Uncovering America's First Cyber Spy: Eric Neill's Grey Day Mission

A cybersecurity knowledgeable and former FBI “ghost” tells the thrilling story of how he helped take down infamous FBI mole Robert Hanssen, the primary Russian cyber spy.

“Each a real-life, tension-packed thriller and a persuasive argument for conventional intelligence work within the data age.”—Bruce Schneier, New York Instances bestselling writer of Information and Goliath and Click on Right here to Kill Everyone

As a twenty-six-year-old, Eric O’Neill embarked on a groundbreaking mission: to go undercover and investigate a top FBI target suspected of spying for Russia for nearly two decades. This individual had been divulging nuclear secrets, compromising intelligence, and betraying US interests. Despite lacking experience in such investigations, O’Neill found himself in a secure office within the newly established Data Assurance Section. His official task was to help safeguard the FBI's old computer system against hackers and spies. Unofficially, he was to gather evidence against his superior, Robert Hanssen, a demanding veteran agent with a fondness for firearms. Over time, O’Neill’s confidence wavered, and his marriage suffered under the strain of the mission. He even questioned the purpose of his assignment. However, as Hanssen outsmarted the intelligence community struggling to adapt to cybersecurity challenges, he also imparted invaluable spycraft knowledge to O’Neill. To succeed, the student would need to surpass his teacher in this high-stakes game. "Grey Day" is a gripping narrative of power struggles, paranoia, and psychological manipulation, serving as a stark reminder of how America fell behind Russia in cyberespionage and the ongoing efforts to bridge this gap.

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