Lakshmi Srinivasan
Author Cybersecurity Expert Storyteller.
About the Author
I’m a cybersecurity leader, author, and child safety advocate with over two decades of experience protecting people and systems from digital threats.
I’ve led breach response during ransomware attacks, built fraud detection platforms for global banks, and developed tools to identify hidden online patterns used by cybercriminals. But my most important mission began when I partnered with nonprofits working to rescue children from trafficking and exploitation — and discovered how many of those threats began in seemingly “safe” spaces: a social media app, a chat window, a game.
The common thread? No one ever taught those kids how digital danger really works.
That’s why I created The Cyber Squad Chronicles — a fictional series that blends thrilling mystery with real cybersecurity lessons. Through characters like Isha, Krish, and Mei Ling, young readers learn to recognize manipulation, protect their privacy, and question what they see online — all while racing through puzzles, dares, and digital traps.
I’ve been in cybersecurity war rooms during ransomware attacks.
I’ve built systems to detect fraud, flag suspicious behavior, and stop digital threats before they spiral out of control.
But the most urgent battle I’ve ever fought isn’t inside a corporation, it’s for our children.
For years, I’ve partnered with nonprofits that rescue minors from sex and human trafficking. And in almost every case, the pattern is the same:
The grooming began online.
A friendly message in a gaming app.
A stranger posing as a teen on social media.
A conversation that turned manipulative, then exploitative before anyone even realized it was happening.
These kids aren’t just victims of trafficking.
They’re victims of digital ignorance & not their own, but ours.
We taught them to fear strangers on the street.
But not the ones hiding behind friendly avatars.
We taught them to value likes and shares.
But not how predators use those to manipulate trust.
That’s why I started writing.
Not whitepapers. Not technical blogs. But thrillers — fiction that slips past defenses, grips young readers, and leaves behind something real: Awareness.
In The Cyber Squad Chronicles, kids follow Isha, Krish, and their friends through puzzles, mysteries, and dangerous online threats, all grounded in the real tactics used by cybercriminals and traffickers alike.
They think they’re just solving a story.
But they’re also learning:
How manipulation online works,
How to question what they see,
And how to protect themselves long before they ever need to.
Because cybersecurity isn’t just about networks and firewalls!
It’s about protecting people, especially the most vulnerable.
And fiction is my firewall for them.
Explore the Cyber Squad Chronicles Series
Smart Thrills. Real Skills. One Click at a Time.
Join Isha, Krish, Mei Ling, Oliver, and Anaya as they crack digital codes, decode cyber puzzles, and uncover real-world online threats all while navigating middle school, friendships, and their roles as Cyber Squad defenders at Orion Academy.
From phishing traps to troll armies and fake contests to data heists, each book is packed with action, humor, and real cybersecurity lessons your kids will actually use.
Perfect for ages 9–12 (and their grown-ups, too).
Crowned Glitch
A mysterious glitch is hijacking student devices — and the Cyber Squad must decode who’s behind it before someone gets hurt IRL.
Kids learn: Phishing, social engineering, password safety
Maze of Shadows
An immersive gaming app traps kids in a digital maze, and each wrong move sends personal info straight to the dark web.
Kids learn: Online tracking, scam games, privacy controls
I’ve built cybersecurity systems to catch fraud, flag threats, and stop attacks before they spread.
But the most urgent work I do?
It’s here — on the page.
I write thrillers that teach kids how to think critically, spot online traps, and protect themselves in a world designed to mislead them.”
From defending corporations against ransomware to helping kids outsmart digital predators —
my weapon has always been logic.
Now, it’s also language.”
Words of Readers
The Cyber Squad Chronicles brilliantly captures the modern digital landscape that young readers navigate daily, transforming everyday online challenges into an exciting, educational adventure. The writer has crafted something truly special here, a story that’s both entertaining and enlightening.
The witty characterization of the Cyber Squad’s mentors. Pixel the Owl, Blaze the Firewall Dragon, and the delightfully named Quackers 2.0 aren’t just quirky sidekicks, they’re clever representations of digital tools and concepts brought to life with personality and charm. This creative approach makes complex tech ideas accessible and memorable for young readers.
The portrayal of Isha and her friends is brilliant. Rather than lecturing, the writer weaves important lessons about privacy, kindness, digital balance, and cyber safety into genuine adventures that feel relevant and relatable. The balance of friendship, humor, and heart keeps the story grounded while tackling serious digital citizenship skills.
I especially appreciate how the book treats its young protagonists as capable problem-solvers who learn to “click carefully, think clearly, and always look out for one another.” It’s empowering without being preachy, which is exactly what today’s young digital explorers need.
A wonderful read that’s both fun and meaningful!
Stories
Step inside Orion Academy, where every mystery hides a real-world threat — and every clue teaches something essential.
From hacked talent shows to secret apps and viral challenges, these stories mirror what kids face every day: phishing traps, social pressure, and digital manipulation. But through characters they love and puzzles they want to solve, they learn how to think critically, question what they see, and protect themselves — all without ever realizing they’re in a cybersecurity lesson.
With humor, heart, and high-stakes twists, The Cyber Squad Chronicles transforms learning into the best kind of adventure.
