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God of the Internet
A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2016
IndieReader Best of 2016
When a hacker known as G0d_of_Internet hijacks millions of computers to do the bidding of an Islamic jihadist group, their first act is to disrupt the water treatment systems in Boston, Dallas and Los Angeles. Next, the power grids go down. Is this the start of a digital world war?
The only thing standing between the terrorists and their goal to weaponize the internet is a small band of white hat hackers, including cybersecurity guru Mahaz Al-Dossari and his wife Juliana.
The search is on for a couple hundred lines of code and a global hacker network before they can make good on their ultimate threat to divert money from the world's banks.
But G0d_of_Internet has been tracking their every move. And it's Juliana, a PR manager lacking in technical skills, who may hold the key to unmasking the hacker.
IndieReader Best of 2016
When a hacker known as G0d_of_Internet hijacks millions of computers to do the bidding of an Islamic jihadist group, their first act is to disrupt the water treatment systems in Boston, Dallas and Los Angeles. Next, the power grids go down. Is this the start of a digital world war?
The only thing standing between the terrorists and their goal to weaponize the internet is a small band of white hat hackers, including cybersecurity guru Mahaz Al-Dossari and his wife Juliana.
The search is on for a couple hundred lines of code and a global hacker network before they can make good on their ultimate threat to divert money from the world's banks.
But G0d_of_Internet has been tracking their every move. And it's Juliana, a PR manager lacking in technical skills, who may hold the key to unmasking the hacker.
300 pages, Paperback
First published August 16, 2016
7 people are currently reading
1276 people want to read
About the author
Lynn Lipinski
7 books169 followersLynn Lipinski is a writer who channels an overactive imagination into fictional worlds where justice rules, karma is real and the good person comes out on top. Her second book, "God of the Internet," was named to Kirkus Reviews Best Books of 2016 list and IndieReader's Best of 2016 list.
Her Zane Clearwater Mystery series is set in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, which also happens to be her favorite place to write about even though decades of living in L.A. have worn away the Okie accent. She earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from Mount St. Mary's University in 2018.
Her Zane Clearwater Mystery series is set in her hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma, which also happens to be her favorite place to write about even though decades of living in L.A. have worn away the Okie accent. She earned an M.F.A. in creative writing from Mount St. Mary's University in 2018.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
September 21, 2016
God of the Internet by Lynn Lipinski was a fast paced cyber net suspense that is both entertaining and informational. The white and black hats are known early in the plot, but it doesn’t take away from the building suspense of an internet worm taking over all of our computer systems by foreign terrorists.
The mechanics of computer programs, hacking and worms/bots is well integrated into the story and doesn’t feel like it is just an informational dump on the reader. It was also written in layman terms that I believe all can understand.
The characters were all fully developed and interesting. I really felt for Juliana as she is continually hit with either domestic and/or external problems.
Thanks to Majestic Content Los Angeles, Author Buzz and Net Galley for the free eARC in exchange for and honest review.
The mechanics of computer programs, hacking and worms/bots is well integrated into the story and doesn’t feel like it is just an informational dump on the reader. It was also written in layman terms that I believe all can understand.
The characters were all fully developed and interesting. I really felt for Juliana as she is continually hit with either domestic and/or external problems.
Thanks to Majestic Content Los Angeles, Author Buzz and Net Galley for the free eARC in exchange for and honest review.
November 15, 2016
3.5 stars
Received from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A hacker known as G0d_of_Internet has hijacked millions of computers in order to disrupt water treatment centers in various cities in the United States such as Boston, Los Angeles, and Dallas. He is doing the bidding of an Islamic jihadist group. Cyber attacks are real. Hackers are real. I think that is why this book is so relevant and why it will resonate with many people.
One of the people leading up the people trying to stop the terrorists attack is Julianna. She is in a troubled marriage to cybersecurity guru Mahaz Al-Dossari. They have two teenagers, one of which has a medical condition that could be made worse by the hackers attempts to shut down vital necessities such as the water supply and electricity. She is highly invested in stopping the hacker and wonders why her own husband does not get more involved.
While attempting to stop the hacker, she is also dealing with her distant husband, her son's medical condition, and her fears her husband will take their children and leave the country if she files for divorce. She is the most likable character in the book.
I enjoyed this book but I figured out who the culprit was fairly early on. I wish there would have been a couple more twists and turns.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Received from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
A hacker known as G0d_of_Internet has hijacked millions of computers in order to disrupt water treatment centers in various cities in the United States such as Boston, Los Angeles, and Dallas. He is doing the bidding of an Islamic jihadist group. Cyber attacks are real. Hackers are real. I think that is why this book is so relevant and why it will resonate with many people.
One of the people leading up the people trying to stop the terrorists attack is Julianna. She is in a troubled marriage to cybersecurity guru Mahaz Al-Dossari. They have two teenagers, one of which has a medical condition that could be made worse by the hackers attempts to shut down vital necessities such as the water supply and electricity. She is highly invested in stopping the hacker and wonders why her own husband does not get more involved.
While attempting to stop the hacker, she is also dealing with her distant husband, her son's medical condition, and her fears her husband will take their children and leave the country if she files for divorce. She is the most likable character in the book.
I enjoyed this book but I figured out who the culprit was fairly early on. I wish there would have been a couple more twists and turns.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
August 31, 2016
An Islamic fundamentalist known as God of the Internet looks to cripple the United States by attacking various systems involved in the day to day function of our country. Using worms and back doors to various software programs, the hacker throws monkey wrench after monkey wrench into things like water processing, the electrical grid and other things that Americans take for granted in an attempt to cripple our country and bring the United States to its knees.
A group of cyber-security experts try to figure out the next target all while getting various systems back on line as the worm slowly becomes more insidious and clever with each attack. Part of that task force includes Juliana Al-Dossari, the wife of one of the world's leading authorities on cyber security. Struggling in her marriage, Juliana can't understand why her husband would put her on the task force instead of taking a leading role himself.
The first third of Lynn Lipinski's God of the Internet reads like Michael Crichton thriller. Pointing out various all-too-real vulnerabilities in our cyber infrastructure and then seeing them exploited to bring our country to our knees is frightening, but it makes for a compelling, entertaining story.
The problems with God of the Internet begin to arise once the stakes are raised a bit, not only on various systems but also in Julianna's marriage and personal life. To put it bluntly, I figured out who the mysterious God the Internet was long before any of our task force team of heroes did, leading to long passages in the book where I kept wondering why I could put the clues together but our heroes couldn't.
And while Julianna has a personal stake in things, including a son with medical issues who could die from the various attacks shutting down crucial systems at the world possible times, I never felt like I was invested enough with the characters to fully engage in their issues.
Where the book does work is in creating tension and creating curiosity about what system will fall next. There's little doubt that Lipinski did a lot of research and some of the attacks are chilling because they feel entirely plausible.
But overall, the book feels a bit like a Hollywood thriller, complete with various threats ramped up to the n-th degree to drive the drama while the characters are just there to help keep pushing the narrative forward. There are some other characters and character arcs to the book, but they end up feeling as predictable as where Julianna's story goes.
In the end, this was a quick read and while it was fun, I came away wishing it had been a bit more substantial than the final product ended up being.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
A group of cyber-security experts try to figure out the next target all while getting various systems back on line as the worm slowly becomes more insidious and clever with each attack. Part of that task force includes Juliana Al-Dossari, the wife of one of the world's leading authorities on cyber security. Struggling in her marriage, Juliana can't understand why her husband would put her on the task force instead of taking a leading role himself.
The first third of Lynn Lipinski's God of the Internet reads like Michael Crichton thriller. Pointing out various all-too-real vulnerabilities in our cyber infrastructure and then seeing them exploited to bring our country to our knees is frightening, but it makes for a compelling, entertaining story.
The problems with God of the Internet begin to arise once the stakes are raised a bit, not only on various systems but also in Julianna's marriage and personal life. To put it bluntly, I figured out who the mysterious God the Internet was long before any of our task force team of heroes did, leading to long passages in the book where I kept wondering why I could put the clues together but our heroes couldn't.
And while Julianna has a personal stake in things, including a son with medical issues who could die from the various attacks shutting down crucial systems at the world possible times, I never felt like I was invested enough with the characters to fully engage in their issues.
Where the book does work is in creating tension and creating curiosity about what system will fall next. There's little doubt that Lipinski did a lot of research and some of the attacks are chilling because they feel entirely plausible.
But overall, the book feels a bit like a Hollywood thriller, complete with various threats ramped up to the n-th degree to drive the drama while the characters are just there to help keep pushing the narrative forward. There are some other characters and character arcs to the book, but they end up feeling as predictable as where Julianna's story goes.
In the end, this was a quick read and while it was fun, I came away wishing it had been a bit more substantial than the final product ended up being.
In the interest of full disclosure, I received a digital ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 20, 2016
I would like to thank NetGalley and the Publisher for an advanced read of "God of the Internet" by Lynn Lipinski. This was an intriguing and exciting thriller and mystery. I couldn't put this book down. The plot of the story is about hackers, evil and good, and how the evil characters can use the computer as a means of extreme terrorism, with devastating consequences. It is up to the good hackers to save the day. I would highly recommend this book.
September 29, 2016
(1 1/2). For relevance this book is really two stars, but for its abject sappiness, stereotyping, easy to figure storyline and so much else I will round it down to one. I know it is hard to write a good book, but I would have thought that with the terrific plot hatched here it could have been a whole lot better. The follow through was weak on all fronts, with just a tiny bit of excitement along the way. The teaser at the end was so weak it was pitiful.
December 14, 2016
Excellent and frightening premise: Islamic extremists have loosed a cyber 'worm' that takes down the water treatment system and electricity in LA as a demonstration of what they can do if their demands are not met. Would make a good movie! I appreciated that the plausibility of the scenario was developed in a way that made sense without overwhelming the reader with technical details of network security.
However, while I thought the premise was good, I thought the plot was too simplistic. I kept expecting/hoping for a twist of some sort, for the real villain to be someone other than the obvious candidate, etc. In addition, Juliana's involvement on the task force and her husband's non-involvement made no sense. Also, I didn't find the villain's actions and motivations to be developed in a believable way.
But I still think this could be developed into a good movie!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book.
However, while I thought the premise was good, I thought the plot was too simplistic. I kept expecting/hoping for a twist of some sort, for the real villain to be someone other than the obvious candidate, etc. In addition, Juliana's involvement on the task force and her husband's non-involvement made no sense. Also, I didn't find the villain's actions and motivations to be developed in a believable way.
But I still think this could be developed into a good movie!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me a digital ARC of this book.
September 15, 2016
A computer programmer creates an indestructible virus that infects millions of devices and brings the major cities of the country to a standstill. A woman struggles with her failing marriage and making sense of her place in her relationship. Two seemingly disconnected events come together in an inextricable way in Lynn Lipinski’s gripping novel God of the Internet.
In Los Angeles a computer programmer who calls himself G0d_of_Internet is working with the extremist group Islamic Crusade to bring the government of the United States to its knees. He releases a computer virus that begins to multiply and transform in calculated ways. The virus brings first water resources and then electricity to a screeching halt by manipulating the central controls.
Islamic Crusade has a simple demand: the U.S. armed forces need to pull out of all Muslim countries immediately. Pull out, the organization’s representative says, and basic utilities will be restored to L.A., Boston, and all the other large cities that have been targeted. Ignore the demand, and worse events will befall the traitorous West.
Juliana al Dossari fears for her family’s health and safety just like any other resident of L.A., but lately she’s come to worry about her husband more. Or, more specifically, her marriage. It feels like ages since she and her husband, Mahaz, have felt any sort of connection. Mahaz has withdrawn from her in the last several months, and it doesn’t help that the media consultant he hired is young, perky, and oozing with a willingness to please him.
Every couple goes through ups and downs, Juliana thinks, and she stubbornly clings to this belief…until the day Mahaz threatens her. In the heat of an argument, he warns her that if she ever files for divorce he will take their teenage children back to Saudi Arabia. Their children, he adds, have become too spoiled and materialistic anyway. Maybe some time in their home country will remind them how to be grateful.
Shocked, Juliana doesn’t understand how this version of Mahaz could be the same one she married. Their seventeen-year-old son has a medical condition that requires constant monitoring. How could Mahaz even consider taking him to Saudi? And what about their beautiful daughter? Has Mahaz forgotten how women are sidelined in the Middle East?
She can’t spend a lot of free time thinking about his menacing words, however. In an effort to offload tasks he deems less important, Mahaz has tagged Juliana to be his representative on a task force that has assembled to combat the super virus. While the task force much rather prefers Mahaz’s help and expertise—he is a leading expert on computer network security, after all—Juliana joins them instead.
What starts as an assignment meant to demean and distract her, however, becomes a real concern for Juliana. Something about the information the task force has shared doesn’t make sense. She’s equally mystified by Mahaz’s lack of interest in the virus. Little by little her home starts to feel like the inside of one of the infected computers—a toxic environment that is choking the life out of her.
Author Lynn Lipinski begins her book on a high note and doesn’t let the action or the tension dip for long before ratcheting the story back up to another high point. While many cyber thrillers may miss the emotion of other genres, Lipinksi strikes that fine balance. The result is a book that is both exciting and heartfelt.
Readers will have no problem identifying with Juliana. Some might question why she stays in the relationship, but Lipinski answers that question with enough conviction that even those with little familiarity of other cultures will find a modicum of understanding here. A mother will do anything for her children, Lipinski reminds readers, even if that means staying in a situation detrimental to herself.
Other readers might decry the book’s clean-cut lines defining protagonist and antagonist. In a world that fights for political niceties, it’s refreshing to read a book that doesn’t hesitate to name a villain. Some authors might avert the question of responsibility; within the confines of her story, Lipinski looks responsibility dead in the eye.
Equally gripping is Lipinski’s knowledge of just how connected the world has become due to computers and the internet. While there’s no way of knowing whether the scenarios she presents could actually happen, readers certainly can’t deny the plausibility with which she writes. In a word, the situations she poses are frightening.
I highly recommend readers Bookmark God of the Internet.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
In Los Angeles a computer programmer who calls himself G0d_of_Internet is working with the extremist group Islamic Crusade to bring the government of the United States to its knees. He releases a computer virus that begins to multiply and transform in calculated ways. The virus brings first water resources and then electricity to a screeching halt by manipulating the central controls.
Islamic Crusade has a simple demand: the U.S. armed forces need to pull out of all Muslim countries immediately. Pull out, the organization’s representative says, and basic utilities will be restored to L.A., Boston, and all the other large cities that have been targeted. Ignore the demand, and worse events will befall the traitorous West.
Juliana al Dossari fears for her family’s health and safety just like any other resident of L.A., but lately she’s come to worry about her husband more. Or, more specifically, her marriage. It feels like ages since she and her husband, Mahaz, have felt any sort of connection. Mahaz has withdrawn from her in the last several months, and it doesn’t help that the media consultant he hired is young, perky, and oozing with a willingness to please him.
Every couple goes through ups and downs, Juliana thinks, and she stubbornly clings to this belief…until the day Mahaz threatens her. In the heat of an argument, he warns her that if she ever files for divorce he will take their teenage children back to Saudi Arabia. Their children, he adds, have become too spoiled and materialistic anyway. Maybe some time in their home country will remind them how to be grateful.
Shocked, Juliana doesn’t understand how this version of Mahaz could be the same one she married. Their seventeen-year-old son has a medical condition that requires constant monitoring. How could Mahaz even consider taking him to Saudi? And what about their beautiful daughter? Has Mahaz forgotten how women are sidelined in the Middle East?
She can’t spend a lot of free time thinking about his menacing words, however. In an effort to offload tasks he deems less important, Mahaz has tagged Juliana to be his representative on a task force that has assembled to combat the super virus. While the task force much rather prefers Mahaz’s help and expertise—he is a leading expert on computer network security, after all—Juliana joins them instead.
What starts as an assignment meant to demean and distract her, however, becomes a real concern for Juliana. Something about the information the task force has shared doesn’t make sense. She’s equally mystified by Mahaz’s lack of interest in the virus. Little by little her home starts to feel like the inside of one of the infected computers—a toxic environment that is choking the life out of her.
Author Lynn Lipinski begins her book on a high note and doesn’t let the action or the tension dip for long before ratcheting the story back up to another high point. While many cyber thrillers may miss the emotion of other genres, Lipinksi strikes that fine balance. The result is a book that is both exciting and heartfelt.
Readers will have no problem identifying with Juliana. Some might question why she stays in the relationship, but Lipinski answers that question with enough conviction that even those with little familiarity of other cultures will find a modicum of understanding here. A mother will do anything for her children, Lipinski reminds readers, even if that means staying in a situation detrimental to herself.
Other readers might decry the book’s clean-cut lines defining protagonist and antagonist. In a world that fights for political niceties, it’s refreshing to read a book that doesn’t hesitate to name a villain. Some authors might avert the question of responsibility; within the confines of her story, Lipinski looks responsibility dead in the eye.
Equally gripping is Lipinski’s knowledge of just how connected the world has become due to computers and the internet. While there’s no way of knowing whether the scenarios she presents could actually happen, readers certainly can’t deny the plausibility with which she writes. In a word, the situations she poses are frightening.
I highly recommend readers Bookmark God of the Internet.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.)
August 24, 2016
I enjoy geeky stories so when NetGalley offered Lynn Lipinski's "God of the Internet" (Majestic Content 2016), I requested and was granted early access. This story follows a black hat hacker (G0d_of_Internet) who releases a worm into the internet that attacks America's infrastructure--think water supplies and electricity--and will continue to do so unless America removes her military presence from all Muslim countries.
"This is how we will wage war on your land--not by sending 'boots on the ground' as you have done in our countries, but by turning your systems and your innovations and your openness into weapons against you."
A talented team is quickly assembled to fight back, but with each step forward, they lose ground. Woven in with this attack are two subplots--Juliana Al-Dossari's deteriorating marriage and the failing health of her child.
An attack on America's infrastructure is the nightmare of politicians and their proletariat, made all the more believable by the almost weekly hacks we see of national financial and security institutions. As a reader of God of the Internet, I become privy to insider knowledge that puts me right in the middle of the devious brain of the attacker and the frantic oft-failed efforts of the defenders to stop him. I kept reading, flipping pages, hoping for a solution before the country collapses in on itself.
The shortfall to the book was the frequent distraction of the voluminous subplots--Juliana's failing marriage and her son's sickness. These were covered in detail, almost repetitively. Yes, they provided depth of character, but they slowed the pace of the main story dramatically, enough that these subplots began to compete with the main plot for supremacy. And neither of them is strong enough to carry my interest as a reader.
Lipinski is a newish author. If she can solve her plotting issues, I'd be thrilled to read more of her stories. Why four stars? In between the hefty subplots is an amazing and frightening cybercrime story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Why four stars? That's simple: In between the hefty subplots is an amazing and frightening cybercrime story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
"This is how we will wage war on your land--not by sending 'boots on the ground' as you have done in our countries, but by turning your systems and your innovations and your openness into weapons against you."
A talented team is quickly assembled to fight back, but with each step forward, they lose ground. Woven in with this attack are two subplots--Juliana Al-Dossari's deteriorating marriage and the failing health of her child.
An attack on America's infrastructure is the nightmare of politicians and their proletariat, made all the more believable by the almost weekly hacks we see of national financial and security institutions. As a reader of God of the Internet, I become privy to insider knowledge that puts me right in the middle of the devious brain of the attacker and the frantic oft-failed efforts of the defenders to stop him. I kept reading, flipping pages, hoping for a solution before the country collapses in on itself.
The shortfall to the book was the frequent distraction of the voluminous subplots--Juliana's failing marriage and her son's sickness. These were covered in detail, almost repetitively. Yes, they provided depth of character, but they slowed the pace of the main story dramatically, enough that these subplots began to compete with the main plot for supremacy. And neither of them is strong enough to carry my interest as a reader.
Lipinski is a newish author. If she can solve her plotting issues, I'd be thrilled to read more of her stories. Why four stars? In between the hefty subplots is an amazing and frightening cybercrime story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
Why four stars? That's simple: In between the hefty subplots is an amazing and frightening cybercrime story that I thoroughly enjoyed.
August 23, 2016
We all know how vulnerable we are, as individuals and as a nation, as a result of our dependence on the internet. G0d_of_Internet is the title of the novel and the chosen epithet of the cyber terrorist who releases a worm that will impact millions of people. The Islamic Crusade claims responsibility, and the good guys are scrambling to prevent future attacks.
White hat hackers and Homeland Security scramble to unravel the code and create a defense against the worm that has been unleashed into thousands of computers and continues to proliferate, contaminating computers worldwide.
The first evidence appears in the water supplies of cities like Los Angeles and Dallas. Then come the problems with power and light. The first attacks are instigated, then corrected, because the attacks are threats intended to prove what the worm is capable of doing to the nation's infrastructure. And worse is yet to come if the demands are not met.
The name of the terrorist who wrote the code is not given immediately, but it is not difficult to figure out--the author is not really trying hide the perpetrator from the reader.
In addition to the cyber attacks, the family life of Juliana and her husband Mahaz is deteriorating. Juliana suspects her husband's infidelity, a problem she must set aside as she deals with her seventeen-year-old son's too frequent life-threatening complications from hydrocephalus.
G0d_of_Internet does a good job of keeping the reader riveted to a fast-moving plot that echoes the fears of those who are doing their best to prevent this kind of attack from happening. The romance feels false, but the tension of the novel is genuine and thought-provoking.
NetGalley
Suspense. Aug. 16, 2016. Print length: 245 pages.
White hat hackers and Homeland Security scramble to unravel the code and create a defense against the worm that has been unleashed into thousands of computers and continues to proliferate, contaminating computers worldwide.
The first evidence appears in the water supplies of cities like Los Angeles and Dallas. Then come the problems with power and light. The first attacks are instigated, then corrected, because the attacks are threats intended to prove what the worm is capable of doing to the nation's infrastructure. And worse is yet to come if the demands are not met.
The name of the terrorist who wrote the code is not given immediately, but it is not difficult to figure out--the author is not really trying hide the perpetrator from the reader.
In addition to the cyber attacks, the family life of Juliana and her husband Mahaz is deteriorating. Juliana suspects her husband's infidelity, a problem she must set aside as she deals with her seventeen-year-old son's too frequent life-threatening complications from hydrocephalus.
G0d_of_Internet does a good job of keeping the reader riveted to a fast-moving plot that echoes the fears of those who are doing their best to prevent this kind of attack from happening. The romance feels false, but the tension of the novel is genuine and thought-provoking.
NetGalley
Suspense. Aug. 16, 2016. Print length: 245 pages.
August 25, 2016
What makes this book so compelling is that the storyline plays on our vulnerabilities, our interconnectedness, and our attachment to technology. While most of us have basic security software such as Symantec or McAfee on our computers and there is security software and encryption software on the major smartphone brands, we do not really think about what vulnerabilities we open up ourselves to when visiting websites or especially when using our smartphones and tablets in public, connecting to any available Wi-Fi server. The government and many businesses have inadequate security, as evident by breaches of major companies such as Target or the federal government (in recent years a breach of the Office of Personnel Management exposed the personal information of millions of federal employees). A terrorist group utilizing cyber warfare to exploit existing weaknesses and carelessness to reek havoc on the US or other western nations is not an implausible scenario; that it has not happened yet is probably due more to luck than anything else.
The irony of this book is the hacker (God_of_Internet), in his private thoughts as conveyed in the book, condemns Americans for their hubris (along with other characteristics), but it his own hubris that ultimately brings about his downfall; although not before significant damage is done by his actions.
The final chapter contains a teaser suggesting that a sequel could be in the works, as the malicious code is still infecting millions of machines and just waiting to be activated.
I received a copy of the ebook from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
The irony of this book is the hacker (God_of_Internet), in his private thoughts as conveyed in the book, condemns Americans for their hubris (along with other characteristics), but it his own hubris that ultimately brings about his downfall; although not before significant damage is done by his actions.
The final chapter contains a teaser suggesting that a sequel could be in the works, as the malicious code is still infecting millions of machines and just waiting to be activated.
I received a copy of the ebook from Netgalley in exchange for a review.
August 24, 2016
The world of hackers.
A hacker known as G0d_of_Internet hijacks millions of computers to do the bidding of an Islamic jihadist group, first hitting the water treatment systems in Boston, Dallas and Los Angeles. Next, the power grids go down. The only thing standing between the terrorists and their goal to weaponize the internet is a small band of white hat hackers, including cybersecurity guru Mahaz Al-Dossari and his wife Juliana. The global network hackers intend to divert money from world’s banks.
The plot, which has been almost totally devoted to cyber technology, then throws in family problems of Juliana and Mahaz Al-Dossari, including Juliana’s teenage son, whose health is and always has been very delicate. I think the author must have been trying to make the story more interesting by getting away from so much technical jargon. For those of us who do not operate in this world, I was just reading words, which meant nothing to me.
The story is well written and this fight of the hackers and the technology is probably totally entertaining to readers with that kind of background. Accordingly I recommend this book with that caveat.
I was given a complimentary e-book for an honest review.
A hacker known as G0d_of_Internet hijacks millions of computers to do the bidding of an Islamic jihadist group, first hitting the water treatment systems in Boston, Dallas and Los Angeles. Next, the power grids go down. The only thing standing between the terrorists and their goal to weaponize the internet is a small band of white hat hackers, including cybersecurity guru Mahaz Al-Dossari and his wife Juliana. The global network hackers intend to divert money from world’s banks.
The plot, which has been almost totally devoted to cyber technology, then throws in family problems of Juliana and Mahaz Al-Dossari, including Juliana’s teenage son, whose health is and always has been very delicate. I think the author must have been trying to make the story more interesting by getting away from so much technical jargon. For those of us who do not operate in this world, I was just reading words, which meant nothing to me.
The story is well written and this fight of the hackers and the technology is probably totally entertaining to readers with that kind of background. Accordingly I recommend this book with that caveat.
I was given a complimentary e-book for an honest review.
May 18, 2017
Overall an enjoyable and gripping read. However, it's not as "techie" as I thought. The main perspective of Juliana adds a touch of humanity to this book.
As the story progresses, actually it's not that hard to guess who is the G0d_of_Internet but once of the scenes when the person behind this cyberattack has been identified is quite shocking and I loved that part.
As a person with an IT background, this book is considered not "techie" enough for our taste but the layman terms used in the book is great for general readers. This is a big plus to the author.
At first I was wondering why Juliana is in the main picture of a story which talks about cyberattacks. She's a PR manager who doesn't know much on technologies and she suffers from domestic abuse from her marriage with a husband whom was so loving and caring previously. The more chapters I read, I developed more emotional attachments with her. Juliana's involvements in the story adds a touch of humanity to the book.
This review is originally posted on my blog: http://wp.me/p6Uw1h-qG
As the story progresses, actually it's not that hard to guess who is the G0d_of_Internet but once of the scenes when the person behind this cyberattack has been identified is quite shocking and I loved that part.
As a person with an IT background, this book is considered not "techie" enough for our taste but the layman terms used in the book is great for general readers. This is a big plus to the author.
At first I was wondering why Juliana is in the main picture of a story which talks about cyberattacks. She's a PR manager who doesn't know much on technologies and she suffers from domestic abuse from her marriage with a husband whom was so loving and caring previously. The more chapters I read, I developed more emotional attachments with her. Juliana's involvements in the story adds a touch of humanity to the book.
This review is originally posted on my blog: http://wp.me/p6Uw1h-qG
September 3, 2016
I received "G0d_of_Internet” through NetGalley. The site reported several positive reviews, so I bypassed my stack of books-to-read and dove right in this novel.
Well, I was right. “G0d_of_Internet” is an enjoyable and well written book. I would define it a tale of hate and love.
Hate is harboring in the heart of a man who turned himself against all that he lived in the USA and choose to be a terrorist cyber-weapon, to wreak havoc and chaos on the Western economy.
Love is blossoming in the heart of another man, one of the "heroes", for a woman humiliated by an unrecognizable husband.
Of course, the story is much more varied, with several twists, with a little of (understandable) computer jargon, with a mother and two adolescents and their reactions to the events even from a particular point of view…
Do I managed to intrigue you? Great. Satisfy your thirst by diving in "G0d_of_Internet”. You’ll enjoy the reading.
Well, I was right. “G0d_of_Internet” is an enjoyable and well written book. I would define it a tale of hate and love.
Hate is harboring in the heart of a man who turned himself against all that he lived in the USA and choose to be a terrorist cyber-weapon, to wreak havoc and chaos on the Western economy.
Love is blossoming in the heart of another man, one of the "heroes", for a woman humiliated by an unrecognizable husband.
Of course, the story is much more varied, with several twists, with a little of (understandable) computer jargon, with a mother and two adolescents and their reactions to the events even from a particular point of view…
Do I managed to intrigue you? Great. Satisfy your thirst by diving in "G0d_of_Internet”. You’ll enjoy the reading.
October 29, 2016
I received this book through Goodreads giveaway against an honest review .
This is a very good novel set in to -day's realistic climate and is one the books you need to read to the end.
It outlines the story of a hacker God of Internet who is successfully trying to bring chaos to the United States of America with a little help from his rich gulf oil friends. We are not told the identity of the person until well into the second half of the book which adds to the intrigue .
It has all the ingredients for a good movie which I do not doubt will be taken up in the short term
Although there is recourse to technical jargon , this is explained very well in laymen's terms .
I liked the short terse chapters without any waffle.
My only negative is that what action was taken to resolve the cyber issue was not very clear at the end.
The book should be an eye-opener to western women marrying into Islam
This is a very good novel set in to -day's realistic climate and is one the books you need to read to the end.
It outlines the story of a hacker God of Internet who is successfully trying to bring chaos to the United States of America with a little help from his rich gulf oil friends. We are not told the identity of the person until well into the second half of the book which adds to the intrigue .
It has all the ingredients for a good movie which I do not doubt will be taken up in the short term
Although there is recourse to technical jargon , this is explained very well in laymen's terms .
I liked the short terse chapters without any waffle.
My only negative is that what action was taken to resolve the cyber issue was not very clear at the end.
The book should be an eye-opener to western women marrying into Islam
September 14, 2016
God of the Internet
Lynn Lipinski
This is one of those books that is right in the present. From the first page you will be hooked on this roller-coaster ride. It has all the twists and turns of a first-rate thriller.
The hacker wants to destroy America and his attack is not with bombs or guns but through the internet.
Lipinski has crafted an incredible thriller that could very well happen now. As the characters come to life he lets readers see the fear and determination of Juliana to protect her two children. The greed and madness of an Islamic fanatic. The support of a new friend. All this comes together in one chilling story you won't want to miss.
Definitely recommended.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Lynn Lipinski
This is one of those books that is right in the present. From the first page you will be hooked on this roller-coaster ride. It has all the twists and turns of a first-rate thriller.
The hacker wants to destroy America and his attack is not with bombs or guns but through the internet.
Lipinski has crafted an incredible thriller that could very well happen now. As the characters come to life he lets readers see the fear and determination of Juliana to protect her two children. The greed and madness of an Islamic fanatic. The support of a new friend. All this comes together in one chilling story you won't want to miss.
Definitely recommended.
I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
August 21, 2016
I received an advanced e-copy from Net Galley in exchange for my honest review
I could not put this book down. It is scary how real all of it is or could be. This book really makes you think of how vulnerable we would be here in the United States if a terrorist group were to hack into and control our internet. This book is fast paced and will hold your attention to the very last word. There was a lot of technical stuff that went over my head, but the author wrote it in such a way that you didn't lose anything from the story if you aren't tech savvy. I would say this is definitely a must-read for all those suspense lovers out there.
I could not put this book down. It is scary how real all of it is or could be. This book really makes you think of how vulnerable we would be here in the United States if a terrorist group were to hack into and control our internet. This book is fast paced and will hold your attention to the very last word. There was a lot of technical stuff that went over my head, but the author wrote it in such a way that you didn't lose anything from the story if you aren't tech savvy. I would say this is definitely a must-read for all those suspense lovers out there.
September 11, 2016
Look out folks, I found a great writer and the name is Lynn Lipinski. God of the Internet is an exciting and thrilling read. It really keeps you guessing right up to the end. I was impressed how the characters developed and were laid out throughout the book. Isn't just like a writer to throw in a little romance in a mystery. I could just see this book come to life as it progressed.
I am not a bigot or anything, but the characters fell right into line with the nationalities that they were. Hypocrites, all of them. Glad for the just rewards. I just can't wait for the next.
This book was provided by Netgalley for a fair and honest review.
I am not a bigot or anything, but the characters fell right into line with the nationalities that they were. Hypocrites, all of them. Glad for the just rewards. I just can't wait for the next.
This book was provided by Netgalley for a fair and honest review.
September 16, 2016
"God of the Internet" is a good book, but like others have said, I figured out way too early who the villain is. It's clear that the author did her homework and research into the underworld and dark web participants. Despite figuring out the villain early on, her storytelling is excellent, and her characters do come alive. Overall, it's a great book, and I would recommend it if you are looking for an easy read to get lost in briefly.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 14, 2016
A good effort at making a thriller out of cyberthreats. You might enjoy this more if you are familiar with the technology because there's lot of it in here. Julianna and Mahaz are in some ways subordinate to the cyber and I think the novel suffered a bit for that. Thanks to Netgalley for the arc Try this if you'd like to learn something about how war will be waged in the future.
September 14, 2016
This novel is about a hacker who is attempting to sabotage much of the infrastructure of various parts of the US. It is also about a family and its gradual disintegration. The plot is fast moving and riveting, partly because it is so very plausible. I found it to be gripping. Thanks to Net Galley and Majestic Content Los Angeles for an ARC for an honest review.
September 15, 2016
Outstanding cyber-political thriller. Fast paced and very believable. The way my life is structured I have to read a little and then go do something else for a while. It was hard to maintain that pattern with this story. I was driven to know what happened next. The way things ended I still want to know what happens next. Any thoughts about a sequel? (Just my opinion.)
December 28, 2021
This is my favorite book I've read this month hands down! I recently read The President Is Missing and it's like the terrorist side of that book... but wayyy better. I didn't really enjoy The President Is Missing but God of the Internet delivered all that I expected and far more.
November 30, 2021
Second book from the south river this year and as incredible as a.
I don’t want to give too much away. Just know it’s in enthralling last and I read it in literally just a couple of hours because I couldn’t stop.
Incredible and amazing thank you so much to the TBR takeover team for sending me this review copy
Even though this is a review copy all parts opinions feelings and everything on my and myself
I don’t want to give too much away. Just know it’s in enthralling last and I read it in literally just a couple of hours because I couldn’t stop.
Incredible and amazing thank you so much to the TBR takeover team for sending me this review copy
Even though this is a review copy all parts opinions feelings and everything on my and myself
February 14, 2024
This was a pretty fast paced book. It basically opens to action. You already have an Idea of who G0d_of_internet is…..it just breaks your heart when you find out. Juliana’s personal journey through this book is also crazy. I felt sad when she talked about her shell of a home at the end…. Im not an IT professional or computer wizz, so the language was simple enough to grip. Its scary how vulnerable we are digitally and emotionally….
November 8, 2021
My first murder/mystery read and it surprised me, I got the audible book with my indie author tbr takeover I honestly can’t stop listen had me hooked.
Is about an internet hacker who goes by the ‘god of the internet’ he hijacker’s millions of computer systems stop water treatment, cutting power.
I enjoyed getting the different point of views and the suspense as it goes along.
Is about an internet hacker who goes by the ‘god of the internet’ he hijacker’s millions of computer systems stop water treatment, cutting power.
I enjoyed getting the different point of views and the suspense as it goes along.
August 29, 2024
Wow. Such a good book. Left me wanting to finish it so bad, the suspense was amazing. And really great character building. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat waiting for the crazy stuff to happen and it was suchhh a good build. GO READ THIS BOOK!!!
January 16, 2024
I really loved this book. So much intrigue and suspense. Topic is completely relevant and the characters are great.
September 19, 2016
Is This Big Brother?
By Bob Gelms
Almost no one would disagree that your computer these days is capable of doing a whole lot more than computers were able to do as little as only five years ago. They are improving so fast that the laptop you bought last year might already be obsolete. There are places on Earth where “they” are not only keeping up with innovations but are, way more than likely, driving the progress. I believe that places like the NSA and most intelligence services of first world countries are capable of things with computers that would seem like magic if reveled to the general public.
God of the Internet by Lynn Lipinski might have started out as a science fiction novel but it turned into something like a diary of current events in the world of bits and bytes. I’d be willing to bet that the latest Cray supercomputers at the NSA don’t even use bits and bytes anymore. Anyway, everything in the novel can happen in the real world, maybe tomorrow. That’s what makes it so fascinating and so scary.
So far the world has been very lucky, even though the hackers wearing the black hats are every bit as good as the hackers that work for the NSA. It’s just that the NSA employs a lot more of them. It ain’t like the days when you played a tone into the telephone and got your long distance call for free. I never did anything like that ;-)
One day, clear out of the blue, the water treatment systems in Boston, Dallas, and Los Angeles go down. Then the power grid fails and it’s very clear that we are being attacked. Who is doing it and for what reason? That is made clear as the book progresses. What else is clear is that a terrorist or a group of terrorists want to turn the Internet into a force for evil and against the United States.
The hackers wearing the white hats have unbelievable machines at their beck and call. Soon they are discovering the algorithm used by the hackers and have a good idea of what it’s doing. The “worm” they created is placing itself into millions of computers worldwide waiting for instructions. It is incredibly sophisticated and not just the work of some 18 year old computer geek who barricades himself in his bedroom with a case of Red Bull. This worm is so complicated, the thought is that it couldn’t have been developed without the help and money of some government.
Meanwhile, the hackers with the black hats have a plan. They mean to break into the monetary system of the USA and drain bank accounts all over the world resulting in a worldwide panic. The hacker who has started to communicate with the good guys calls himself God of the Internet. If this comes off, the god part might be an understatement.
There is hope in the person of Mahaz Al-Dossari and his wife Juliana. He is the acknowledged world expert on cyber security. The team, now lead by Mahaz, finds out that God of the Internet has been tracking their every move and has stayed one step ahead of them the entire time. They pull off some nifty computer work, restore the power grid and water treatment plants and have a plan that will neutralize the worm that has infected too many computers to count. The worm has found its way through every wall that has tried to contain it.
In a secondary story, Mahaz and Juliana are going through a rough time in their marriage. Mahaz is originally from Syria but wanted to move to America and raise his kids here to get away from the stifling, misogynistic and racists regime in the Kingdom. Juliana is a PR person for Mahaz’s firm and is lending a hand in the cyber war against God of the Internet. As a PR expert, she has a keen eye for detail and soon starts to notice little things here and there that point to one person on the team. Soon she discovers a flood of evidence and the race is on.
It’s a tense chase to the end of the book and for me, a real page-turner. I was utterly fascinated by the computer goings-on which was explained in layman’s terms. I tell you that this could very well be the next chapter in global terrorism and it’s terrifying. Ms. Lipinski makes it all more real than I was comfortable with. I can see this happening at some point. We need to get Mr. Cray’s company, who manufacture the computers in Chippewa Falls WI, to build better supercomputers…..FAST.
By Bob Gelms
Almost no one would disagree that your computer these days is capable of doing a whole lot more than computers were able to do as little as only five years ago. They are improving so fast that the laptop you bought last year might already be obsolete. There are places on Earth where “they” are not only keeping up with innovations but are, way more than likely, driving the progress. I believe that places like the NSA and most intelligence services of first world countries are capable of things with computers that would seem like magic if reveled to the general public.
God of the Internet by Lynn Lipinski might have started out as a science fiction novel but it turned into something like a diary of current events in the world of bits and bytes. I’d be willing to bet that the latest Cray supercomputers at the NSA don’t even use bits and bytes anymore. Anyway, everything in the novel can happen in the real world, maybe tomorrow. That’s what makes it so fascinating and so scary.
So far the world has been very lucky, even though the hackers wearing the black hats are every bit as good as the hackers that work for the NSA. It’s just that the NSA employs a lot more of them. It ain’t like the days when you played a tone into the telephone and got your long distance call for free. I never did anything like that ;-)
One day, clear out of the blue, the water treatment systems in Boston, Dallas, and Los Angeles go down. Then the power grid fails and it’s very clear that we are being attacked. Who is doing it and for what reason? That is made clear as the book progresses. What else is clear is that a terrorist or a group of terrorists want to turn the Internet into a force for evil and against the United States.
The hackers wearing the white hats have unbelievable machines at their beck and call. Soon they are discovering the algorithm used by the hackers and have a good idea of what it’s doing. The “worm” they created is placing itself into millions of computers worldwide waiting for instructions. It is incredibly sophisticated and not just the work of some 18 year old computer geek who barricades himself in his bedroom with a case of Red Bull. This worm is so complicated, the thought is that it couldn’t have been developed without the help and money of some government.
Meanwhile, the hackers with the black hats have a plan. They mean to break into the monetary system of the USA and drain bank accounts all over the world resulting in a worldwide panic. The hacker who has started to communicate with the good guys calls himself God of the Internet. If this comes off, the god part might be an understatement.
There is hope in the person of Mahaz Al-Dossari and his wife Juliana. He is the acknowledged world expert on cyber security. The team, now lead by Mahaz, finds out that God of the Internet has been tracking their every move and has stayed one step ahead of them the entire time. They pull off some nifty computer work, restore the power grid and water treatment plants and have a plan that will neutralize the worm that has infected too many computers to count. The worm has found its way through every wall that has tried to contain it.
In a secondary story, Mahaz and Juliana are going through a rough time in their marriage. Mahaz is originally from Syria but wanted to move to America and raise his kids here to get away from the stifling, misogynistic and racists regime in the Kingdom. Juliana is a PR person for Mahaz’s firm and is lending a hand in the cyber war against God of the Internet. As a PR expert, she has a keen eye for detail and soon starts to notice little things here and there that point to one person on the team. Soon she discovers a flood of evidence and the race is on.
It’s a tense chase to the end of the book and for me, a real page-turner. I was utterly fascinated by the computer goings-on which was explained in layman’s terms. I tell you that this could very well be the next chapter in global terrorism and it’s terrifying. Ms. Lipinski makes it all more real than I was comfortable with. I can see this happening at some point. We need to get Mr. Cray’s company, who manufacture the computers in Chippewa Falls WI, to build better supercomputers…..FAST.
December 1, 2016
“You cannot rely on your looks alone, Beautiful girl. You must constantly surprise them with your brain.”
-Page 55.
G0d_of_Internet by Lynn Lipinski is a thriller about a Muslim extremist computer hacker, who calls himself, “G0d_of_Internet”. This hacker has developed a worm that will infect computers throughout the United States of America.
The story is fast-paced and even though I figured out who the hacker was early on in the story, I was hoping till the very end of the book for a major plot twist, which to my disappointment, did not happen.
To mark another positive, I have to say that I quite appreciate the way, Ms. Lipinski explained all the mechanics behind hacking and how through back doors and security lapses these types of scenarios are possible. It was quite helpful for a person like me, who knows nothing about computers; it did prevent me from reading a chapter and just going, ‘Huh?’
I, as a Muslim felt a certain character in this book was a little too fictional and was a bit too hard to believe that such a person could exist. Because that certain character was continuously contradicting with their morals, believes and values, that were earlier on developed by the authors. I could not quite well see or even understand why that specific character would, do some certain things that would destroy everything they worked so hard to build.
Also I, as a Muslim was very much offended by the mindset of a certain Muslim character that contradicts all the Islamic laws and this character undoubtedly believed, that whatever they were doing was right and they shall be rewarded in the hereafter for their so called ‘fight against evil’, from this world.
I would like to correct a major part of people who are reading this and also the author, that it is a misconception and a very wrong assumption, that the word “Jihad” means “holy war”. This term ‘holy war’ was repeatedly used in the book, which thus letting readers to assume that Muslims are instructed to fight, and fighting for Muslims is a holy act, therefore making the readers believe that the element of terrorism is born from our religion.
But in reality, he word, “Jihad” translates into the term “To struggle or to strive”. Therefore changing meaning of the ‘concept of Islam’ that was introduced in this book.
I would really appreciate if authors did their research before talking about a religion in their book, as they research on medical terminology or any other subject that they discuss in their book. I really want to emphasize on this issue as if not millions but thousands of readers are influenced by what they read.
“One must always be careful of books and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”
Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel.
In conclusion, the book was well-written, the plot was excellent but was leaked too early on in the book. Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Would I read it again? No.
I was sent a physical copy by the author herself in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. I received no monetary compensation for any feelings expressed in this review.
-Page 55.
G0d_of_Internet by Lynn Lipinski is a thriller about a Muslim extremist computer hacker, who calls himself, “G0d_of_Internet”. This hacker has developed a worm that will infect computers throughout the United States of America.
The story is fast-paced and even though I figured out who the hacker was early on in the story, I was hoping till the very end of the book for a major plot twist, which to my disappointment, did not happen.
To mark another positive, I have to say that I quite appreciate the way, Ms. Lipinski explained all the mechanics behind hacking and how through back doors and security lapses these types of scenarios are possible. It was quite helpful for a person like me, who knows nothing about computers; it did prevent me from reading a chapter and just going, ‘Huh?’
I, as a Muslim felt a certain character in this book was a little too fictional and was a bit too hard to believe that such a person could exist. Because that certain character was continuously contradicting with their morals, believes and values, that were earlier on developed by the authors. I could not quite well see or even understand why that specific character would, do some certain things that would destroy everything they worked so hard to build.
Also I, as a Muslim was very much offended by the mindset of a certain Muslim character that contradicts all the Islamic laws and this character undoubtedly believed, that whatever they were doing was right and they shall be rewarded in the hereafter for their so called ‘fight against evil’, from this world.
I would like to correct a major part of people who are reading this and also the author, that it is a misconception and a very wrong assumption, that the word “Jihad” means “holy war”. This term ‘holy war’ was repeatedly used in the book, which thus letting readers to assume that Muslims are instructed to fight, and fighting for Muslims is a holy act, therefore making the readers believe that the element of terrorism is born from our religion.
But in reality, he word, “Jihad” translates into the term “To struggle or to strive”. Therefore changing meaning of the ‘concept of Islam’ that was introduced in this book.
I would really appreciate if authors did their research before talking about a religion in their book, as they research on medical terminology or any other subject that they discuss in their book. I really want to emphasize on this issue as if not millions but thousands of readers are influenced by what they read.
“One must always be careful of books and what is inside them, for words have the power to change us.”
Cassandra Clare, Clockwork Angel.
In conclusion, the book was well-written, the plot was excellent but was leaked too early on in the book. Did I enjoy this book? Yes. Would I read it again? No.
I was sent a physical copy by the author herself in exchange of an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. I received no monetary compensation for any feelings expressed in this review.
March 4, 2019
The search is on for a couple hundred lines of code and a global hacker network before they can make good on their ultimate threat to divert money from the world’s banks. But G0d_of_Internet has been tracking their every move. And it’s Juliana, a PR manager lacking in technical skills, who may hold the key to unmasking the hacker.
I was intrigued by this book because of my new found love for the world of hacking thanks the Nerve by Jeanne Ryan and the Charlie Brooker TV series Black Mirror, I'm very much on technology at the moment. Excluding these examples this is not the type of text I would usually go for, with all the terrorism in the world I know how bad it makes me feel, nevertheless I gave God Of The Internet a go and I was not disappointed.
I'll get my one criticism out of the way early as it's a very personal issue, there's a lot of sophisticated technological jargon throughout the book. Even someone who considers themselves computer literate might struggle a little and to compensate, some things I felt were a little over explained to the point where it felt out of place. Lipinski's straightforward plotting means you don't lose anything from the book because of this but I felt it worth mentioning in order to make this an honest review.
The main characters Mahaz and Juliana have a complex relationship, him being very arrogant and condescending while she is very much under his spell despite his words and actions. To make matters worse there's a younger woman in the picture, taking the form of Mahaz's new media consultant. It's seems a very disjointed plot line in a book about computer hacking but I promise it all comes together and you really feel for Juliana as the book progresses.
Juliana wants to be free but has to do what she believes is right thing by her children, with Mahaz threatening to take them back to Saudi Arabia, where the culture and medical attention their son needs would be far different, we have to accept that Juliana is doing what's best. While she is dealing with all of this, Mahaz has brought Juliana in on the team working to stop the virus being spread by pen name; God_of_Internet.
For a book about terrorism, God Of The Internet isn't overly preachy and one sided, the story respects that there are a mix of good and bad hackers out there. While the bad characters can use a computer as a means of terrorism, there are also good hackers fighting for us to save the day. With all the news about computer hacking from smart phones to webcams, it all feels very relevant, it's not unlike something that could happen tomorrow, people are getting smarter when it comes to technology and this creates fear as you read.
I did figure out the villain quite early on in the book but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of Lipinski's storytelling whatsoever. I would recommend this book especially to anyone who is interested in current events or as mentioned above, the TV series Black Mirror.
I was intrigued by this book because of my new found love for the world of hacking thanks the Nerve by Jeanne Ryan and the Charlie Brooker TV series Black Mirror, I'm very much on technology at the moment. Excluding these examples this is not the type of text I would usually go for, with all the terrorism in the world I know how bad it makes me feel, nevertheless I gave God Of The Internet a go and I was not disappointed.
I'll get my one criticism out of the way early as it's a very personal issue, there's a lot of sophisticated technological jargon throughout the book. Even someone who considers themselves computer literate might struggle a little and to compensate, some things I felt were a little over explained to the point where it felt out of place. Lipinski's straightforward plotting means you don't lose anything from the book because of this but I felt it worth mentioning in order to make this an honest review.
The main characters Mahaz and Juliana have a complex relationship, him being very arrogant and condescending while she is very much under his spell despite his words and actions. To make matters worse there's a younger woman in the picture, taking the form of Mahaz's new media consultant. It's seems a very disjointed plot line in a book about computer hacking but I promise it all comes together and you really feel for Juliana as the book progresses.
Juliana wants to be free but has to do what she believes is right thing by her children, with Mahaz threatening to take them back to Saudi Arabia, where the culture and medical attention their son needs would be far different, we have to accept that Juliana is doing what's best. While she is dealing with all of this, Mahaz has brought Juliana in on the team working to stop the virus being spread by pen name; God_of_Internet.
For a book about terrorism, God Of The Internet isn't overly preachy and one sided, the story respects that there are a mix of good and bad hackers out there. While the bad characters can use a computer as a means of terrorism, there are also good hackers fighting for us to save the day. With all the news about computer hacking from smart phones to webcams, it all feels very relevant, it's not unlike something that could happen tomorrow, people are getting smarter when it comes to technology and this creates fear as you read.
I did figure out the villain quite early on in the book but it didn't spoil my enjoyment of Lipinski's storytelling whatsoever. I would recommend this book especially to anyone who is interested in current events or as mentioned above, the TV series Black Mirror.
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