This is a very good book for any time to read and just think about your security and how many times you have heard about any institution or business, or government agency being hacked since this book came out in 2018. the information is just as important now as it was then and if you have not taken care of your personal information you must do it now. A very good book.

This is a critical body of work for all of us to understand the wide spread use of our personal data as it relates to the internet , business and government. Everyone should read this book . It is a piece that many common people are missing in regard to utilizing their online life. This book scared me but it also made me change how I think about using the internet . I guarantee after reading this book you will never do online banking or any online date bases with personal information to be given out freely without your knowledge. You will re think what you enter and what choices you make online.
The author is a former Secretary of Homeland Security. Michael Chertoff discusses how poorly understood, expansion of information is circulating in the modern world. The issues he raises are timely, very frightening and very true.
Chertoff details in this book how every second of every day produces immense amounts of personal data, most of which could never have been collected a few years ago. The author shows us how our private information is then captured, catalogued, and even ( most shocking) acted upon by commercial interests, governments, and enemies both foreign and domestic. You will read this and change your online habits !

Many might be frightened ( pay attention to this its critical to our safety ! ) to learn that all our browsing habits, utility use , travel plans, phone records, blog reading, every day routines, private health information, driving and vehicle information, our mortgage and even photos of our houses and private conversations are being analyzed, leveraged, and sold on legal markets .. They are not just sold it does not stop there. They are used and analyzed, your very privacy decimated without your knowledge.

The author presents facts of how we have no further expectation of privacy in the use of our private information. Chertoff has written a concise well researched and honest view of what is happening to our privacy and how we must protect ourselves going forward. I highly recommend this book for everyone that is concerned about safety of their information and privacy online. It is a critical body of work .
Thank you for the ARC that does not influence my review. A most excellent read. I am buying a hard copy to keep to make notes in and use .

I'm a science-techie person and now a Senior IT Engineer for a reputed bank. And working in a bank really tells us what is the actual meaning of data. Data is a very crucial and important entity of nowadays. What is Personal Data? And how much secure your personal data is in this digital age, where we have recently heard about the Facebook sold its user's personal data without the consent. These firms are also collecting the data from there users without there consent and at last, making deals with big corporate houses on the base of that data. This is a very disturbing fact and everyone needs to understand what is the effect of the data in this Cyberage where now everything is available on one click.

This book is really good when it comes to throwing the light on the matter that is going on nowadays affecting every single person on the planet who is associated with the technology in a way. This book is an in-depth vision regarding the data collection by Government and the security agencies. The way we are affected by this and also information how we can prevent it.

I love the section where the author explained how we can control the outflow of our data.

This book is really good, and I liked it. Will recommend to everybody to have a read.

I work in information technology so this was not new information to me. It would be a good introduction for someone beginning to learn about the field. Otherwise it was a quick read and I skimmed many parts of the book. I don't think I learned anything new.

EXPLODING DATA by Michael Chertoff was recently published by Grove Atlantic and is subtitled "Reclaiming our Cybersecurity in the Digital Age." Chertoff, of course, was Secretary of Homeland Security from 2005–2009 and so has a unique outlook to bring to this topic. He begins by stressing in his introduction that "big data is watching you." Most readers are all too familiar with the loss of privacy as business and government collect increasing amounts of data, but Chertoff argues that we may not fully understand the extent to which that data allows for our manipulation. A co-author of the Patriot Act, Chertoff calls for more legislation and robust regulation. Providing a readable overview of a complex topic which impacts everyone, Chertoff’s EXPLODING DATA discusses technological, legal and international challenges; this title received a starred review from Library Journal.

As many have said: if there is no charge, you are the product. Be wary. In fact, a related story in today's Wall Street Journal explained that "Facebook Grants Researchers Data Access for Election Study" whereby through a group called Social Science One academics will be able to access data on 2.2 billion Facebook users to learn more about the effects of social media on elections and democracy. Link to the article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/facebook-gives-researchers-full-access-for-election-studies-1531348942

When it comes to data, the dawn of the twenty-first century is best likened to the Big Bang, the startling combustion that created a full universe from nothing. In his aptly titled book Exploding Data, former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff discusses how the similarly massive, yet just as poorly understood, expansion of information has already become the dominating trend of the modern world. The issues he raises are timely, chilling, and complicated.
Chertoff details what many have heard but few have thoughtfully examined: how every second of every day produces immense amounts of personal data, most of which could never have been collected much less recorded a few years ago, that is then captured, catalogued, and acted upon by commercial interests, governments, and enemies both foreign and domestic. Many might be frightened to hear that our browsing habits, energy usage, travel plans, daily routines, health factors, driving style, and private conversations are being analyzed, leveraged, and sold on legal markets today. Armed with these trillions of insights, artificial intelligence can create uncanny yet accurate predictions for the most complicated mechanics of human behavior.
Exploding Data provides an excellent framework to view this new data revolution by looking back at the similar societal disruptions of recording devices, cameras, and telephones. As these new technologies proliferated, the American legal system created doctrines like the expectation of privacy in order to protect the rights of individuals from undesirable overreach. Chertoff convincingly argues that the system is overdue for a recalibration.
Straight, simple, and to the point, this book methodically and intelligently discusses an issue so broad that it almost defies comprehension. In its concluding chapters, Chertoff argues for increased cooperation between nations, companies, and regulators to secure a safe and fair information system. But in the aftermath of this explosion, with fragments of people increasingly siloed by sorting algorithms, order will not come easily.

Chertoff is as close as you can get to the security and defense apparatus of the United States. As such its of little surprise he argues for more robust laws and funding to create a mega state of control over lawless evil doers and those countries the United States considers very naughty. And by that I mean hackers and Russians.

Don't get me wrong this book is wonderful and everyone who has ever used the internet or intends to should read it. In its scope and depth in description and in its readable and easy to understand style this book will take you from a to z about the beginning, development and the current state of affairs regarding what are the privacy and security concerns on the internet. That said its from a very American political elite point of view that considers proprietary and USA defense issues to be paramount.

Well, what's wrong with Chertoff having a point of view? Nothing at all. If you read "Exploding Data" bear this fact in mind and you will get a lot more out of the book. Once you see where he is coming from you understand what the USA security and defense interests want to do in shaping the future of our planet. So my advice is, read his bio at the back of the book first before you start reading from the front.

Michael Chertoff says Big Data is not so much a product of the internet as of globalization. It is commerce that caused the new tools of Big Data to come into being and play. They made the mountains of information saleable. But regardless of where cyber abuse began, the law has clearly not kept up, and that is leading to loss of autonomy – our ability to act as we wish. Exploding Data is a collection of anecdotes and case law exploring the explosion. There is nothing new here, but if you’ve never heard of cybercrime or device tracking, this is a good overview. As for Chertoff, he gives away nothing – no deep insight from all his years at Homeland Security and Justice.

He calls for a five point, wobbly approach to new legislation to protect what we have, and encourage the private sector to participate and police the internet. He actually calls for old-fashioned privateers, empowered to stop the criminals. This cyber vigilante-ism will not work of course. The pirates who obtained government letters of marque to plunder foreign vessels were in it for the gold. They were not playing offense or defense for the good guys. From Chertoff, someone in the eye of the storm, this is a facile disappointment.

Despite Chertoff, the basic rule of thumb still applies. If there is no charge for the product, you are the product. Protect your data and reveal it sparingly. And when push comes to shove, you can rest assured that you are on your own.

David Wineberg