Books about carders

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If you are interested in the topic of carding (fraud using stolen credit card data), there are several books, documentaries and fiction that will help you better understand this side of cybercrime. These books cover both the technical aspects and the psychological and social consequences of such actions.

1. Non-fiction books (documentary research)​

a. "Kingpin: How One Hacker Took Over the Billion-Dollar Cybercrime Underground" — Kevin Poulsen​

• Description: This book tells the true story of Max Butterfield (Max Vision), one of the most famous hackers and carders. He created the ShadowCrew forum, which became the largest marketplace for selling stolen card data.
• What's inside:
  • How underground forums work.
  • Hacking and fraud techniques.
  • Stories of arrests and trials.
• For whom: For those who want to understand how cybercrime is organized at the highest level.

b. "The Art of Invisibility: The World's Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to Be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data" — Kevin Mitnick​

• Description: Kevin Mitnick, a legendary hacker, talks about methods of protection against surveillance and cybercriminals, including carders.
• What's inside:
  • How attackers obtain card data.
  • Tips for protecting your personal information.
  • Real examples of attacks and their consequences.
• For whom: For those who want to learn how to protect their data from fraudsters.

c. "DarkMarket: Cyberthieves, Cybercops and You" — Misha Glenny​

• Description: An exploration of the world of cybercrime, including carding, through the lens of the history of DarkMarket, one of the largest underground forums.
• What's inside:
  • How the darknet works.
  • Law enforcement investigations.
  • Psychology of criminals.
• For whom: For those interested in the global picture of cybercrime.

d. "Zero Day Threat: The Cyber Crime Wars" — Byron Acohido и Jon Swartz​

• Description: The book explores the world of cybercrime, including carding, and shows how criminals are adapting to new technologies.
• What's inside:
  • How attacks on banks and payment systems are organized.
  • Stories of real investigations.
  • Forecasts for the future of cybersecurity.
• For whom: For those who want to understand the evolution of cybercrime.

2. Fiction books (based on real events or fictional)​

a. "Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker" — Kevin Mitnick​

• Description: An autobiographical story of Kevin Mitnick, one of the most famous hackers in the world. Although he was not a carder, his data handling methods and security systems may be useful to understand.
• What's inside:
  • How to cheat the system.
  • Social engineering and manipulation.
  • Arrests and escapes.
• For whom: For lovers of adventurous stories about hackers.

b. "The Mastermind: Drugs, Empire, Murder, Betrayal" — Evan Ratliff​

• Description: The book tells the story of Paul Le Roux, a brilliant programmer who created an empire based on illegal operations, including carding.
• What's inside:
  • Creation of underground forums.
  • Fraud with cards and cryptocurrencies.
  • International investigations.
• For whom: For those interested in crime stories and technology.

c. "Black Hat Python: Python Programming for Hackers and Pentesters" — Justin Seitz​

• Description: Although more of a textbook than a novel, the book offers an insider's look at how cyberattack tools, including carding, are created.
• What's inside:
  • Writing scripts for hacking.
  • Network analysis and data interception.
  • Ethical hacking.
• For whom: For those who want to delve into technical aspects.

3. Documentaries and articles (in addition to books)​

Although these are not books, they complement the topic very well:

a. "Catch Me If You Can" (written by Frank Abagnale)​

• Steven Spielberg's film is based on the true story of fraudster Frank Abagnale. Although he was not involved in carding, his social engineering methods are very similar.

b. "The Untold Story of Carding Forums" (статья в Wired)​

• An investigation into how carders work and what forums they use.

c. "American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road" — Nick Bilton​

• A book about the rise and fall of Silk Road, where stolen card data was often sold.

4. Why are these books worth reading?​

• Understanding the Adversary: Knowing how carders work will help you better protect your data.
• Historical context: Many books are based on real events and show how the cybercrime industry developed.
• Technical Knowledge: Some books go into more technical detail, which is useful for cybersecurity professionals.

5. Important note​

Many of these books describe illegal actions and their consequences. They are intended for educational purposes only. Any attempt to reproduce the methods described is a criminal offense and can lead to serious consequences, including imprisonment.

If you are interested in legal ways to protect your data or other aspects of cybersecurity, ask questions!