Basedonabest-sellingbookbyNewYorkTimesnationalsecuritycorrespondentDavidE.Sanger,ThePerfectWeaponexplorestheriseofcyberconflictastheprimarywaynationsnowcompetewithandsabotageoneanother.
DirectedbyEmmy-winningfilmmakerJohnMaggio(Panic:TheUntoldStoryofthe2008FinancialCrisis)andfeaturinginterviewswithtopmilitary,intelligence,andpoliticalofficialsonthefrontlinesofcyberterrorism,thedocumentarybringstolightthecombatantsandinnocentvictimscaughtinthecrosshairsofahiddenwarthathasbeengoingonfordecades—awarthatAmericastarted,buthasnoideahowtofinish.
TravelingfromthedesertsofIranandLasVegastothebackalleysofBeijingandMoscow,thefilmchroniclesAmerica'spursuitofenemieswhohaveplottedagainstitsinstitutions,itseconomy,anditsdemocracy.Anever-before-seenlookinsidethesecretworldofspies,hackers,andscammersinthelead-uptothe2020U.S.elections,forwhichfearofcyberattackshasmountedtoanall-timehigh,ThePerfectWeaponisatimelyreflectionontheultimateprice—andpotential"victors"—ofthishigh-stakesconflict.