Will the next terrorist threat come via the Internet? A new novel ponders the possibilities.

A new novel ponders the possibilities of a computer virus attack on the U.S. THE DOOMSDAY VIRUS by Barry Silverstein is a techno-thriller about a cyber-terrorist bent on paralyzing the countrys computing infrastructure. Its a timely, topical book with an all-too-possible plot.

While terrorism takes on many forms, it hasnt caused widespread havoc across the Internet... at least not yet. But it may just be a matter of time.

Computer viruses are at an all-time high, and most are the work of hackers or cyber-terrorists. A March 2003 survey by ICSA Labs showed a five-fold increase in computer viruses over the past five years. Computer viruses will cause $28 billion of damage worldwide in 2003, says the research organization Radicati Group.

A new novel ponders the possibilities. THE DOOMSDAY VIRUS by Barry Silverstein is a techno-thriller about a cyber-terrorist bent on paralyzing the countrys computing infrastructure. Its a timely, topical book with an all-too-possible plot.

Set against the backdrop of the software world and the Internet, the book moves from Massachusetts to California as a brilliant yet warped computer hacker named Doomsday creates a virtually unstoppable virus. Two software entrepreneurs and a Silicon Valley journalist team up to thwart the hackers efforts... before his virus takes down the countrys entire computing infrastructure.

Cyber-terrorism is a time bomb ready to go off," says the author, Barry Silverstein. Todays focus may be on chemical and biological weapons, but a computer virus attack would be devastating in its own way. THE DOOMSDAY VIRUS is about what can happen to the U.S. when just such an attack takes place."

While THE DOOMSDAY VIRUS uses cyber-terrorism as its hook, the story itself is rich in technological and business intrigue. The main characters are two computer geeks who battle it out for software superiority, while a female journalist gets caught in the middle. The plot takes the reader through the rise and fall of the Dot Com era.

The author of THE DOOMSDAY VIRUS, Barry Silverstein, has worked with scores of information technology companies during his more than 25 years in the direct and Internet marketing business. He has founded and run a business-to-business direct marketing agency and is the author of two non-fiction books, Business-to-Business Internet Marketing and Internet Marketing for Information Technology Companies.

THE DOOMSDAY VIRUS (ISBN # 0-595-26883-8) is a trade paperback, 338 pages, priced at $18.95. Published by iUniverse (www.iuniverse.com), the book is available from the publisher, distributors, and online bookstores including Amazon (www.amazon.com) and Barnes & Noble (www.bn.com). Review copies are available to booksellers and reviewers. More information can be found at the books Web site: www.thedoomsdayvirus.com .