5 comments about Malware Forensics: Investigating and Analyzing Malicious Code.

1. Malware Forensics by Aquilina, Casey and Malin, is one of those fortunate instances of a technical work being on the right topic at the right time. As increasing legions of personal computers are becoming possessed by an overwhelming variety of unsolicited "warez" which steal information, consume bandwidth, and poison OSs, it is refreshing to find a work such as this, which comprehensively treats the collection, identification and forensic analysis of a broad range of malicious code from the perspectives of both the security specialist and the law-enforcement professional. Particularly useful features of the book are the "Case Scenarios" which allow the reader to identify familiar patterns in the delivery system and behavior of malware examples, the "Analysis Tips" which are enormously helpful in avoiding wasted effort, and the guidance offered in Chapter 1 for the development of a customized toolkit. I was intrigued by the thorough treatment of Memory Forensics (Chapter 3) which, alone, offers ample justification for purchasing this work. I was also impressed by Chapters 2,5,8 and 10 which illustrate how useful Linux can be in isolating and analyzing malware. This book merits being read by every active IT security professional and of being kept as an important reference and instructional work. Kudos to Curtis Rose for bringing it together. Hopefully we'll hear more from these authors separately and/or together.
   
   James C. Smith, Ph.D.



2. Relatively new to malware analysis and computer forensics, I was a bit concerned if this book would be helpful to me. I wanted a book that would serve as an introduction as well a reference guide, and this book hit the mark! Particularly useful is the book's coverage of both Windows and Linux, which makes it a nice universal reference. [Side note: As I'm primarily a Mac user, it would have been nice to see some Mac coverage as well, but maybe in the next edition?]
   The book structure and flow is intuitive and I enjoyed following the case scenarios as the basis of demonstrating the tools and techniques Although the book covers each facet of the "malware forensics" process (live response, file profiling, etc) in great detail, and with the chapters building on each other, I found it pretty easy to jump ahead to other chapters too. The book web site, (www.malwareforensics.com) was not adverstised, but easy enough to find, considering the URL is simply the book title. The site serves a good reference to bookmark because it announces the release of new or updated tools and has a lot of links to other malware/forensic resources. Overall, I was pleasantly surprised with Malware Forensics and I'm looking forward to the 2nd edition!"



3. As the sole network administrator in a small Internet startup, I am responsible for every facet of our IT department. In the past year, our network has encountered intrusions, mainly by vindictive ex-employees, and a myriad of viruses/trojans of which a few of our systems became zombie machines. Since our network has fallen prey to various malware, on several occasions I've been notified by law enforcement that our machines were a part of a bot net. Other times we were warned by PayPal, eBay, and other financial institutions such as Bank of America that we were hosting phishing web sites. Starting a company on limited funds and manpower as well as enduring the growing pains of maintaining a network are difficult enough by itself. A colleague from my prior company referred me this new book which he thought would be suitable to bring me up to speed on investigating malware. Together with my knowledge base and reading through several key chapters, performing a few practical hands on case scenarios, and building a live response tool kit, I feel confidant that I would be able to proficiently investigate and analyze most malware which I may encounter. At minimum, I would be able to assist or present to law enforcement my findings for further investigation.



4. Malware Forensics is an awesome book. Last year Syngress published Harlan Carvey's 5-star Windows Forensic Analysis, and now we get to enjoy this new title by James Aquilina, Eoghan Casey, and Cameron Malin, plus technical editing by Curtis Rose. I should disclose that I co-wrote a forensics book with Curtis Rose, and I just delivered a guest lecture in a class taught by Eoghan Casey. However, I still call books as I see them, regardless of the author. (Check out my review of Security Sage's Guide to Hardening the Network Infrastructure for proof.) I can confidently say that anyone interested in learning how to analyze malware, or perform incident response, will benefit from reading Malware Forensics.
   
   I imagine that code-savvy investigators probably don't need to read Malware Forensics. However, this is not a book for newbies. The target audience includes those doing intrusion analysis on Windows and Linux who want to focus directly on examining malicious code. An investigator whose world revolves around reviewing hard drives with EnCase will probably not understand Malware Forensics. An investigator who needs guidance on identifying and then understanding malware will definitely like this book.
   
   The front cover emphasizes the book's "practical, hands-on" nature. I admit that I tried to follow along in many parts, usually by retrieving various Windows tools to try on malware caught in my spam folder. I do not expect the reader to become an expert in any one area of analysis, but I do applaud the authors for exposing readers to just about every aspect of malware analysis you might expect. The book uses large and small cases, multiple sample analyses, and extensive tool output to guide readers. Even the legal chapter covers the questions most of us are likely to ask.
   
   Furthermore, how often does one read an introduction (through p xxxvi) that is educational? I loved the points about DNA tests destroying evidence and the discussion of what is "forensically sound" on p xxv, and the mention of "evidence dynamics" on p xxvi. I got the sense the authors were real forensics experts, not strictly malware geeks. The citing of non-infosec sources when making points showed me they understood the big picture (p xxxi). They also cited their tools with footnotes and URLs, and included chapter end-notes.
   
   I found very little to complain about in this book. I noticed awkward placement of commas in chapters 3 and 8. A copyeditor could have removed those. From what I can see, the authors appreciated Curtis Rose's involvement. Syngress should observe the value of an editor who seriously reviews the text. (The last page of the book even includes errata that couldn't make it into the previous text!)
   
   I am seriously considering Malware Forensics as my Best Book Bejtlich Read in 2008. If it doesn't win (stay tuned for announcements at the end of December) Malware Forensics will be one of the top four for the year.



5. This book is quite an interesting read although there are many typos. The layout of the book is great you can choose to read either the windows section of malware forensics, or the Linux version of it. This book is great in such that you are going to learn all the necessary tools needed in order to take apart suspicious processes and files.
   
   I tip my hat to the developers of this book for their great work and for sharing such an interesting knowledge and background on malware forensics.

5 comments about The Hanged Man's Song (Kidd).

1. Both in character development and in plot, this is not up to Sandford's usual strength. Much of the plot limps along with inept episode after inept episode, while the finale, with mysterious black vigalentes pulled mysteriously out of nowhere, is simply implausible. All this is a pity since ome of the main points of the book can therefore be overlooked: No information kept of a computer that is linked directly or indirectly through a network to the internet is secure. It can be obtained for illicit purposes and can be manipulated by unauthorized people. All that is much more scary than the villain of this piece whose motives and personality are largely left blank. Sandford is an engaging write, but this is one to read only if you have already exhausted the large supply of better novels by him.



2. I liked this book enough to track down an earlier one, The Devil's Code, which I'm enjoying even more, and now I'm looking for two earlier Kidd novels: The Fool's Run and The Empress File.
   The main character, Kidd, is a computer expert whose legal occupation is painting and whose illegal one is industrial espionage. His sometime partner in crime is LuEllen, a burglar, who helps Kidd at significant risk to herself and without complaining. She's a thrill junkie -- which is why she is a burglar for a living -- and a really interesting character. In this story, Bobby, the master computer hacker whose identity has long been hidden, is murdered and his files are popping up in the media. How did the killer find Bobby? The answer leads Kidd and company on the trail of the killer...



3. I picked up this book after I read the Devils Code (which by the way is very poorly written). I was pleasantly surprised not only at the way the story moved but also the pace.
   
   It was a quick read and towards the ending I couldn't let go of the book at all. A good plot, some good twists and an excellent ending. If you enjoyed any of the "Kidd" character books, this will definitely make you happy :)



4. I have read everything (I know of) by Sandford. In fact there isn't a book (except this one)I haven't read at least twice. I find it akin to watching a re-run of a great movie. I love all of the Prey novels like old friends. But, I really, really miss the Kidd stories. Kidd is the alter-ego of Davenport. He and Luellen are bad kids playing good kids once in a while. And it actually brought tears when, in the opening of this one, Bobby dies, because I knew at that moment, the series was over. I know it sounds silly, but this is the only one I could only read once.
   
   Where the Prey novels are enormously suspenseful, the Kidd books are fun, lots of fun. I do wish Mr. Camp would reconsider. But alas, I don't think that'll happen.
   So, farewell to Kidd, LuEllen, and Bobby. R.I.P.



5. It's a shame that John Sanford has chosen not to do more of these. Everything about the characters, their interactions, and adventures are totally unique to action/adventure materials on the market. Everything clicks together to make a great story telling. I was disappointed at the end of each book. Not with the book, but that it had ended. I wasn't ready to stop reading. It was like when your favorite TV show is taken off the air.

5 comments about Using the Internet Safely For Seniors For Dummies.

1. My parents-in-law just went Online for the first time 2 months ago and this book has changed how they approach the Internet. Now that they are feeling a bit more adept at Email and browsing the Web, they are using this well-written Dummies book to make them safer. Great resource for elders or anyone!



2. I consult to businesses about online safety and one of the biggest customer communication challenges has always been how to educate people about being safe online without scaring or boring them. This book does a great job of achieving that balance. Statistically, senior internet users are more likely to be targeted by online fraudsters/scammers for a variety of reasons. What the authors do is describe the many situations that can lead to trouble and the relatively simple (and intuitive) ways to avoid it. The book covers online dating, online gaming, social networking, sharing pictures, sharing personal information, using email, using financial sites, talking to the grandkids about staying safe online, etc. What it drove home to me is that there are more minefields out there than we care to imagine and that when mistakes happen, they can be very serious. As such, I ended up buying a copy of the book for my parents because they are frequent online users, they are only aware of potential online pitfalls at a cursory level, and like many other seniors, if something were to go wrong, I would not be first on their list to call.



3. The woman on the cover of this book looks like a character out of a pharmaceutical ad for an anti-anxiety drug. The idea behind this series is good, but the image of a sad, gray-haired woman in conjunction with the word "Dummies," seems demeaning. It's no wonder that, in the reader reviews, most of the purchasers of this book are adult children of seniors and not the seniors themselves. A humorous cover would have been more effective and not as insulting.



4. Move over seniors! This book is useful for any age. It offers specific helps and walks the internet user through the process so that you feel comfortable with each new topic. I find it works best to sit in front of my computer and practice what I read to solidify each suggestion. My only complaint is that the writing in the examples is too small and grayed. Working at the computer solves this problem, since I can now see it full screen.



5. This is a goot tool/book for seniors who need to read in big print. Bought for my Dad and he loves the big print and the ease within the pages.

5 comments about EnCase Computer Forensics, includes DVD: The Official EnCE: EnCase Certified Examiner Study Guide.

1. This book was written to help Forensics Technicians achieve the Guidance software's EnCE Certification. Since Encase software comes with a user's guide which is basically printouts of the help from within the program and it is as useless as a priest after a wedding, This "guide" can also be used as a documentation on how to use the Encase forensics software.
   If used for the above purposes, you will get your money's worth, however if you thing you will learn investigative techniques and best way to Forensically archive a digital device This is not the book for you. It is very single minded for example it does not count on criminals using Grub instead of MBR.
   I gave it a 3 star since it did help me pass both phase one and two of Encase certification and awarded me with an official looking certificate which is now hanging in my office.
   Best fishes and Thank you for reading.



2. I used this book as a primary reference for studying for the written portion of the exam and passed with almost a 100%. The written portion of the cert is the easy part by far. You should do the exercises if you want to pass the practical. I thought coverage was quite good. Sure, in a book this long you'll get a few inaccuracies, but what in IT doesn't? I passed the EnCE and felt confident doing so. There really wasn't another choice other than to take the review through Guidance Software - which isn't a bad way to go. The EnCE is a difficult to obtain cert, unlike Access Data's ACE - which is a paper mill cert. Expect to spend 40 hours on the practical in addition to about 3 hours on the written portion. The ACE written and practical in total is maybe 3 hours and the practical is multiple choice.



3. This is a great book, I highly recommend this book to anyone getting into computer forensics. No computer forensic examiner should be without this book.



4. This book is just what I was wanting. I would buy it again if I needed it.



5. I read this book went to take the exam and scored 94. Book and practice test on the CD are great. Highly recommended for EnCE exam prep.

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

1. I ordered the book on a Monday (pm) and was surprised to receive the book only four days later. Great job!



2. That book is a nerd test - if you've heard of it, you're probably a big nerd. I can say that because I'm a big nerd. Cliff Stoll was a physicist working at Lawrence Berkeley Labs as a sys admin when he accidentally fell into counterterrorism research. Stoll is not an excellent writer, but he did a great job of tracking a hacker when that sort of thing just wasn't a big concern for law enforcement, and his documentation of the whole thing as it went along was probably the only thing that got the guy caught and prosecuted. Recommended if you're a big nerd like me; not recommended if you're not.



3. Cliff Stoll is a astrologer at the University of Berkeley but discovered accidentally (by a stupid financial irregularity of 75 cents) an unauthorized user on their computer. From then goes on a cat and mouse game, between Cliff and the hacker.
   
   The commands (telnet, whois ...) in this book were something magical i wanted to know everything about.
   
   At that time I was already crazy and keenly interested in computers and networks but the Internet still was something far away (at least for me). With a little luck I could connect to some BBS (Bulletin Board System) using Gopher and we were suddenly in distant America. Waauw
   
   Cliff Stoll was my childhood idol and I knew then that I really wanted to do something similar!



4. I don't know what took me so long, but I finally, finally read this book. And once I did, I couldn't put it down. This is part computer security and communications technology history, part espionage/spy story, part a peek into the seemingly counterintuitive world of governmental bureaucracy. In a world where the Internet is now a deeply ingrained part of our culture, and all kinds of security traps seek to exploit the innocent on the 'Net, this is a refreshing account of the innocent early days of Internet computing. This is a really, really good, entertaining and enlightening read. Thank you, Mr. Stoll, for busting the bad guys and also for this amazing account of what happened.



5. A page turner and a very good book even though it might seem rather dated. It is not "dated" in my opinion although it may seem that way to an internet geek. One thing I learned is the importance of strong passwords. I have started to strengthen all of my passwords.

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

1. 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. ;)



2. 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.



3. World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde, by Christie Golden
   
   "Rise of the Horde" is what a Warcraft book should be. The book is enjoyable, the plot is pretty solid, and the characters are spot on. In the author biography, Golden states that she is a World of Warcraft player and it shows - there are little things thrown in that any Warcraft player will appreciate.
   
   Each chapter starts with a brief introduction from Thrall, the current chief of the new Horde. He is writing the history of the old Horde, the Horde that destroyed their own world and invaded Azeroth, the Horde that perpetuated genocide on the draenei and slaughtered the humans.
   
   The story of the orcs starts with a noble race, living peacefully on Draenor. The orcs have coexisted with the draenei for hundreds of years, ever since the draenei arrived on Draenor fleeing from their ancient enemies. While the orcs take pleasure in hunting animals and bloodlust, they are not killers and have a culture, family groups, a belief system. But all that changes when the Burning Legion turns a key orc to their side, and he leads the orcs on a terrifying descent into madness. Only one clan stands apart, the Frostwolves; their leader Durotan watches helplessly as the orcs are corrupted by demons.
   
   Golden depicts this tale with plenty of emotion; I felt for Durotan's situation. How many of us have watched someone do something we know is wrong, but we can't change their minds? Most of us have, I'm sure. "The Rise of the Horde" details just that, the rise of the horde that descended upon Azeroth, intent on taking the world for their own. The story is known, especially if one is a Warcraft player; but Golden fleshes out the story very nicely. How many Warcraft players have visited Durotar, or Orgrimmar? The figures these places are named after, Durotan and Orgrim, are key characters in this book. The additional background detail it provides will delight any Warcraft player; this is one of my favorite novels based on the universe - I've read all of them, and read them all multiple times.
   
   5/5.



4. This book gives the story of how the orcs changed from a relatively peaceful collection of tribes to a bloodthirsty horde. Christie tells the story from the Orc's PoV, mostly though Durotan eyes and Thrall's story telling.
   This was a very thorough telling and would be nice to see the same story through the eyes of the Draenei.
   If you want to learn more of the lore of the Horde and Draenei, then pick this up!



5. If you are into World Of Warcraft books this is a must. Even if you aren't it is still quite an interesting read.

5 comments about The Scarecrow.

1. Jack McEvoy, a newspaper reporter, was the primary character in one of Connelly's early works, The Poet. In fact, before The Poet, all Connely's books featured Harry Bosch as the main character, so Jack is really the second main character Connelly ever developed. Since The Poet, Jack played minor roles in several other Connelly books, but The Scarecrow is the first one in which he is the main character again.
   
   In the Scarecrow, Jack finds himself a victim of the shrinking newspaper industry--they are laying him off. Determined to go out with a bang, McEvoy decides to write a Pulitzer worthy piece and begins researching his story with the help of his replacement on the crime beat at the L.A. Times, Angela. He gets more than he bargained for and finds himself up against a serial killer for the second time in his life. He calls in Rachel Walling, an FBI agent he met during the Poet case, to assist in tracking down the killer. Jack finally figures out the killer's "signature" which leads to the killer's identity being discovered...now all they need to do is catch him...easier said than done. The Scarecrow is a fast-paced read with a fairly predictable ending. Still, I would recommend The Scarecrow and hope to see Jack in another Connelly book soon!



2. Its just another book with a murder investigation. It does not tie you down or make does not have a nail biting finish etc. I bought this because it is in Top 10 Books: Mystery & Thrillers. I was kind of disappointed and lost some credibility points for the top 10 book selection at amazon.



3. An excellent book by an author whose other books I have read. I like a brief sumary of the book to see if I might have already read it. I read many books of this gender.



4. Bought for my mother who loves the author and was not able to find this particular book.



5. When you read Michael Connelly, you are guaranteed to go for a ride. And that ride might lead you to some unexpected places, but it sure gets good! I'm still very much behind in the Connelly collections. I've yet to read anything Harry Bosch. But I started with Mickey Haller in "The Lincoln Lawyer," and decided to see for myself what was so special about Jack McEvoy and "The Poet." Well, needless to say, I wanted "The Scarecrow," and Connelly has yet to disappoint me.
   
   Jack is going through the disappointment of hearing the news that he's to be laid off. But with two weeks to kill, he begins the training of Angela Cook, the lady to replace him. And he gets a phone call from the grandmother of Alonzo Winslow, a young man who is sixteen, and has the murder of a stripper on his shoulders. Winslow supposedly confessed that he didn't, but in the end it simpy isn't true. And when Jack digs deeper into the investigation, there is more than one murder. And calling in an old flame, Jack McEvoy and Rachel Walling get things stirred up. And the killer knows some of the moves, and he doesn't like it.
   
   From The Doors to The Wizard of Oz, Connelly keeps the story interesting and the pages flipping. With a title like "The Scarecrow," it isn't exactly lacking for brains, heart, or courage. The only dilemma I have is that I need to start looking for more Michael Connelly, and begin my journey with Harry Bosch. I've gotten to know Jack McEvoy, and I want another encounter! Hope there is another good story with him in the future.

5 comments about Inside Cyber Warfare: Mapping the Cyber Underworld.

1. This book reads like a conspiracy theory novel. It leverages unsubstantiated circumstantial evidence from a handful of cases to make sweepingly broad claims, that to me, read like fear mongering. In a book titled "Inside Cyber Warfare", I expect an analytical approach deeply examining the technical evidence associated with cyber warfare. If an author claims a state is responsible, I want to see threat model indicating that the action fits the described behavior, and I want technical data showing the capability is within the capacity of the state and similar to any known capabilities. Instead I only saw circumstantial evidence that read like conspiracies.
   
   I should note that I do not believe there currently is a cyber war. "War" by definition is an ugly and violent thing. Almost all cyber attacks I've seen have economic incentive or are unsophisticated DDoS that are uncharacteristic for a nation state. The best example of real cyber warfare I've seen, is the case of Russians writing software to intercept predator video. In that case you see a military system being subverted in a real world example. Otherwise, I remain unconvinced.



2. Mr. Carr's Inside Cyber Warfare is an informative and frightening glimpse into the dangerous realities of our global (connected) digital world. In form and function the book provides the layman a good taxonomy of methods, tactics, and strategies of governments [w/particular emphasis on Russia and China], criminal enterprises and hackers [in groups or on their own]. He does a very good job of describing the legal status of cyber warfare---exposing many holes which leaves most of the work exposed and without legal remedy/recourse. Most informative was his descriptions of the vulnerabilities of social media and how these everyday tools can be be used for mischief. This book is recommended for anyone curious about the state of our cyber world or information warfare. Well done, Mr. Carr. Highly recommended.



3. This is literally the scariest book I have read in the last 25 years. It is well organized, well-written, up-to-date, and very well researched. If you work with computers in ANY capacity, especially IT Security, Information Assurance, etc., you NEED this book!



4. I bought this book trying to further my understanding of Cyber Warfare and how it has become integral force multiplier/enabler in today's digital battlefield. Unfortunately, I quickly realized that this book was basically a regurgitation of what is available on the Internet with a little "googling". The book itself is tiresome to read and feels like you are just trying to weed through so much "chaff" as you attempt to find something compelling to take away. Granted, I think if you have done no initial reading on the subject and it is totally new to you- this book may be a good primer. Seriously though, if you are a student that wants to gain a better understanding of how cyberspace plays a role in a geo-political strategic context- this is not the book for you. If Jeffrey Carr is an expert in Cyber Warfare- he needs to way up the ante on another book and make it more than just a conglomeration of articles that are pretty much freely available on the Internet.



5. Seldom would I describe a guidebook from the excellent O'Reilly Technology Series as "Ripped from the Headlines"; but this fast-paced
   news analysis and technology public policy book is just that. It describes the behavior methods and practices of "State" and "Non-State" Actors on the International scene as they exploit the weaknesses of the Internet and Web Infrastructure for Political and Criminal purposes. It describes in a moderate level of technical detail the exploits of political and criminal hacker teams, some working for their own profit and political purposes, others under the direct authority of a Nation State especially during the recent period of 2002-2009 in the Middle East, China and the states of the FSU. The author Jeffry Carr is a leading analyst of Cyber Warfare and Cyber Terrorism, the Principal of the Grey Logic Consulting firm that addresses the needs of large companies and governments, and author of the widely read IntelFusion blog.
   
   Other reviewers may have been confused by the nature of the subject matter addressed by this short but excellent and well-written volume it is not a technologist's guide to hacking activities, nor is is it a spy novel, but it carefully and interestingly relates the dimensions of a current political and economic problem brought about by the activities of political entities, criminal and terroristic elements. It will enable the reader to become well informed about an important Technology and Public Policy issue which pervades today's headlines.
   
   --Ira Laefsky
   MSE/MBA IT Consultant and Former Senior Staff Member of Arthur D. Little and DIGITAL Equipment

5 comments about Mortal Fear.

1. Even though the technological aspect of this book is totally outdated (frequent references to AOL and Compuserve - it is kindof comical) as I write this review in 2010, it is a total page turner. The dated computer references are minute in comparison to the storyline, however. This author has the most intense character creation and he is a top-notch writer as well. The most incredible character is the villain--a completely deranged psychopath that is part genius and part erotic mess (when you learn of his childhood, you'll understand why). The only reason I'm giving this 3 stars is because the main character's wife needed more development. She is so understated in the beginning and this makes her actions at the end of the story a bit unbelievable.



2. This book is a real thriller, and once you start reading it, almost impossible to put down!
   At times it was hard to believe that there were so many pages left to read
   given the things that were happening in the moment! The book did not disappoint, combining
   technology, medicine, sex, and the power of love triumphing over evil. As an avid
   reader, it was a pleasure turning each page and knowing
   that there were so many pages to enjoy!



3. I can't believe the number of four star reviews. Iles is probagbly the most in love with his own words of any author I have ever read. Boring, long winded, over done and loaded with technical errors. I read the first 30% and then the last ten and barely made it through. Maybe if I were into kinky sex



4. Jeepers, this was a hard book to stick with. It is not that there was not plenty of action. Iles never disappoints in that area. It just did not make a lot of sense and the characters were not believable. I have read all of Iles early works, then sort of got away from him. This book did not encourage me to find any others.



5. I enjoy good thrillers with some creepiness in them, yet find them very difficult to find. Especially ones that are believable. I took a chance on this Greg Iles book "Mortal Fear" and was not disappointed. To me, the sign of a good book is one where I'm dying to know "who done it?", yet I don't want the book to end because I'm enjoying it so much. That is what I got in this book. The book is a fairly long read, which is fine with me. Character development was very deep, and I found these people in the book to be very interesting and believable. I would highly recommend it.

5 comments about Fatal System Error: The Hunt for the New Crime Lords Who are Bringing Down the Internet.

1. Flow is a little disjointed and seems a little rushed in places, but it's definitely an interesting read, especially after having brushes with some of the mentioned people/groups. Puts things in a little better perspective and definitely opened the eyes of some of my friends.



2. Again, I'm giving five stars to offset the idiots who give it one star because of how Amazon has decided to price it. People make buying decisions based on reviews, and authors work too hard to have their work compromised by idiots who complain about the price. The author doesn't set the price. In fact, (s)he is only making a buck or two on the Kindle edition. And your one star reviews are taking money out of their pocket. If the book sucks, give it one star. But if you don't like the price, complain directly to Amazon.



3. Fatal System Error: The Hunt for the New Crime Lords Who are Bringing Down the Internet
   
   For most people the Internet is just email and search. We're happy to watch videos or buy the occasional book from Amazon or buy some electronics from Best Buy. Unknown to many of us, the Internet is now the fabric of our lives. The Internet is now the backbone of banking, commerce and trade. Our electricity would not run without Internet connectivity.
   
   Herein lies the danger of the Internet of tomorrow. Behind author Joe Menn's real narrative are the things that will scare even the casual email user. There are governments and cybergangs who through the deft magic of the right code and keystrokes can cripple the US or even the world economy.
   
   This is what's riveting about the book: Behind the protagonists... Barrett, the Russians, the Mafia and all, lies the true danger of an Internet that is so fragile. Yet we continue to pile more and more applications and businesses on top of it.
   
   The stories are fascinating... detective work, intrigue and all but the real story is that we're all in book.
   
   The book is a must read as it is the real thing.



4. Heard about the book on NPR when they were interviewing the Author. Sounded like a cloak and dagger story relating mostly to computer hacking, I was interested because I wanted to understand more about computer threats. Turned out to be more of story with almost no technical stuff.



5. I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but read it based on reviews. I'm aware that I am bucking the trend here, but I didn't much care for this book.
   
   First of all, the book desperately needed a technical editor. The author used an extensive technical vocabulary, but frequently misused terms. As one who works with technology, I found this distracting. I wasn't expecting a technical manual, but did expect the book to be accurate.
   
   More importantly, however, the author failed to capture the excitement of the stories he told. This is not to say that the stories are not interesting (in fact they are), just that Menn's rendition of them is not interesting. This book covered some extremely interesting, creepy, frightening, and heroic personalities. Menn's depiction of them felt as superficial and stereotypical as a low-budget miniseries.
   
   I actually agree with those reviews that say this book reads like thriller fiction, and not non-fiction. Stylisticly, it is certainly more John Grisham than Thomas Friedman. Somehow, Menn captured the worst of both genre's here.