No comments about Child Pornography: Crime, Computers and Society.

5 comments about The Deadliest Game (Tom Clancy's Net Force; Young Adult).

1. when i read this book i went through many stages excitment sadness climax denoument i fell in love with this book i recommed this book to everyone and now im hooked to the series and cant stop reading



2. Tom Clancy's Net Force is a very boring book. Tom Clancy can do way better. He has written way better books than this. I suggest you don't buy this one. This book is about a virtual game called the dominion of Sarxos. People play this virtual game a lot and it is the biggest virtual game in the world. But people have been taking the game too seriously and are trashing people's apartments, and ruining their computers and hurting them. They hire a girl to figure out who's been doing this and some interesting things happen but I won't tell you. This book is okay but don't buy it. Just check it out from a library because it's not worth buying.



3. Control your armys, crush your foes, and strike fear in the eyes of those who oppose you. Then log off, brush your teeth, take a break then lunge back into the world of Sarxos. Tom Clancy really grasps the world of science fiction in his Net Force book The Deadliest Game. I would recomend this book for one and all. The mystery lover, to the action seeker, all readers can love this book many times over.



4. Millions of people participate in the virtual reality game of Sarxos. At any time participants can enter, by logging into a pc via an implanted connection device, the wonderful world of Sarxos, where you can eat, drink, sleep and above all fight with opponents. Sarxos is the ideal escape from the daily troubles. But for some people this escape has become quite addictive. But suddenly strange things are happening: active players are being assaulted during their daily non-Sarxos life. Megan O'Malley, a joyful teenager, is asked by the Net Force agency to check things out. Because she is a frequent player no-one will notice that she has another mission at hand, at least that is was she thinks.
   
   If you drop the name of Tom Clancy you automatically thing of high profile techno-thrillers, so when Clancy and Steve Pieczenik are pulled together to write a book for adolescents some clear expectations are raised. Sadly enough the techno-thriller aspect is kept to a minimum in The Deadliest Game. Indeed it concerns a virtual reality game, but most of the plot is being build inside the game without using too much using the concept of virtual reality. It is as if the players are being ported into a game and that game becomes a story on its own. Nothing wrong with that, was is not for the fact that that story quickly becomes tedious and boring. It is an attempt at a fantasy story, but does not succeed to exploit the power of fantasy. To say it boldly: if ever that game became commercially available, I would certainly not think about buying it.
   
   The Deadliest Game is a missed opportunity. I do hope that the other episodes of the Net Force series have more spirit.



5. Tom Clancy's The Deadliest Game was a wonderful book. Comparing his book with his last book, Virtual Vandals, This was somewhat more than expected. I enjoyed this book even more because of the huge amounts of suspension. I admit the book was very slow to begin and i thought that there was excessive amount of description and detail in the book and not enough dialect. I really think Tom Clancy and Steve Pieczenik did a wonderful job on the book. The story of mystery holds all the aspects a good mystery should. All and all this book would have 5 stars if there was more dialect.

5 comments about Sabotage in the American Workplace: Anecdotes of Dissatisfaction, Mischief and Revenge.

1. This is not a book for employers, bosses, or anyone who represents authority in the workplace. (Although they might learn something from reading it.) No, this is a book for those who want to be reassured that they are not the only people who have ever lashed back at their employers. For those who are considering such actions, it gives some excellent examples of what can be done. There are also numerous quotes and news-clips about sabotage, employee moral, and the nature of work. The book is broken down by catagories such as office workplaces, entertainment industry, and the food services. Some anecdotes pale in comparison to others, but it is important to understand that Martin Sprouse collected stories from people from all walks of life. Some were more daring than others, but the emotions behind their actions are all the same. It is best read a few anecdotes at a time, otherwise the impact of each individual action is lost in a miasma of backlash. In all it is an enlivened book which speaks volumes as to the ways that the business place fails to inspire the loyalty or satisfaction which is so ofted touted as an essential aspect of productive work.



2. I read this book and dropped out of business school. I'll never respect another boss as long as I live.



3. This book has HUNDRED of stories about "getting back" from people of all walks of life. Stories about the computer industry (deleting files, bugs), hotel, food processing, newspaper, office, military, government, retail, and many more. Well laid out, exciting stories and very informative. It has inspired me to write (edit) a spin off type book. I can't recommend it enough!



4. If you're in charge of workplace safety and security, this book will scare the hell out of you. If you're a wage slave, you will find many inspiring stories within. Whether or not you have what it takes to attempt to recreate these events, it is quite an entertaining read.



5. This book is one of a kind, it was put out in the early 90s but the autobiographical essays are still valid. The quotes and newspapers tidbits are fanatastic as well. Format is reader friendly. If you have any interest in the working class, or human resources for that matter this book would be enlightening

2 comments about Elite Deviance.

1. I am teaching a Criminal Justice course using this book. Although I have the latest, 7th edition, most examples are from the 1970s and 80s, and no real update has been provided.
   
   The kind of analysis offered by the author does not stand in any recognizable academic tradition. Instead, Simon mixes up all kinds of arguments, but does not explain where they come from. As such, this book is not useful as an introduction into criminal justice, political economy, or political science. The author prefers to operate on the level of political pamphletism, which invalidates the whole approach and sheds a negative light on the more serious criticisms of contemporary capitalism available. Simon's methodology is either nonexistent or unexplained, but it is unsound at any rate. No mention is made of such crucial concepts as market failure, negative externalities, free riding, embeddedness, or heterodox theorizing. Neo-Marxist state criticism is not introduced, although the author borrows much from it. The book is outlandish and even though it preaches socialism, it is extremely expensive.



2. 
   
   Other reviewers have complained that the book lacks theoretical coherence and substance, and while I cannot disagree with this criticism altogether, it is important to point out that the book is first and foremost, a college level textbook. Thus, although it is not theoretically tidy, I am inclined to give the author the benefit of the doubt. In my view, it must be seen as much a didactic tool as an independent attempt to advance a fresh theory of Elite Deviance.
   
   Even without positing a fully formed theory, this book is undoubtedly filling a gap that sorely needs filling. The only other books that come close to doing so is Peter Dale Scott's "Deep Politics and the JFK assassination," and much of the writings linking the drug trade to the CIA, and through the CIA to high level U.S. politicians. And here I have in mind such works as Gary Webb's "Dark Alliance;" Terry Reed's "Compromise," and Alfred McCoy's, "The Politics of Heroin in Southeast Asia," among many others.
   
   The next conceptual level up from this genre and Simon's book is quite a large leap. Arguably one would have to ascend to something on the order of Jürgen Habermas' et. al., theories of corruption based on a framework of communicative action. In addition to being quite a leap from undergraduate political science and sociology, it would also require a change in focus to criminal intent and the sociology and psychology of crime - not exactly the center of gravity of elite deviance.
   
   The beauty of the present volume is that it does catalogue rather carefully the many instances of elite corruption that remain just below the waterline of American society. This collation is turned into a taxonomy of patterns and robust chunks that hint strongly towards a complete theory of elite deviance. For me that is enough.
   
   In the same vein as Scott's Deep Politics, Simon's treatment here gravitated towards an all but pregnant "pre-theory" of elite deviance based on the overwhelming coherence of the various strains of empirical evidence that this book so carefully collates into meaningful patterns. Constructing a suitable theory from the welter of data pointing to elite deviance and corruption is an exercise that any good college professor would leave as an exercise for his industrious students.
   
   I believe Professor Simon has done just that: He has left this book as a launching pad for industrious students to peek over the horizon to see all the many theoretical possibilities. It is a work in progress and one of the finest of this genre. A final theory of elite deviance in the American political system would make a fine dissertation topic for one of Simon's students.
   
   Five Stars

5 comments about Incident Response: Investigating Computer Crime.

1. As an attorney and a formally-trained computer forensics examiner and instructor who has been tilling the fields of digital evidence for some time, I'm always on the prowl for the next great computer forensics tool or text that's going to help me find the next smoking gun...or at least be confident I haven't overlooked it. I've built a substantial library of books and articles on computer forensics, some very good and some a complete waste of money. But, this book is the best of the best.

   From its step-by-step detail of the forensic process to its copious and helpful illustrations and screen shots to its unvarnished discussion of the tools in the marketplace, the second edition of Incident Response and Computer Forensics is, for my money, the most valuable resource any computer forensic examiner could have on their shelf. Many of the techniques and shortcuts detailed are "trade secrets" in that I've never seen them described in print. Unlike other forensic guides that assume the reader owns a costly forensic software suite, this book fairly splits its emphasis between Linux tools, shareware and the best software packages. That means the reader can begin the learning process at once, without investing anything more than their time and interest.

   Another strength is that the book neither presupposes a too-high level of knowledge or experience nor dumbs down its content such that an expert wouldn't derive any value. There's something here for everyone who cares about computer forensics, from the neophyte to the grizzled veteran. When I paid $50.00 for this tome at a big box bookstore, I worried I was paying too much. Now, I'd think it cheap at twice the price.

   As another reviewer pointed out, it doesn't devote a chapter to the law, but that is not to say that legal considerations are ignored. To the contrary, I think the authors do an excellent job of giving a useful "heads-up" where needed and not moving out of their depth.

   I don't know these guys, but I'd sure like to shake their hands for a job well done! Thanks.

   Craig Ball is an attorney and certified computer forensic examiner based in Montgomery, Texas, who teaches and consults with attorneys and the courts on matters of computer forensics and electronic discovery.




2. I read the book in about three days and found it to be a good primer for one leaning towards computer forensics. While some of the technology and tools described in the book will undoubtedly change within the next few months, a lot of the basic principles will remain pertinent for a long time to come. I heartily recommend this book for anyone with more than just a casual interest in Computer Security.



3. This is no doubt the best incidence reponse book out. I highly recommend this for anyone either in the field, learning to get into the field, or running a small to medium sized company without a team of experts. My entire network admin team uses this as a reference at the side of their desk.



4. I liked this book, but it is scattered in its topics. A lot of the information can be found online, and the tools aren't what we use on a daily basis. I'm not sure if any of them are commercial tools in this book.
   
   I liked File System Forensics by Brian Carrier better. Even though it had a smaller area to cover it provided a better introduction to the area and I could see how it could be used in a class better. Still, this book does have a lot of good content and makes a nice addition.



5. You must buy if you are beginner, intermedium or advanced in forensic computers.

5 comments about The E-Mail Mystery (Nancy Drew Digest #144).

1. An exciting and mysterious book. Nancy Drew is almost always on a case for a mystery. All of a sudden people start calling her dad, a lawyer and telling him to close the case and go with the settlement. Nancy has come to the office for awhile. But when Nancy is getting close to the person that is ruining things...UH!OH! You will just have to read it.



2. The book is fantabulous

   It's got all the fantastic mysteries I am looking for some body who can write the whole story in about 200 words

   It's really good




3. It's the summer and Nancy is looking forward to it. Carson Drew, Nancy's father and prestigious lawyer, asks her to join him at the office to help out doing some filing. When she does, she picks up on a mysterious string of events that lead to a fresh new mystery...



4. The E-Mail Mystery was a very good book. I have always liked Nancy Drew's books. The E-Mail Mystery was exciting and full of adventure. As young reader most books don't interest me, but this book was better than most of them. The E-Mail Mystery was a great mystery book,and I would highly recommend it. If I had to choose one book that Ihave read before to read again I would read this one.



5. This book was fun read for the most part, but it was extremely typical and simple. I think you'll get a kick out of it though!

5 comments about Delete All Suspects (A Turing Hopper Mystery).

1. PI Tim Pincoski is beginning to get tired of the background checks that have become his bread and butter in recent months so he jumps when a different kind of case is offered to him. Eddie Stallman is in critical condition in the hospital after a hit and run accident leaves him in a coma. His grandmother is convinced that it was an attempted murder and even thinks it has to do with Eddie's computer business. She wants to hire Tim and his partner, Claudia Diaz, to find out why someone would want to hurt him over the web sites he hosted.
   
   Anything computer related is over Tim's head, so he immediately turns to his friends. While Artificial Intelligence Personality (AIP) Turing Hopper tries to gain access without leaving any traces, Maude Graham sorts through the clutter in the basement room Eddie lived in hoping to find a password that will help them gain access without hacking.
   
   Tim and Claudia, meanwhile, track down and interview Eddie's friends. What they uncover is a trusting guy who let too many people have access to his system. Several friends seem to be taking advantage of that trust. But did one of them run him down to keep Eddie from turning them over to the authorities? Or is something else to blame for Eddie's accident?
   
   This series has been a favorite since book one. Once again, Donna Andrews delivers a great mystery with engaging and well-developed characters. Since this series builds on each book, you really must read them in order to fully understand the people and relationships here. Even though enough background is given to bring new readers up to speed, this necessitates spoiling previous books in the series.
   
   AIP Turing continues to be the best-developed character in the series. Even though she's not human, Ms. Andrews brings her hopes, desires, and wants to life in a realistic way. Turing takes up a new hobby this time around, pets. Watching her want what humans take for granted and the trials she puts her human friends through to get them provides for some nice comic moments.
   
   This isn't to say that the humans aren't well developed as well. Maude and her struggle between loyalty to Turing and her desire to become closer with her boyfriend Dan is well handled. I find myself rooting for them to stay together even if I can't see how the two of them can work things out. Tim's insecurities are equally endearing. He and Claudia make a great team. Since point of view shifts seamlessly between these three characters, they are the best developed in the series, but that's not to the detriment of the others, including the new characters.
   
   The plot, as always, is top notch. Things seem to be straightforward for quite a while, but there are several twists to watch out for that I never suspected were coming. While this book doesn't deal exclusively with series nemesis Nestor Garcia, that storyline gets a nice twist as well. The ending was once again a bit rushed, but a second, slower reading helped me straighten everything out in my mind.
   
   This series continually entertains. Adding that to its unique premise, it will easily entertain science fiction and mystery fans equally. YOU'VE GOT MURDER is the best place to start to fully enjoy it.



2. Stuck in a dead-end on the search for her clone, T-2, Artificial Intelligence entity Turing helps her friend, private detective Tim Pincoski with a new case--one involving a hit-and-run 'accident' and a roomful of computer gear. The victim, Eddie Stallman, ran a web design and hosting company that might, possibly, have ties to some sort of illegal activity. It's even possible that his injury was no accident at all--but attempted murder.
   
   Breaking into Eddie's co-location site is challenging because he had implemented the latest security patches before his 'accident.' But, if his security is so strong, does that mean he was, himself, involved with the illegal activity? When Turing decides there's a chance that Eddie's co-lo might hold some clue to T-2's whereabouts, she goes all-out to break in and discover everything she can. Before they get too far, though, the one witness to the hit-and-run is murdered.
   
   Author Donna Andrews (see more BooksForABuck.com reviews of novels by Andrews) does a good job making the details of computer crime approachable and interesting. I admire the way she attempts to make Turing be both a real 'person,' without being 'human' in the conventional sense. For me, however, this book started too slowly. First, Turing spent a fair amount of time worrying that her search wasn't going anywhere, then we had the extremely long section where the detectives and Turing were in Eddie's basement not making much progress. Only when they'd finally breached Eddie's security did the plot heat up.
   
   If you're a fan of this series, as I am, you'll definitely want to read DELETE ALL SUSPECTS. Andrews is a talented writer and she makes even boring subjects seem interesting. Still, although this wasn't an especially long book, too much of it seemed to be setup. Let's hope the next Turing story moves along a bit faster.



3. This is the fourth Turing Hopper mystery. Turing is a computer, actually an AIP (Artificial Intelligence Personality) owned by the Universal Library. She sees through webcams, communicates through an artificial voice, and can make cell phone calls.
   
   With her access to the Internet, Turing can pull computing power from anywhere, and can hack into anything (though she does have ethics, and uses her skills only to help her human co-workers solve crimes.)
   
   Delete All Suspects involves the web hosting business of Eddie Stallman. P.I. Tim Pincoski is hired by Eddie's grandmother and landlady to find out who injured him in a hit-and-run car accident, and also about what is happening with his business.
   
   The police think it is just an accident, despite an eyewitness' description, and have no interest in Eddie's business. Tim involves Turing and her human colleague Maude Graham.
   
   Turing tries to break into Eddie's network to no avail--eventually paper clues in his messy and disorganized basement apartment and phone calls from his clients lead them to the conclusion that he is setting up and hosting web sites. There is evidence that he may have been involved in porn sites, and also gambling sites.
   
   Could this have been the cause of the accident that has left him in a coma? Or could it have been Internet drug sales or "phishing" for credit card information? Could one of Eddie's techie friends, or his ex-girlfriend have been using his network without his knowledge? Additional murders and sudden complications make their job extremely difficult--even dangerous.
   
   Turing grows with each novel. Her initial fears of Eddie's cat while her laptop is left in his office quickly change to affection, and eventually she adopts a cat, with Tim to physically care for it.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Turing's musings on the frailties of humanity and the meaning of existence are insightful and refreshing--considered they are from a computer, not a human.



4. This series deals with Turing, a satient computer, who crosses the line from computer to a creature of emotions, human foibles.
   It is a cute series and the characters who are Turing's friends are a great combination.
   The only bone to pick is enough already with Turing's 'twin' who has been kidnapped by the bad guys. After 4 books, we need a new turn for Turing.
   Good light book.



5. This is the fourth Turing Hopper mystery that I've read. Turing is an AIP, i.e. an Artificial Intelligence Personality super computer, who is owned by the Universal Library. Turing has become a sentient being, and although confined in her machine space, she sees through webcams, communicates with humans with an artificial voice, and can make cellular phone calls.
   
   Andrews has made Turing into a dectective and with the help of her human friends she has solved several difficult cases prior to this one. Although Turing can pull computing power from anywhere, and can hack into anything she does have ethics and morals built into her program so she uses her skills only to help her human co-workers solve crimes. It is during these investigations that, although Turing does her best, sometimes she has difficulty understanding her friends both human and machine.
   
   Delete All Suspects involves the web hosting business of Eddie Stallman. P.I., an acquaintance of Tim Pincoski, who also works for Turing's company. He is hired by Eddie's grandmother and landlady to find out who ran him down in a hit-and-run car accident. Tim is also asked to check into Eddie's business and try to keep it going. The police think it is just an accident, despite an eyewitness' description, and have no interest in Eddie's business. Tim becomes increasingly dubious that it was an accident so he involves both Turing and Turing's partner and human friend, Maude Graham.
   
   Turing is unable to break into Eddie's network because Eddie has protected all his business files, but eventually Maude discovers paper clues in Eddie's messy basement office. Irate phone calls from his clients lead Turing, Maude and Tim to the conclusion that Eddie has been hosting web sites and that he may have also been involved in pornographic and gambling sites.
   
   As clues mount up, more questions than answers continue to puzzle Turing and her friends. Evidence is mounting that Eddie might have also been involved in Internet drug sales or credit card "phishing." There are 2 more murders and the investigation becomes more difficult and hazardous.
   
   In Delete All Suspects, Turing's growth as a sentient being is evident. She is retrospective and finds that her understanding of human behavior is limited and begins to ask questions of Maud in an effort to understand her better . In a humorous section, Turing adopts a cat as a pet, but finds that Tim has to take care of it since she can't.
   
   Andrews also does a great job with her human characters. Maude, Turing's partner and friend, has to struggle between loyalty to Turing and her desire to become closer with her boyfriend Dan without devulging Turing's secret. Tim, is also gaining maturity and leaving his insecurities behind. I am glad to see that Claudia, the attorney, is going to stay as part of the team. Andrews chooses to shift point of view between the three main characters, so their internal monologs further the plot and character development.
   
   This is a great series, immaginative and well written. My hat is off to Andrews who has done an admirable job of conbining science fiction and mystery. I recommend starting at the beginning of the series so you can enjoy all the books and "growing pains" of Turing.

4 comments about Sex, Laws, and Cyberspace: Freedom and Censorship on the Frontiers of the Online Revolution.

1. Overview: Give credit to authors Wallace and Mangan: they wear their sympathy on their sleeves. "Sex, Laws, and Cyberspace" is not intended to be an objective review of the state of First Amendment protection on the Net; it is a passionate argument for redefining how we apply the First Amendment to the Internet. This passion is both the book's strength and its weakness, as it will reinforce beliefs but not necessarily win converts. The book's outstanding summary of major events in Internet law will provide researchers with tremendous details in the years to come.

   Full text of this review is at: http://www.redstreet.com/readingroom/reviews/sexlaws.htm




2. I believe that the book enstilled frightening thoughts in my mind of the dangers available on the Internet. A must read book before you let your child use the information superhighway.



3. I own but have not read Sex Laws and Cyberspace in its entirety. This is because the book is poorly written and hard to read.

   The book deals with cogent questions about types of pornography and legal problems in the theory and practice of censoring it.

   However, it appears Wallace and Mangan aimed at length instead of lucidity in each paragraph and chapter. Reading page after page of their rambling narrative is simply too much.




4. The title of the review about sums everything up. It started off very slow and boring and I almost put it down. I was sick, however, and struggled on. The book gets a lot better in later chapters, but since it references the beginning a lot, you have to struggle through the beginning. There's some really good quotes in the last chapter. The use of traditionally offensive issues like online kiddie porn and violent "erotica" to illustrate the issues (in the beginning) was a decent attempt to shock the reader into re-examining digital law from other perspectives, but may backfire or upset some.
   
   As others have noted, though, it is quite dated.

2 comments about Internet Besieged: Countering Cyberspace Scofflaws (ACM Press).

1. Internet Besieged - Countering Cyberspace Scofflaws Dorothy E. Denning Peter J. Denning Addison- Wesley 1998

   This is a collection of thirty essays covering a variety of aspects of information security written well known American commentators. The 1998 publication date on this book is slightly misleading since some of the essays contained within it date back to 1992. The majority of the papers date from 1996. But this should not seriously deter the reader since the many of the articles are likely to become the foundation texts of the industry and stand the test of time and distance.

   The first of the book's five sections covers the background of the Internet from a security perspective. The second focuses on the weaknesses of Internet-connected computer systems and shows how criminals exploit them. Part 3, details the cryptographic methods available to help secure systems, while the fourth section explores the particular challenges of electronic commerce. The final section looks at the larger and non- technical issues of Internet practices, laws, and policies.

   The first section is a well balanced picture of the Internet as it stands today . The best parts are the overview chapters by Peter Denning "The Internet After Thirty Years" and Dorothy E. Denning "Cyberspace Attacks and Countermeasures" The second section on Internet Security is less interesting as too many of the papers are unnecessarily technical -better analysis can of the problem can be found in some computer science text books. The book is strongest, naturally given its main authors, in the cryptographic section - although I still prefer Bruce Schneier's "Applied Cryptography" for an overview of the subject. The electronic commerce section is completely out of date - a great deal has happened in the two years since it was written. But the final section has three interesting papers by Dorothy E. Denning "Encryption Policy and Market Trends" (which should be required reading for anyone wishing! to take issue with the DTI's proposals on encryption and key escrow and a couple of nice essays by Bruce Sterling on legal and ethical issues.

   This is a good book to dip into to get ideas on computer security. The bibliographies are thorough and the tone, in the main, is light but authoritative.

   Alistair KELMAN




2. This book was okay at best. I found 'Life and Death on the Internet' by Keith Schroeder to be a far better, interesting and informative book. Personally, I would pass on this book and get Mr. Schroeder's.

No comments about Electronic Crime (Geis Master Series in Criminology).