The Future of Hacking: The Rise of Cybercrime and the Fight to Keep Us Safe

In a world, where cyber threats evolve daily, the line between hacker and hero is thinner than you think. Hacking is no longer just a shadowy underground activity—it’s an essential part of our digital world. The Future of Hacking explores the evolving landscape of cybersecurity, ethical hacking, and digital defense, revealing how hackers protect as much as they attack. Drawing on extensive research and expert interviews from around the world, Laura Scherling uncovers the real-world impact of cybercrime, internet freedom, and digital policy. This accessible yet deeply researched book challenges misconceptions about hacking, highlights the work of those defending our digital future, and helps readers understand why cybersecurity is now everyone’s concern. The future of hacking is here.

Laura S. Scherling, EdD is a lecturer at Columbia School of International and Public Affairs and a director at Columbia University School of Professional Studies, co-founder of GreenspaceNYC, and founder of the Cyber Care Institute. She has published in numerous academic and popular journals and is co-editor of Ethics in Design and Communication: Critical Perspectives, editor of Digital Transformation in Design: Processes and Practices, and author of Product Design, Technology, and Social Change. Scherling lives in New York City with her husband, son, her dog Maggie, and her cat Maxine.