5 comments about Real Digital Forensics: Computer Security and Incident Response.

1. This book is written in such a style that is easy to understand, yet technical and detailed enough to maintain your interest and attention all the way through.
   
   The book presents several ways of accomplishing the same tasks in a non-biased, non-vendor-specific way. It explores the use of free, open-source tools as well as commercial offerings, and drills down into forensic analysis of both Windows and Unix/Linux Operating Systems.
   
   The included CD contains actual forensic data and a few tools, which is both interesting and exciting to use while following along with the lessons in the book.
   
   After receiving this book and opening it to the first page, I was almost unable to set it down until I finished it. I received it on a Friday afternoon and I had completed reading it by the end of the weekend. I highly recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Computer or Network Security.



2. I took this book because it was told to me by my professor to purchase it.
   But after reading its content I feel its really worth buying this book.



3. Thanks a lot, we are very happy to have this book in our library!



4. OK. What more do you need to know? This book is written by three gentlemen who live, eat and breathe computer incident response & forensics. The fact that they present the information in a well written and easy to follow format is just a bonus! If you're one of those "I wanna do it" types like me, you'll read through the material and then tackle the provided data to see if you can solve the crime. A great starting point for future incident responders and folks who want to know more about computer forensics.



5. i like the way the book starts with step by step instructions and comes with a cd and access on the internet for further information

No comments about Criminological Theory (5th Edition).

5 comments about Computer Forensics JumpStart (Jumpstart (Sybex)).

1. The book I chose to review was a book on Computer Forensics. Computer forensics is a very helpful easy to read book on investigative techniques for corporate managers or law enforcement. Unauthorized Internet access for employees could potentially grow into a festering tumor for many employers. This book details how someone with basic computer skills could investigate a workstation to see if anything malicious has been occurring.
   The authors do a splendid job of offering real work examples to show the damage of inappropriate access and use by certain individuals. The use of the Internet and emails as a method of destruction is particularly alarming. Criminals and people with a penchant for malice are using emerging and established forms of communication to pervert the original intent of creators. The examples give snap shots into the complexity of the world of 21st century crimes.
   The book is does go into detail about fraud on web based commerce. Thing such as ebay and bargain shopping web sites, seem noticeably missed in the context of crimes committed. The interesting example they use is the theft of website design from one website. Criminals could then use such designs to their own professional credit. It proceeds to tell the audience how to retrace the computer footprints to determine if designs were stolen.
   It surveys overall Internet issues such as domain name services and email servers. The subject matter is daunting to say in the least, but the authors keep an individual grounded in the fact they are a beginner. It gives the feel of becoming a modern Dick Tracy or Sam Spade. The section also covers encrypted passwords, which are becoming more commonplace due to online commerce.
   My main criticism would be the overall simplicity the authors present when entering such a field. It almost smacks of snake oil salesmen bartering cure alls. The work seems admirable but a very vast field, which encompasses everything from the intellectual property rights of web designers to human resource managers keeping tabs on company employees. Other than those points, I would say this is a must read for anyone who plans to enter businesses, which conduct online based exchanges of information or capital. It was a real experience to discover the depth of emerging criminal conduct with technology.



2. Like the previous reviewer I agree that the book does cover a fair breadth of material but not great detail. But, as a quick search will show, there are several hundred books on the subject. Most of those books are very technical and detailed unlike this book which is a great introduction to an incredibly complex industry. If your interested in getting more information about this field before jumping in this is a must have.



3. My Univ is using this as a textbook, and its good so far, even for an experienced computer geek like myself. It is a basic one, but I would say it sets the foundation for advanced training.



4. The book is well written and easy to read.
   It presents a basic overview of the forensic investigation field.
   
   Exactly what I was looking for.



5. This book provides a comprehensive overview of computer forensics and demystifies what computer forensics examiners really do. It is a stimulating way in to the subject. I enjoy most reading about collecting evidence by capturing data images (e.g. creating the bit stream copy or forensic duplicate) and finding hidden data on hard disk (e.g. in file slack space, swap file, or from encrypted plain text information in digital image).

5 comments about Computer Forensics For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech)).

1. First I would like to thank you for taking the time to consider Computer Forensics for Dummies as your introduction to the computer forensic field. As one of the co-authors, this book was a pleasure to write since the material is written in a way where technical jargon is kept to a minimum while making the material fun and easy to understand. Attorneys, IT managers, computer CSI candidates, and those new to the field who want a basic understanding of how computer forensics works without the need for advanced computer degrees will appreciate this book. Please feel free to join the discussion groups if you have any questions, concerns, or comments. Again, thanks for checking out Computer Forensics for Dummies!



2. Not only does this book explain what evidence gets left, it helps understand how Wall St execs can be investigated.
   Easy to read and understand. It clears up alot of mysteries about what's going on inside computers and networks.



3. If you use a computer, you probably know that there is an electronic trail that follows you, and that the trail potentially lasts forever and can cause serious legal problems. This book demystifies how computer forensics is performed, what to do if you are ever in trouble (or trying to help someone who is in trouble), and tools that can help you. Though the topic is potentially complex, the book is an easy, interesting read. Statements like "An IP address is like a phone number for your computer" help make the material understandable. It is clear that the authors have considerable practical experience in the area and understand current best practices, computer technology, and the law. The book is appropriate for a wide variety of people -- those with a casual interest in the topic, in legal troubles related to materials on their PC, and lawyers who either work or want to work in the area.



4. WoW! This is a book that should be read by everyone. Especially corporate heads and some in government. What you discover is that the electronic trails are everywhere and someone in the know can and will retrieve them, if need be. So be careful what you write or do on your computer, there are no secrets!
   Good writing, technical enough to keep us geeks in the read, but not so technical that everyone couldn't read it and learn a great deal. This is a book that I found myself going back to for additional information on a subject I believed I understood. It exceeded my expectations in every way.



5. I am a system engineer who needed a refresher on the topic. The logical segregation of topics makes it very easy to pinpoint the information since this topic is far-reaching and spans the legal, criminal and technical disciplines. I have some experience with CF and this book does a good job of giving you a comprehensive understanding of the subject. It's also an interesting read and keeps your attention. You won't want to put it down for long.
   
   Careers in this area are growing fast. I plan to keep this close as I move into this exciting field of work and will use it as a reference book going forward.

5 comments about Windows Forensic Analysis Including DVD Toolkit.

1. Harlan Carvey's book, Windows Forensic Analyisis, is an invaluable resource in any computer forensic examination of a Windows based computer. In real-life experience, I had a case where I had to determine file use by a former employee. The company never took the computer out of service and continued to use the machine after the employee left the company. By using the information in Windows Forensic Analysis on system restore points and MRU registry entries, I was able to determine not only what files were used but on what days. This book is one of the first I look to when I have questions on examining Windows systems. If you only have one reference book for Windows examinations, this should be the one. A must-have for any computer forensic examiners library!!



2. I purchased this book a few days ago, and as soon as I read the first chapter, I realized that I needed to read the entire book as quickly as possible. This is a wonderful book, and parts of it truely invoked a state of "nerdvana" in me!
   
   PRO's:
   
   First, I will say that the information in this book is tightly packed. There is no unnecessary verbage, and the writing is direct, to the point and understandable. There is a high ratio of technical content to noise, and this greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the book. Even in the technical areas that I was already familiar with, I found the summary of the information to be precise, accurate and helpful. I can see keeping the book around as a reference guide for years to come. The general structure of the book, for example the sections in grey boxes with the [!] annotation, works well, and the end-of-chapter summary and review (particularly the Q&A) are good.
   
   There were several sections, ones that I was personally weak in to start with, that I found particularly helpful, such as the sections on analyzing packed or compressed executables and malware. I had just never gotten around to reading the whitepapers on these, and I'm glad I didn't as those chapters of the book summarized in a few pages what would have taken many more to pick up by reading other original sources. I personally thought that the chapter-to-chapter flow of the narrative was fine for anyone who does incident response on a regular basis.
   
   Through the years, Harlan Carvey has developed and made available his tools in an open (perl) format with no need for compensation. The tools on the DVD alone are worth the money of the book, and are a great addition to any IR toolkit. The references to third party tools, many of which I hadn't heard of, were also particularly helpful.
   
   CON's:
   
   If you are not very technical, or not very familiar with the Windows operating system, you may be overwhelmed by the level of technical detail. If you are an experienced administrator, however, you should be able to adapt what you know about other operating systems (e.g. file structures, process execution, etc.) fairly easily. There were a few typographical errors in the book that didn't detract from its readability or technical accuracy.
   
   All in all, and excellent book, and a must-have for ANY windows incident responder.



3. 
   
   This Book is great for beginners in the field of Forensics or veteran Forensic specialists in the field. The Author gets right to the point, and gives many real world examples and scenarios that any forensic investigator would find themselves dealing with. The Chapters do a great job of referencing the available tools on the included DVD disc.
   
   I can't wait for the Second Edition of this series to be released soon!
   
   Paul Chavez



4. It's a must for starting forensic analysis, especially on live systems. Maybee you can find the same information unorganised in forums, but time is money so spend it wisely.



5. This book is well written and a great asset to anyone doing computer investigations and forensics.

5 comments about The Cuckoo's Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage.

1. This book was way too long. The tale of the missing money and the subsequent tracking of a faceless hacker could have been told in 200 pages. What I found really tedious were all the phone calls - calls to try to track the hacker and to various government agencies to try to get help to catch the intruder. Phone calls can only be so interesting. Yes, it is real life and real life is never (I hope) as interesting as fiction - but by the time the hacker was caught, I was just happy to see the book end.



2. all sorts of new stuff was going on with computers in the 1980s. It offered new opportunities for spies to steal military accounting and inventory records. Fortunately most people are incapable of deciphering military accounting and inventory records anyways. Clifford Stoll interjects just enough of his personal life to make the book read like a detective or spy novel. It would still make a seriously boring movie, but it is interesting as a book.



3. I remember reading this book shortly after the original edition came out in 1998. I recently spied a copy in a thrift store and snapped it up. I couldn't put it down, even though I read it before, and knew what happened!
   
   Besides being a documentary on capturing a hacker back when no one had heard of such a thing, this book chronicles how a non-geek was able to think like a geek due to his scientific training as an astrophysicist. We learn how to solve any problem, through careful observation of the data, and logging all your observations, before jumping to any conclusions. It also details the anti-establishment radical leanings of UC Berkley, of which the author was a self-declared radical, and his coming to grips with working with right-wing government agencies such as the FBI and the Air Force.



4. Just awesome! I read this on recomendation from my computer securities friend and was quite pleased on how indepth the book actually goes. Cliff is a quirky and wonderful writer and despite occasionally letting the storyline go amuck its still a wonderful read. I would highly recommend this to anyone in computer security or network development or for anyone who loves to learn new things while engaged in a wonderful semi-spy book.



5. One would think that with the advances of the Internet and Computer Security over the last 20 years that this book would begin to show its age. It certainly does not. This book is addictive.

5 comments about Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations.

1. The book is really usefull even if Computer Forensics is a new thing to me. It has a step by step guide to do Forensics from getting the evidence, preserving the evidence, until showing it in the court. The book even have the picture of how the room of investigator have to be. 2 program are included in the disc. One of the program is a software that is used widely. The other software is really helpful too understand what we have to do to gain information from the evidence.
   
   Overall, this is a nice and perfect book for newbie in Computer Forensics field (It nice for advance people too) with 2 software that can be use daily.



2. I bought this book (3rd edition) at a modest price from a really great Amazon vendor, Jennifer's Attic. However, it is by far the worst textbook that I have ever used in my life. Simply put, it is replete with errors, omissions and useless repetition. I'd bet a dozen glazed donuts that the four authors who compiled this book have not recently gone through the book's one hundred plus activities and projects to check for errors and omissions. It's a required text for a graduate Computer Forensics course at a state university where I'm pursuing a computer science certificate to add to my 4 year Industrial Technology degree. If they care here's some recommendations to the authors for the next revision; 1. Cut out all the useless repetition - sure you can repeat things but gee... 2. Don't go into such depth on so many different complex software tools, 3. Verify that your activities and projects actually work - validate each one of them to correct the numerous errors and resolve the many omissions.
   
   Summary for anyone interested in Computer Forensics; if you have to buy this book as a required textbook - don't take the course unless its mandatory and you have a great deal of extra time to waste. To everyone else - who's simply looking for a book - run for your lives. There must be several other computer forensics books that are better than this one.
   
   P.S. I have no affiliation with any textbook authors or publisher and can't say what's a good book on this subject - just that this one's bad.



3. Book has turned out to be a good source of information. The image on the site needs to updated, but that's par for the course.
   
   for the value, its not bad and has good people providing tech assistance when ot was written.



4. this book covers most topics of computer forensics investigations. easy to understand, it is very good for a beginner



5. I have just finished my computer forensics certification at the University of Washington, and we used the Guide to Computer Forensics and Investigations (Third Edition) as the primary text for three courses. I found it to be a comprehensive treatise of all of the skills necessary to complete a successful digital investigation. In addition, I have had a chance to review portions of the soon to be released Fourth edition, which is even better. You can't go wrong with this computer forensics book. It should be a part of every computer forensics investigator's professional library.

5 comments about The Best of 2600: A Hacker Odyssey.

1. I was really looking forward to reading this book and enjoying the stories it contains. I was never a 2600 subscriber or participant, but I was familiar with the content of the magazine and the anti-authoritarian stance taken by those behind the publication.
   
   I finally decided to get this book, knowing full well that I'd enjoy stories of hacking and phreaking in the old days. Truth be told, there is plenty of that kind material here and sharing "war-stories" while reminiscing about the glory days of this underground, obscure culture is well worth the time it takes to get through this enormous book. Many of the stories involve obsolete notions, many do not. It's a varietal hodgepodge that keeps one reading, and for that I commend it.
   
   However, the fatal flaw to this book is the fact that anyone could have made any of it up. I accept the fact that most of the material is from user contributions, sharing experiences that could not possibly be verified, and even if they could, wouldn't be anyway. I can live with that.
   
   On the other hand, the book (and 2600 in general) makes some claims so outrageous as to cast further doubt on any content contained here. For example, claiming responsibility for the dissolution of Ma Bell into the Baby Bells (telephone companies) seems like a bold claim, and I don't believe it. The reason is this; simply put, the book will spend several pages going on about some random calling to a weather and time station, but for something as large as breaking up Ma Bell, one of the biggest monopolies the US has ever seen, well, it's only mentioned in passing, given two or three lines worth of reference. It hardly seems likely that a 3 page story about kids playing on a conference call should get more attention than hackers and phreakers breaking up Ma Bell, that is of course, unless it never happened...
   
   ...and it didn't. The "divestiture" of Ma Bell came from the result of a lawsuit brought against the monopoly by the US Department of Justice in 1974, when most of the 2600 participants were either yet to be born or little children. In 1982 (2 full years before 2600 and before any of the stories contained in this book) Ma Bell willfully agreed to divest its local exchange service. Yet this happened, according to, "The Best of 2600" at the same time that their first issue came out. Factually incorrect. That the "early phreaks" as the book claims, defeated this monopoly, it's interesting that it took a lawsuit from the Justice Department if this were the case.
   
   Furthermore, looking at 2600's website, they claim to be responsible for the economic crisis of late 2008. Really? Was 2600 selling mortgage backed securities funded by participants who were bankrupt, all on a global scale? I doubt it. What next, they put Jupiter missiles in Turkey during the Cold War too? Invented the automobile? Mapped the human genome?
   
   I can overlook that much of this content could never be substantiated, but when the book makes outrageous claims that we know are completely untrue, this makes the rest of the material doubtful at very best. That's unfortunate. They should have left the user submitted stories and had readers deciding perhaps that they were mostly true, instead of preposterous brags that have us taking every bit of content with a grain of salt.
   
   Having said that, the book is still fun to read and I wouldn't doubt that there are a lot of true stories in it despite the obvious exaggerations. It's a thoroughly enjoyable, extremely unique book, and that alone earns it two stars. Despite the terrible flaws, it's still worth it to buy and read the whole thing.



2. This is a great book. I am very glad that I bought it. You won't be disapointed.



3. Un llibre interessant per tenir una idea de l'evolució de les comunicacions des del punt de vista nortamericà i underground, amb tot el que comporta. Un document escrit per gent curiosa i sense por d'experimentar, fins i tot jugant-se haver d'anar a comisaria.
   A mesura que vas llegint articles i els comentaris intructoris d'en Goldstein, et va quedant el regust d'aquesta necessitat que tenen els americans per generar llegendes arreu, però no és perfectament suportable.



4. Great way to get all the great stories from back issues of 2600 magazine. Love it.



5. The book was very instructive and informative, the CD is much informative and the texts were alot clear.

5 comments about Warcraft: World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde (No. 4).

1. We all think of the Orcs as mindless beast... well this book gives us insight into how the Shamanistic Orcs got to be the Horde. As a WoW player that has never liked the Horde, this book inspired me to roll an Orc Shaman. Also it tells where the Draenei came from...
   
   I loved it so much I sent my sister a copy!



2. A fantastic Warcraft-lore read. It gives insight into not only the history of the orcs and the origins of the Horde, but the Draenei as well (and their flight from Argus).
   
   Seeing Draenor/Outland prior to the events in the "World of Warcraft" was a treat as well. Oshu'gun, the Temple of Karabor (aka the Black Temple) are just a few places covered.
   
   With periodic narrations by Thrall and featuring characters like Velen, Durotan, Orgrim Doomhammer and Kil'Jaeden, it's chock full of Warcrafty goodness.
   
   The characterizations were largely solid, though one may find themselves questioning the validity of some decisions ("Why yes, I think we shall imbibe of this demon blood. Capital idea if I may say so!") made by the key players. Of course, with a continuity mostly in place prior to being written, the author had to work with and around what was already established as canon.
   
   Regardless of that hiccup, this book is a mandatory read for anyone interested in Warcraft lore, especially time periods preceeding the "World of Warcraft" game's setting.



3. I got this book a few weeks ago, mostly just for something to read while on Amtrak going home for break. Basically I just wanted to read something quick and easy, and most of these "Based off of..." books are quick reads, so i thought I pick this one up and to my pleasant surprise this was a DAMN good book. The author Christie Golden, whom wrote another Warcraft book I enjoyed, Lord of the Clans, writes this great and tragic story of how a Noble race fell from grace and became a force of destruction because of their own inability to think for themselves and to be led blindly. The book is filled with touching, and emotional scenes, mostly concerning the main character, whom most of the book talks about, Durotan, as he finds himself stuck between duty to his people and what he knows is right in his heart. SPOILER: One of the most particularly well written scenes in this book is when the horde overruns the Dranei city of Telmor, and Durotan see's the brutality of the new orcs and the wrongs they are doing but he knows in his heart he must obey orders or die because of Gul'dan's orders. He watches as Orcs kill Dranei men, women, and children, and Golden's writing really shows here the pain this character feels is heart as he watches this happen and when he has to do it himself. By far the best Warcraft book I have read, and probably one of my all time faves ever as well.



4. Don't get me wrong, this book served its purpose of giving me a fairly entertaining download of the backstory behind WoW. It was a bit more graphically violent than I anticipated, though I can live with that. If the intended effect was that I feel anger and revulsion toward the orcs and sympathy for the Draenei, the butchery certainly achieved that. In fact, my Draenei (my only ally toon, actually) has seen a lot more playing time since I read this book, and I went so far as to delete my level 40 warlock based on a RotH-inspired dislike of warlocks. So, any book that can drive that kind of real-life (if playing the game equates to real life) behavior change must be pretty decent.
   
   The plot itself kept me interested, and I nodded my head in recognition of the in-game bits such as descriptions of how the warlocks summon their minions and how those minions look and behave, etc. I found myself wanting to read it, to see what was going to happen, so yes, it was a good book and worth the money. I can't personally give it more than three stars because Christie Golden's style is just a little off for me. I like fantasy books, I just don't really like when they are written in "fantasy" style to the point where it feels forced. Hard for me to put my finger on what I'm trying to convey here, suffice to say that when any character in a book -- particularly an Orc -- responds to a question with the word, "nay," instead of a simple "no" and the dialogue is peppered with "shall" in place of "will," I start to get turned off. Minor complaint, and I'm more critical than most when it comes to an author's "voice," so most fans of the WoW universe will probably not be the least put off by it.
   
   For me, though, it keeps me from putting this book in with others that I would rank 4- or 5-star works. Three stars isn't bad from me, though; oh nay, verily I sayeth that it be not. ;)



5. This was the first WoW book I have ever read and I have to say that I was pretty happy with it. It wasn't the best book I have ever read but it was very entertaining and I always enjoy background stories for things that I am interested in.
   
   I am an avid WoW player and over the years I have played I have become more and more interested in the "why" and "how" of what I am doing... like "How did Lordaron fall?" or "What happened to Karazhan" - things of that nature.
   
   All-in-all this was a fun and enjoyable read.

5 comments about The Scarecrow.

1. This was not a bad book, nor did it offer the depth and sharpness that Connelly has brought in his other writing. Too long, too predictable and while the cyber hacker intrigue was a timely piece, it could not make up for the limited plot and character development. I actually found the commentary on the changes in news gathering and reporting to be more engaging than the whole criminal pursuit and wonder if that is not what Connelly really wanted to write about in the first place. Harry Bosch is definitely a stronger, more complex and more engaging character.



2. I have read a majority of the works by Michael Connelly and have never been disappointed. Even though the Scarecrow did not feature the long-time favorite character, Harry Bosch, I was confident of Connelly's ability to provide me with an entertaining, suspenseful murder mystery. He did not let me down. This was a great read - completely captivating and nearly impossible to put down. Connelly pulls the story forward with strong character development, with the reader drawn into a range of emotions and motivations that spans the character set. Start to finish, this is a great story with surprises littered throughout until the final pages. Although The Scarecrow perhaps would have been better if I had previously read The Poet, the fact that I had not done so did not detract from this story. Plus, it now gives me a reason to go back to get one of Connelly's earlier works to enjoy.



3. If you want to know what Michael Connelly was like at his best -- which was superb -- read "The Concrete Blonde" and "The Black Ice." Unfortunately, his plot writing skills, narrative fluidity and (especially) depth of characterization have all steadily eroded in direct proportion to his ever increasing and speedier release of new "product." For example, FBI Agent Rachel Walling seemingly returns only to provide a means for Connelly to provide an exposition about the internet and hacking. Most important, before committing to read or buy "The Scarecrow," I hope that future readers ask themselves, "How many more serial killers who brutalize women -- and only women -- do I really want to read about?" Both the book and the utter waste of Connelly's talent are sadly disappointing.



4. Authors as prolific as Connelly invariably stumble and produce at least one dog and/or begin to fade and write novels that pale in comparison to their earlier work. Such is not the case (yet) with Connelly. "The Scarecrow" is truly a page turner that is saturated with relevancy---cyberspace malfeasance and the decline of the paper and ink newspaper. Thank goodness, Connelly is still on his game, and I'm already looking forward to reading his next novel, "Nine Dragons".



5. I was about to write a lengthy description of my utter disappointment with Connelly's latest novel "The Scarecrow" when I came across one by another reviewer entitled "Predictable with huge plot holes and poorly drawn characters". Read it. It says everything I wanted to. What's up with you Michael? Have you signed one of those one book every year contracts?