The authors of this book, both from the Brooking Institution, talk about a time of “cyber anxiety”, and it's true that a poor understanding of the threats – or simple ignorance of them – can have undesirable consequences. On the one hand, individuals and organisations may be reluctant to fully realise the benefits of technology out of fear they might leave themselves open to attack. On the other, they may blithely engage in risky behaviours that result in anything from inconvenience to disaster, in the process adding to the culture of cyber anxiety felt by others.