The Florentine Deception

A seemingly mundane computer cleanup leads to an electrifying quest for an enigmatic-and deadly-treasure in this gripping techno-thrillerAfter selling his dorm-room startup for millions and effectively retiring at the age of twenty-five, Alex Fife is eager for a new challenge. When he agrees to clean up an old PC as a favor, he never expects to find the adventure of a lifetime waiting for him inside the machine. But as he rummages through old emails, Alex stumbles upon a startling discovery: The previous owner, a shady antiques smuggler, had been trying to unload a mysterious object known as the Florentine on the black market. And with the dealer''s untimely passing, the Florentine is now unaccounted for and ripe for the taking. Alex dives headfirst into a hunt for the priceless object. What starts out as a seemingly innocuous pursuit quickly devolves into a nightmare when Alex discovers the true technological nature of the Florentine. Not just a lost treasure, it''s something far more insidious: a weapon that could bring the developed world to its knees. Alex races through subterranean grottos, freezing morgues, and hidden cellars in the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, desperate to find the Florentine before it falls into the wrong hands. Because if nefarious forces find it first, there''ll be nothing Alex-or anyone else-can do to prevent a catastrophic attack."[Carey Nachenberg''s] novel boasts equal servings of excitement, suspense and humor. . . . [He] tackles multiple genres-thriller, action, comedy-and champions each one with panache." -Kirkus Reviews "A combination of up-to-the-minute computer hacking and hard-hitting action make The Florentine Deception a grippingly plausible tale of modern cyber-terrorism." -Neil Rubenking, lead security analyst for PC Magazine "Finally, a Techno Thriller that gets the details right!" -Mikko Hypponen, international computer security expert "Nachenberg''s self-published debut has a writing style that will leave readers hanging at the end of every chapter, daring you to try to put it down. . . ." - RT Book Reviews "It is a great read, a real thriller." -Stephen Northcutt, former CEO of the SANS InstituteCarey Nachenberg is a leading cyber security expert and a co-inventor of Norton Antivirus, the world''s most popular computer security product. Nachenberg was named one of Computerworld magazine''s "40 Under 40: 40 Innovative IT People to Watch," and was awarded the Wall Street Journal''s 2010 Technology Innovation Award for his innovations in the security field. Nachenberg holds a master''s degree in computer science from UCLA, where he continues to serve as an adjunct assistant professor. In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing at the local crags with students and friends. He lives in Southern California.