In the "Age of Big Data" when everybody and their brother (Big Brother?) track our every move, it's easy to become obsessed with data security: personal, industrial and Governmental. And are the Anonymous and other secret groups of hackers what really threaten most our data? And in this era of counterterrorism, should we let our government expand the surveillance powers of intelligence agencies over individuals and groups?

This book tells simultaneously two stories: the hacktivism of the last 20 years and the personal history of Alien, a female hacker who began her « career » when she was just a teenager. But these two stories interweave since we discover the Big Data world through Alien's eyes.

Even if you're not a geek, don't worry, you’ll understand everything. It can be disturbing for some of us to discover everything that some computer geniuses are capable of though. And if you're a young computer geek, you'll get an overview of what you are getting into.

Mr Smith seems to be very good at writing on sensitive and fashionable topics such as health, environment, local agriculture, urban gardening, etc.

Fans of non-fiction stories that read like novels, here is your next to-read book. If you liked Mr Robot, you'll love this story. If you like spy or conspiracy stories, you should like it a lot too.

So I give it 4½ stars. The removed half star was because I found some sections a bit... tedious. The story drags a little. But maybe it was because they were about things I already knew.

Thanks to the author, the publisher and Netgalley for providing me a digital copy of this book before publication.

A fascinating look into the making of a hacker, the personality type, the needed curiosity level, the ethics, and the motivation. Once I got into it, I couldn't put the book down.

BREAKING AND ENTERING by Jeremy N. Smith is actually a very fun, if scary, read for those curious about cybersecurity. In this non-fiction work, Smith tells "the extraordinary story of a hacker called 'Alien'." He begins as she enters college in August 1998 at MIT. The orientation itself involves a bit of "hacking," in this case, referring to physical travel around the campus via rooftops and underground steam ducts. Alien is intrigued by the people she meets and the adventures they have, although some have tragic consequences. Slightly less than a third of the book takes place while Alien is an undergrad. The rest chronicles Alien’s work life involving computer systems and preventing "hacking" (both physical and digital) at places like Los Alamos National Laboratory, other governing bodies and various banks. Smith is an entertaining writer who makes this true life story read like fiction. He deftly conveys Alien’s free spirit, her risk-taking, and the sometimes reckless or unethical choices which fit with her chosen profession. In its starred review, Kirkus called BREAKING AND ENTERING, "A page-turning real-life thriller, the sort of book that may leave readers feeling both invigorated and vulnerable."

I should start by saying I did not - no, could not - finish this book. I made it two chapters in before giving up. If I didn't know better, I would think I was reading terrible fan-fiction every time there was any social interaction. The author has clearly never heard the great writing mantra: show, don't tell. The subject material should have been interesting, but I just can't take any more of this.

This was an interesting read, based on true events about the life of a a girl called "Alien".
A lot of experiences were had by Alien and it made an interesting read, but I wasn't blown away by the book. I felt pretty neutral reading it.
I didn't hate it, but didn't love it either.