The Woman Who Smashed Codes

A True Story of Love, Spies, and the Unlikely Heroine Who Outwitted America's Enemies

Suppose you have a friend with an interest in history who wants to know more about cybersecurity. Before “cybersecurity” there was “information security,” often practiced between countries and against criminal organizations.
What would you use as a good introduction to the topic?

Seriously, I thought this book was fantastic. Elizebeth Friedman’s team saved at least 8,000 lives when the Queen Mary was being hunted by German U-boats, and she directly helped stop the Nazification of South America. She became — by far — America’s most famous codebreaker during her lifetime, with stories about her appearing in national magazines and newspapers all over the country.

This NPR Book of the Year is a thoroughly enjoyable, great read! Probably the best single book for anyone starting out, trying to gain an understanding of the historical landscape of information security. It definitely helps the reader imagine the through-lines running from the past up to the current time.

https://www.digitalkleptos.com/p/the-woman-who-smashed-codes