Welcome to Day 4 of “THE ENIGMA THREAT” Release Blog Tour! @enigmaseries @1rburkey @4WillsPub @4WP11 @RRBC_Org #RRBC

Uncategorized 5 Minutes

Giveaways

(1) $25 Amazon Gift card & (10) e-book copies of the “shorts” in the Enigma Series

Our cyber-crime learning curve

We thought it would be fun to share how much we have learned about cyber-crime since we began writing the Enigma Series.

Breakfield and Burkey learned early that there is no shortage of ideas to take into the next stories. Breakfield had suggested a trilogy when The Enigma Factor was nearly completed. Burkey, however, insisted on a series. Technology evolution is so fast and so prevalent that each day brings a new way to position the risks in stories.  Add in our travel, relationships, intrigue, good and evil character universe, with a splash of humor, and you will discover a fun story.

What we find unsettling is seeing ideas or threats we felt were possible but unlikely showing up as current cybercrime exploitation, front-page headlines. We hope we are not giving the criminal element any ideas of what to try next!

Parts of what we see with digital evolution is ugly and terrifying, which is another lesson. For instance, we came across some real-life examples of using software programs run on high-end graphics computers to produce deep fakes. These films, videos, etc., are the result of deep learning or a desire to create fake media. These types of applications use deep fakes to distort legitimate information and weaponize it. 

Case in point, a manufactured video was used to ruin a political career in Malaysia.  Using enhanced audible engineering, a convincing voice mail was constructed using the voice of a U.K. firm’s CEO demanding a targeted CFO transfer nearly 200,000 British pounds to a Hungarian bank account.  Social engineering powered by AI & ML. Outrageous and yet prevalent!

We used the concept of deep fakes in our story threads in our newest techno-thriller, The Enigma Threat, which leans heavily on this latest attack vector from the Darknet. Readers might recall what Obi-wan said in the original Star Wars. “Your eyes can deceive you, don’t trust them!” Of course, it’s a little impractical for us running around in this galaxy using a Jedi masters’ lightsaber to defend ourselves from the bad actors of the Darknet. Plus, our stories are more Science / Technology facts rather than Si-Fi. However, if that is the only way to win, we might reconsider.

Amazon, Netflix, and smart cities such as Barcelona, Spain all have artificial intelligence and machine learning baked into their operational models. These elements help drive sales, suggest the next streaming media series, or help efficiently locate an open parking spot downtown. Many see the positive benefits, but we are in a race with bad actors from the Darknet to survive their predatory onslaught.

We agree artificial intelligence and machine learning have many positive use cases. The benefits of using visual perception, speech recognition, language translations, pattern-extraction, and decision-making capabilities support several different fields and industries. Sadly, these digital inroads are often abused for criminal and malicious purposes.

Therefore, it is urgent to understand the capabilities, scenarios, and attack vectors that demonstrate how these technologies are exploited. By working toward increased awareness, we are more prepared to protect systems, devices, and the public from sophisticated attacks and abuses.

In 2016, we published book 7, The Enigma Gamers. We envisioned ways cyber thugs could capitalize on artificial intelligence and machine learning enhancements for extortion and profit.  Imagine two criminal masterminds, each with their own enhanced supercomputers hammering multiple businesses and governments for sport and profit. Picture a wholly automated mining operation when all of its computer-driven equipment turns on itself after the organizational management rejected the call for blackmail monies to be paid.

What if a fully automated distribution center ruined every product in the warehouse?  Utilizing a space the size of an enormous sports event venue, or downtown of a small city, with automated programs piling all the consumer products for sale in a heap. We created several scenarios where our cyber heroes dispatched personnel to locations to stop the digital carnage. Then the heroes needed to discover the identity of the evil masterminds of this global mess.

Does this sound farfetched?  The Trend Micro, the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), and Europol people don’t think so. Many folks in technology agree with the possibilities and provide the documentation on their analysis to back up the cases. Breakfield and Burkey continually scan the technology horizon looking for interesting facts to adapt to intriguing and possible storytelling.  You might enjoy looking at our Kickstarter campaign for The Enigma Threat to see the book trailer and other exciting details on this book releasing January 2, 2021.

Blurb: The Enigma Threat

In the new digital world, there is no tolerance for privately owned supercomputers. Globally, computers are hunted and destroyed for the greater good, by the new cyber police CESPOOL. The information this group receives is manipulated by subversive hidden machine learning devices, the MAG running on the dark net.

Judith and Xiamara are freebooters who steal machine time for their PaaS, porn as a service business. The machine they chose for delivery is the last untapped supercomputer not in the hands of a sovereign. Their activity is spotted by the MAG, but the renegade R-Group steps in to alter the outcome. Leroy teams up with Zara to help these opportunists escape prosecution. They are drafted as reluctant participants in the fight.

Jacob and Quip are trapped in the Chihuahuan Desert trying to reconstruct the base of ICABOD’s logic core. The stress of their isolation is taking a toll. Their wives and children are safe in Brazil for the time being, but Interpol is prowling for answers.

The R-Group has assembled a way to communicate with orphaned satellites. While the next R-Group plans the ultimate honey pot to trap their nemesis who is driving their corrupted agenda. The odds are against R-Group’s success, but they have creative surprises on their side.

The stakes have never been higher. The R-Group young and old must rise to defeat the MAG.

Author biographies

Breakfield is a 25+ year technology expert in security, networking, voice, and anything digital. He enjoys writing, studying World War II history, travel, and cultural exchanges. He’s also a fan of wine tastings, winemaking, Harley riding, cooking extravaganzas, and woodworking.

Burkey is a 25+ year applied technology professional who excels at optimizing technology and business investments. She works with customers all over the world focusing on optimized customer experiences. She writes white papers and documentation, but found she has a marked preference for writing fiction.

Together they create award-winning stories that resonate with males and females, as well as young and experienced adults. They bring a fresh new view to technology possibilities today.

Contact Breakfield and Burkey

Email:            Authors@EnigmaSeries.com

Website:      www.EnigmaBookSeries.com

Blog:              https://EnigmaBookSeries.com/the-enigma-chronicles/category/blog-statement/

Connect and follow on Social Media: 

LinkedIn:      https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesbreakfield  and

https://www.linkedin.com/in/roxanneburkey

Twitter:        https://twitter.com/EnigmaSeries  

and https://twitter.com/1RBurkey

Facebook:    https://www.facebook.com/TheEnigmaSeries/

YouTube:      https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6Vz4x5ctTnx3yUhZk1OJkw

Pinterest:     https://www.pinterest.com/enigmseries/

Instagram:   https://www.instagram.com/enigmabookseries/

Bublish:        https://bublish.com/author/breakfieldandburkey

RRBC:            https://ravereviewsbookclub.wordpress.com/about-breakfield-burkey-enigmaseries-rrbc-rrbc_community/

To follow along with the rest of the tour, please visit the authors’ tour page on the 4WillsPublishing site.  If you’d like to book your own blog tour and have your book promoted in similar grand fashion, please click HERE. Thanks for supporting these authors and their work!

Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

Published

45 thoughts on “Welcome to Day 4 of “THE ENIGMA THREAT” Release Blog Tour! @enigmaseries @1rburkey @4WillsPub @4WP11 @RRBC_Org #RRBC”

    2. Hi Liz delighted you took time to stop by. A little scary, but there is fun too!

      Our thanks. Robbie, this is amazing of you to support.

      Many thanks from Breakfield and Burkey.

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    2. Hi Bette, Thank you for stopping here. I love this stop at Robbie’s place. Happy New Year to All. Hope you took a look at the Kickstarter page too.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    2. Hi Teagan, thank you for stopping here for a chat. Thank you for the kind words. Happy New Year to you and yours.

      Robbie, thank you for supporting us. The blog looks amazing.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  6. Thanks for hosting, Robbie (and again, thanks for the shortbread baking lesson!). I think we’ve all seen some of these faked videos, mainly in political campaigns. It’s crazy but true. In this day of TikTok, SnapChat, etc., not to mention Facebook and Twitter, where people’s lives have been ruined by careless posts, let alone the big hacks in governments and companies around the world…Rox and Charles have taken on not only the research but the reality. We all need to be aware of this. Thanks for spelling it out for us.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

  8. Hi Wendy, we do love that sort of talk. Thank you kindly. We are in the final week to push our Kickstarter campaign, so thank you for stopping here and sharing. Robbie, you are an amazing hostess. Virtual hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      1. The narrator for The Enigma Factor only did the one for us. The rest are narrated by Derek Shoales. We look forward to your review. Thank you again for hosting.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

  10. Hi,

    Reading about Cyber Crime in the technological world reminds me of so many mysteries that are going on right now in our real world. Fake news that spreads like a wildfire on the internet and on Twitter and other Social Media Programs. I’m glad that you brought this aspect into your story because it is one that is real and most people don’t realize it. We are too busy accepting every bit of information that is thrown at us without thinking.
    Shalom aleichem

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    1. Thanks for commenting Pat. The awful fact of the matter is that many things we have written about are coming true. In our high tech roles the greatest vulnerability what we see is the one that cannot be fixed: the human element. People still click on poisonous links in bogus emails and even believe they are taking calls from the IRS demanding $4,000 or you are facing jail time next week, oh and tell no one. (This sounds ludicrous but Breakfield’s daughter almost fell for it.) No one should have to fall victim to that kind of mental cruelty. This is why we write about cyber criminals from the Darknet.
      Breakfield

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  11. Hi Robbie, Rox, and Charles,
    I’m still waking up. I forgot to say thanks.
    So I’m putting it in this post.
    Thanks, Rox and Charles for this tour. I am learning a lot about your methods and your books.
    Thank you Robbie for opening your blog as host.
    Shalom aleichem

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  12. Hi Robbie. Thank you for hosting Rox and Charles and allowing us to learn more about the Enigma Series. I totally enjoy the benefits of the cyber community, but sometimes wonder if there can be any realistic expectation of any privacy as a result.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. Technology is both a blessing and a curse in our world. It all depends on whose using the technology and for what purpose. Your books sound like they not only teach your readers about the dangers of technology but also give them a heart-racing thrill of a read. Sounds like a winning combo! 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  15. I am behind on this tour because I’m out of town, but heading home tomorrow and will get caught up. Some of the incidents Breakfield and Burkey cite in this post are chilling. We truly have no idea what’s out there! Thanks for hosting, Robbie.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

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