Industry of Anonymity

“A timely contribution to a classic sociological problem: the one of social order, expressed in the chance of trusted relationships, cooperation, and governance… A substantial contribution to this conversation in a field that is anything but easy to investigate.”—Matías Dewey, American Journal of Sociology

“Industry of Anonymity is an accessible and important work on the organization of cybercrime. No other study provides the depth, breadth, and rigor on this difficult-to-reach community.”—David Skarbek, Brown University

“With convincing and compelling arguments, impressive empirical work, balanced explanations, and effective writing, Industry of Anonymity is a remarkable contribution to the literature on cybercrime. Criminology and sociology audiences have been waiting for this kind of book.”—Benoît Dupont, University of Montreal

“Industry of Anonymity is without doubt the best exploration of the evolution of cybercrime today. Even as someone who has worked in this field for over a decade, I found new insights in every chapter. An absolute must read for any cybercrime investigator.”—Robert McArdle, Trend Micro Forward-Looking Threat Research Team

“Based on more than two hundred interviews and numerous field trips to the world’s cybercrime hotspots, this is a masterful account of how cybercrime has matured into a large, profit-driven industry. Offering a wealth of data on the informal arrangements that underpin cooperation among anonymous criminals, Lusthaus puts a face to people who normally hide in the shadows. Industry of Anonymity will be the standard reference for years to come.”—Federico Varese, author of Mafia Life