WORM The Story of the First Digital World War

With the recent attention on Steve Jobs, it’s interesting to learn about another kind of computer genius—the evil kind—the inventor of the Conficker worm, which is able to enslave nearly all computers that use Windows operating systems and is capable of taking down the Internet and thereby airlines, hospital services, banking, electric grids, you name it. Bowden’s stylish writing turns this into a gripping thriller, and Christopher Lane’s narration delivers in spades. Smooth and controlled yet capable of producing adrenaline-fueled terror, Lane uses timing and drama, irony and brief moments of humor to pull you in deeper and deeper until you simply can’t take off the headphones. As a cabal of good guys races to unpack this ticking time bomb, Lane ratchets up the tension. D.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: NOVEMBER 2011]