When the National Security Agency’s code-breaking supercomputer, TRANSLATR, encounters an unbreakable encryption algorithm called Digital Fortress, lead cryptographer Susan Fletcher is summoned to investigate. The program's creator, ex-NSA staffer Ensei Tankado, threatens to auction the key to the highest bidder unless the agency publicizes its secret surveillance backdoors. As Susan’s fiancé, David Becker, hunts for a physical ring containing the passkey in Spain, he is pursued by a professional assassin. Within the NSA’s high-tech bunker, Susan uncovers evidence of internal sabotage and a parasitic virus designed to compromise the United States' entire intelligence database.
Technical enthusiasts and fans of high-stakes suspense read this novel to understand the intersection of individual privacy and government oversight. Readers gain a functional perspective on asymmetric cryptography, brute-force attacks, and the operational structure of the intelligence community. The story provides a detailed look at how mathematical complexity and human error influence national security. Those who enjoy fast-paced puzzles walk away with a clearer picture of the vulnerabilities inherent in the global digital infrastructure.
Practical, outward-looking, growth-minded, clear-cut and escapist; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Practical Optimizer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1998
- Language
- EN
