ISBN 978-0-06-339817-7
You live in a digital battleground. Foreign spies, AI, deepfakes, and Dark‑Web criminals are conspiring to steal your identity, money and ideas. Former FBI spy‑catcher Eric O’Neill is ready to guide you.
Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime is for those curious or frightened by the prospect of a cyberattack, from students and retirees to the C-Suite and boardroom.
Spies, Lies and Cybercrime will appeal to every person curious or frightened by the prospect of a cyberattack, from students and retirees to the C-Suite and boardroom. My readers will take up arms in the current cyber war instead of fleeing while the village burns. They will become email archeologists and threat hunters, questioning every movement online and spotting the attackers hiding in every shadow. They will learn how to embed cybersecurity intrinsically into the culture and technology of their businesses and lives. Only then can we begin to move the needle toward a world safe from cyber-attacks.
Prologue: The Deepest, Darkest Cave
Introduction: It’s Now or . . . It’s Now!
Part I: Think Like a Spy.
Chapter One: The House Is Burning Down
Chapter Two: The Cloak-and-Dagger Game
Chapter Three: Deception: How an Email Launched a War
Chapter Four: Impersonation: How to Skip School
Chapter Five: Impersonation: Deepfakes
Chapter Six: Infiltration: The Trojan Horse
Chapter Seven: Infiltration: Indomitable Weeds
Chapter Eight: Confidence: “I Want to Believe”
Chapter Nine: Confidence: Question Everything
Chapter Ten: Exploitation: Spelunking into a Nightmare
Chapter Eleven: Exploitation: No Blank Pages
Chapter Twelve: Destruction: Inside the Fishbowl
Chapter Thirteen: Destruction: Up at Night
Part II: Act Like a Spy Hunter
Chapter Fourteen: Intro to PAID
Chapter Fifteen: Prepare
Chapter Sixteen: Assess
Chapter Seventeen: Investigate
Chapter Eighteen: Decide
Chapter Nineteen: Congratulations, Spy Hunter
The Spy Hunter Tool Kit
The book blends true and fascinating espionage stories with a modern cybersecurity playbook. You will learn how criminals use deception, impersonation, infiltration and exploitation, then apply Eric’s proven tools including the PAID framework to defend yourself every day.
Cyber‑crime costs are rising rapidly; losses are projected to exceed US$20 trillion annually by 2026. The Dark Web’s criminal economy is approaching the scale of major national economies. Eric argues that action is urgent before trust disappears.
Yes! It targets everyone from students and retirees to executives and board members. Eric wants you to become “email archaeologists” and “threat hunters” who question every online interaction.
Yes! It targets everyone from students and retirees to executives and board members. Eric wants you to become “email archaeologists” and “threat hunters” who question every online interaction.
Yes. Eric recounts catching Robert Hanssen, investigating modern ransomware gangs and describing personal encounters with scams. These stories illustrate each lesson.
It will be published on 7 October 2025 and is available for pre‑order now. It will be released in hardback, e‑book and audiobook (narrated by Eric himself).
Gray Day focused on the Hanssen case. Spies, Lies & Cybercrime expands into the broader cyber‑war, combining memoir, investigative journalism and practical advice.
It uniquely combines gripping espionage stories, insider FBI perspectives and an actionable framework. Eric’s experience catching spies and fighting cyber‑crime sets it apart.
No. The book is written in easy language and explains concepts with stories, examples and analogies.
It’s both. Each chapter uses narrative to illustrate a threat, then translates the story into lessons and practical steps. The goal is to help you take action right away.
The strategies apply to individuals and organizations of any size. The book covers attacks on NGOs and examples relevant to everyday people.
Advanced readers will find value in the insider stories and in‑depth analysis of modern threats, including ransomware‑as‑a‑service and deepfakes.
The examples span the globe, from an NGO operating in Syria, Yemen and Ukraine to Russian ransomware syndicates and a Cuban spy. The lessons apply universally.
Yes. Eric shares monthly stories, cyber‑news, tips and gadget recommendations in his newsletter! Be sure to…
Eric O’Neill is the author of Gray Day and the subject of Universal Studios’ feature film, Breach.
Eric O’Neill’s career began in the FBI’s counterintelligence trenches as an undercover operative. His undercover work brought down Robert Hanssen, the most notorious and damaging spy in United States history. Since then, Eric has spent decades as a national security attorney, corporate investigator, and national cybersecurity strategist.
He speaks to thousands each year across the globe, inspiring audiences to protect themselves and giving them actionable tools to do so. People may be more motivated first by helping themselves and their organization.
You live in a digital battleground. Foreign spies, deepfakes and Dark‑Web criminals are conspiring to steal your identity, money and ideas. Former FBI spy‑catcher Eric O’Neill is ready to guide you.
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