The Ransomware Hunting Team: A Band of Misfits’ Improbable Crusade To Save the World from Cybercrime

ProPublica reporters Dudley and Golden’s (Spy Schools) latest reads much like a DC Comics villain-and-hero origin story. The authors begin with the birth of ransomware, a type of malicious software that threatens to publish the victim’s personal information or permanently block access unless a payment is received. Dr. Joseph Popp, a Harvard-educated evolutionary biologist and staunch Darwinist created the first malware title, known as the AIDS Trojan Horse. The audio describes how ransomware evolved, noting how criminals use it for considerable financial gain. At the center of the authors’ work, however, are the heroes—the Ransomware Hunting Team—who reverse-engineer ransomware in order to prevent its use against institutions and individuals. These heroes come from humble, decidedly unflashy backgrounds; their extraordinary tech skills set them apart, however, and have led to their becoming part of a misfit family of cyberheroes who are looking out for people everywhere. Narrator B.D. Wong provides a solid and accessible reading of this book.