shady attachments, or failing to verify sources.

As Geoff White (the author) emphasizes, cybersecurity starts with us. A moment of carelessness can cost millions—or worse. That’s why teaching cybersecurity awareness to students and kids is more important than ever. And to prove just how useful this book is for teachers and parents, let me show you my favorite quotes from the end of the book:

Though it’s a work of journalism, the book reads like a thriller—fast-paced, gripping, and packed with real-world stakes. If you’re into hacking, cybercrime, and world affairs, this is a must-read. Highly recommend!