Battlefield Cyber

"Influence operations." Once an exotic term from spy novels, remote from our daily lives, today it's a reality that touches all of us through our networked devices. Russia and China have gotten entry to our homes and to our minds, seeking to influence and disorient us. McLaughlin and Holstein are Paul Reveres for the 21st century, shouting the alarm and explaining how citizens, IT firms, and government must rebalance relations with China to protect our democratic system.

Andrew J. Nathan, one of America’s top China-watchers and Class of 1919 Professor of Political Science, Columbia University

McLaughlin and Holstein set out an immensely readable and sweeping view of how cyber vulnerabilities affect every aspect of our lives. With up-to-date examples from today’s headlines, the authors paint an alarming picture of how Russia and China have used the digital revolution to exploit our open democracy, with cyber theft of industrial secrets and personal data, and the spreading of pernicious disinformation on social media. Anyone who wants to understand the risks we face in the digital world, and to consider a range of excellent and thoughtful recommendations on how we can mitigate those risks, would enjoy reading Battlefield: Cyber.

Glenn Gerstell, former General Counsel, National Security Agency

Direct but nuanced, terrifying yet inspiring, a page-turner of a narrative built on robust empirics: Battlefield: Cyber is the primer, and call to arms, that everyone needs for today's war. Michael McLaughlin and William Holstein paint, in diligently researched yet thrilling brushstrokes, both the obvious battle taking place under our very noses and the subtler one changing how battles are fought. In the process, they offer a preternaturally clear portrait of China's strategy -- and of U.S. foibles. Best of all, they provide hope for a path forward.

Emily de la Bruyère, co-founder, Horizon Advisory

When the history of America’s current era is written, the cybersecurity war among and between the United States, Russia and China, will play a pivotal role in understanding our socio-economic, politico-military history, and our political economy. Historians will ask: “What did America know about the threats of cyber-attacks? When did we know it? And, What did we do about it?” Mike McLaughlin and Bill Holstein do not pull punches. Battlefield: Cyber provides Americans today and historians tomorrow a thoughtful, well-investigated and documented insight into this cyber war, which may eclipse The Cold War in historical significance. This book is a must read for anyone interested in the future of democracy and the Great American Experiment. This book begs the question: “What is to Be Done?”

Steven Soble, Chief Executive Officer, Assured Enterprises

Pertinent exploration of how cyberspace combat has become a dangerous reality.

“Make no mistake, America’s adversaries are fully engaged in a cyber war,” write the authors, “and it is raging all around us.” This initially sounds like hyperbole, but as the narrative unfolds, it begins to seem like an understatement. McLaughlin is a former senior adviser for U.S. Cyber Command, where he was responsible for the coordination of Department of Defense counterintelligence operations in cyberspace, and Holstein is a journalist who specializes in technology and China. The authors make a strong argument that Russia and China are winning an insidious digital war against the U.S. They explain how hacks, malware, and system penetrations work, dissecting some of the major incidents. Russia is mainly concerned with disruption, and its government has coopted hackers specializing in ransomware attacks into their operations. The Russian invasion of Ukraine was preceded by cyberattacks on the country’s communications systems and infrastructure, which were remarkably effective. China is more interested in colonizing American systems to insert malware, steal intellectual property, and gather personal data. Both countries have penetrated social media platforms and have established a covert presence in cloud systems. McLaughlin and Holstein propose moves to improve digital security in the U.S., looking to Taiwan as a model for cooperation between government and the private sector. A Department of Digital Services could provide coordination and support as well as pushing tech companies to move their operations out of China. Corporations have to be willing to share information and protective technology, and there must be a concerted effort to remove embedded malware from systems in companies, government agencies, and the military. McLaughlin and Holstein present a convincing case in clear language, and the result is a book that is likely to keep you awake at night.

A disturbing, well-rendered study that reveals the extent of the digital struggle and charts a way forward for the U.S. - Kirkus (Starred Review)