Internet Spy (Classified) [Paperback]

Ian Probert (Author)

Book Description

Series: Classified | Publication Date: September 1996

Relates a 1989 incident of German computer hackers being paid by the KGB to break into top secret computer files in the United States.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Know a younger reader who needs a push getting interested in computers? Internet Spy, which is partially based on true accounts, tells the story of a group of German hackers who invade the computer systems of the United States government. This fictional retelling of the story of the Chaos Club is perfect for raising the interest level of any teenage hacker wannabe.

At the end, the authors include a helpful glossary, a capsule account of the real events, and a section on computer hacking that might lead the reader to pursue further information on the topic. This book is a little more substantial than other books in the Classified series such as Encounter on the Moon and Alien Landing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 91 pages
• Publisher: Kingfisher Books; 1st edition (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0753450070
• ISBN-13: 978-0753450079
• Product Dimensions: 7.6 x 4.8 x 0.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,771,690 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars If Amazon Would Give a Book Zero Stars..., February 1, 2000

By 

D. Kennedy (West Chester, OH USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Internet Spy (Classified) (Paperback)

I will keep this book forever as a reminder that books withfive star ratings from Amazon customer reviews can be completelosers.

Set in Germany in the mid-80's, this book is a poorlywritten, shallow, unfocused fictional account that even the Library of Congress Publication Data on page ii classifies as "Juvenile Literature" and the back cover categorizes the book as "Science Fact/Science Fiction." "Juvenile Literature," could refer to both the author as well as the intended audience.

Ostensibly, the author/narrator is a courier between "Helmut" a character based on Karl Koch aka Hagbard of Cuckoo's Egg infamy and "Karl Mueller" a character also based in the Cuckoo's Egg milieu, that of Marcus Hess. In this account Koch burns in a car fire in town instead of alone in the forest outside Hannover. Do not expect to read any character development in this account however, the author is occupied wandering this account from hacking to Argentina defeating the German (West) soccer team in the 1986 World Cup.

Neither should one expect to read about hacking, one should especially not expect any ethical conscience on computer intrusions.

There are superficial undertones of activity by intelligence (KGB?) and law enforcement (FBI?) agencies, but they remain undeveloped as well.

Fully one third of the book's 91 pages are filler, including a glossary, character biographies, a couple pages on the alleged conspiracy of silence on Koch's suicide and a very shallow treatment of some hacking history including Dark Avenger and the MOD. Printed on 8" X 5" stock in large fonts with plenty of space between lines, the book costs about a penny/sentence.

You have been warned....

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic book!, June 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Internet Spy (Classified) (Paperback)

Although this book is for teenage readers, I am quite sure that older readers will enjoy it equally well. It tells the story of a group of hackers in Germany who fall foul of the KGB. It is an extremely good first book by the author, Ian Probert. Apparently he's just published another book in England called 'Virus Outbreak"

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Internet Spy--A Fast-Paced-High-Tech Thriller., October 21, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Internet Spy (Classified) (Paperback)

The book "Internet Spy", by Ian Probert, is a great book. It is an in-depth, fast-paced novel about computer hacking. If you're into that sort of thing, than you'll love this book. The main character in the book was at the home of his friend, Karl. Karl shows the boy (who remained unnamed throughout the book) the Internet. The boy was fascinated. However, the boy's interest was defeated when he found out that the man was spying. He quickly ran out. This isn't the most impossible book to read, topping out at under one hundred pages, but it is a good one. If you're into the world of computers, than you'll definitely want to read this book.