No comments about Downloading Music (Issues That Concern You).

5 comments about Internet Denial of Service: Attack and Defense Mechanisms (The Radia Perlman Series in Computer Networking and Security).

1. Your take on this book really depends on where you are sitting. The authors lucidly describe what a Denial of Service attack is. More to the point, the book then goes into an explanation of its more dangerous variant - the Distributed Denial of Service [DDoS] attack. The book is really about the latter; not the simple DoS. We see how DDoS evolved rapidly from 1999 to 2005, with the number of computers hijacked to become agents for an attack expanding from hundreds to over a hundred thousand. And how it no longer seems to be done by joyriding hackers just seeking a thrill. Now, it may actually be a business; a major branch of malware.
   
   You should have a reasonable background in understanding TCP/IP, to appreciate the book's technical discussions. For example, if you see mention of the TTL field in a header, you should already know what it means.
   
   The book explains several postulated countermeasures to DDoS. Nifty ideas like traceback and pushback. Or perhaps doing an entropy count of good and bad packets, to help distinguish between them. The problem is that none of these are truly effective. DDoS is an unsolved problem. So if you are a cracker, this is good news. Not so for sysadmins.
   
   But there is something else. Perhaps DDoS is fundamentally insolvable, under the current IPv4 and current router capabilities. But maybe this field is still young. What is a problem for many could be a chance for you, as a researcher or inventor.



2. Internet Denial of Service
   
   I certainly enjoyed reading this book, in fact I started looking at it during the work day and couldn't wait for everyone to leave at quitting time so I could finish it. It seems to have a bit of trouble finding its niche, most of the time it has the feel of a research paper, but from time to time there are amazingly practical tidbits. If you are looking for a how to stop denial of service, step by step, buy the cup of coffee from Borders and leaf through the book and make your decision carefully. If you are a researcher in the USA interested in Internet protocols and US law and response, this is a must read, must have. If you are truly seeking to understand what zombie style distributed denial of service is and is capable of, buy the book and read it three times. My response team worked closely with one of the authors, David Dittrich from 1999 - 2001 and if there is a "been there, done that" individual when it comes to malicious code, he would be that person.
   
   This is not a book for a novice, but if you know your way around a network and know a bit about routing, there are a number of helpful illustrations and code segments that drive the points home.
   
   I realize I gave the book three stars even though I liked it a lot and that is primarily because the book is much weaker in the two final chapters, 8 and 9. You just can't throw issues like law, ethics, jurisdiction, evidence collection, and estimation of damages on the table, write a couple paragraphs and zoom on, someone could get hurt. For the right reader, this can be a wonderful resource.



3. There are obviously a multitude of ways an attacker can take your site down. One way is via a denial of service attack. There's a new book out that covers just that attack in great detail: Internet Denial Of Service - Attack and Defense Mechanisms by Jelena Mirkovic, Sven Dietrich, David Dittrich, and Peter Reiher (Prentice Hall).
   
   Chapter list: Introduction; Understanding Denial of Service; History of DoS and DDos; How Attacks Are Waged; An Overview of DDoS Defenses; Detailed Defense Approaches; Survey of Research Defense Approaches; Legal Issues; Conclusions; Glossary; Survey of Commercial Defense Approaches; DDoS data; References; Index
   
   Going into this book, I can say I knew about the basics of a Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack. What I didn't understand is how sophisticated they've become. The book covers (in deep detail) how bot or zombie networks are developed and utilized to launch these types of attacks. I didn't realize that it's relatively easy to acquire a bot network of over 100000 clients who can flood a site with packets. And it's not even necessary to use them all at once. Attacks can start with a fraction of the clients, and then escalate as the victim attempts to filter packets or add bandwidth. It's a scary thing. The authors also cover the various issues involved in the defense of these types of attacks. Filtering might work, but it can be difficult to find the correct filtering parameters that don't also drop legitimate traffic. And due to the distributed nature of the attack, it can be nearly impossible to find the culprit, and worse, to prevent it from happening again.
   
   Walking away from this book, you don't get a warm, fuzzy feeling about the current situation. Regardless of what steps you take, there is no current sure-fire method for defending these attacks. But by reading Internet Denial of Service, you'll be far more prepared to understand what's going on and what realistic options do exist. Better yet, it also gives you the steps you need to take to prepare your site for this type of incursion beforehand. If you've mapped out your plan ahead of time, you can definitely minimize (to some extent) the damage that can occur.
   
   This is a good read for any security professional tasked with security and availability of an organizational website. Reading this now could save your job later...



4. 'Internet Denial of Service' (IDOS) is an excellent book by expert authors. IDOS combines sound advice with a fairly complete examination of the denial of service (DoS) problem set. Although the authors write from the DoS point of view, as a network security monitoring advocate I found myself agreeing with many of their insights. Since there are no other books dedicated to DoS, I was very pleased to find this one is a powerful resource for managers and technicians alike.
   
   IDOS features some of the best minds on DoS research available. Everyone has heard of Dave Dittrich, but I found the work of lead author Jelena Mirkovic to be particularly valuable. Peter Reiher and long-time DoS researcher Sven Dietrich also give the project considerable weight. All four authors work for or with universities, and IDOS reflects this academic connection by frequently citing papers and DoS research. For example, chapter 7 describe DoS mitigation approaches and Appendix C examines the best available data on DoS techniques. I would encourage other authors to make similar references to the academic community and not write in a literary vacuum.
   
   By making references to outside works, IDOS successfully avoids repeating material published elsewhere. Chapter 6 was probably my favorite section, including much distilled wisdom and advice on responding to DoS attacks. I welcomed the authors' frequent recommendations to collect session and full content data. It is often impossible to detect and respond to attacks without this sort of network-based evidence. This point is often lost on vendors or consultants who lack experience performing incident response.
   
   I had minor problems with the book. First, I would have liked more technical detail in chapter 6. For example, it would have been nice to see examples of system metrics from nodes or routers under DoS attack. Specific advice on host tuning techniques would also have been useful, e.g., make changes X, Y, or Z on FreeBSD or Cisco IOS to better resist DoS conditions. I was also slightly disappointed the authors did not base their discussions of commercial products in Appendix B on hands-on evaluations. I understand the problem with meeting this objective, however.
   
   I did not have any problems with the legal or concluding chapters (8 & 9). I think the earlier three-star reviewer found himself on the wrong side of the 1999 "RST scan" controversy discussed on p. 52 and may not have been happy by the (correct) stance taken by IDOS.
   
   I highly recommend every security professional read IDOS. It's a convenient and illuminating discussion of a problem that will never disappear. This book will prepare you to do battle with DoS attacks, and for that I am thankful.



5. Nutshell review - If you want to know all about denial of service attacks then this is an excellent book to start with. Well written, easy to understand and excellent coverage of the topic.

5 comments about Introduction to Executive Protection.

1. The content of the book is soundly built up and written. My respect for the author and his job for this book. The price for this is OK.



2. A Must For Executive Protection Specialists. Has information that would be useful even to a veteran of the field! Nicely done!



3. To Those Interested:
   
   Having had the opportunity to read Introduction to Executive Protection by Dale June, I can state the following.
   
   This book is well thought out and well written. The author does an exemplary job of combining the basics of executive protection along with personal insight. And though not technical in nature, which is not its intended purpose according to its title, it provides a clear and uncluttered look at the responsibilities of an executive protection agent.
   
   It's an excellent starting point for anyone interested in exploring a career in executive protection, especially those who do not have any formal government training.
   
   I believe this book accomplishes its intended purpose with distinction.
   
   Curtis Olmos



4. This book is the quintessential guide for the executive and personal protection professional. Newcomers to the field as well as veterans will find the book very readable and thorough in its coverage of all aspects of executive and personal protection. While providing a solid overview of the basics of the profession, the book also covers some advanced topics such as motorcade tactics, advances, and working the principal in different scenarios. The only drawback to this text is that it is over-priced. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it for anyone considering entering the field of personal protection or already working in it.



5. As the leading civilian authority on the U.S. Secret Service, I highly recommend this book from distinguished former agent Dale June. It is well written and very informative. Simply put, you cannot go wrong in purchasing this volume. I was a little disappointed with the 11/22/63 "whitewash", but that was to be expected, quite frankly (what is Mr. June going to say : "My colleagues screwed up in Dallas?"). Get this!

5 comments about Secrets of My Suburban Life.

1. Ren D'Arc suffers an Edward Gorey sort of tragedy when her mother is killed by a stack of Harry Potter books. I'm still cackling over that. Then her grieving father uproots her from NYC, fleeing to the suburbs. Adventures ensue. I love Lauren Baratz-Logsted's writing for the same reason that I love John Hughes' brat pack films: fully-realized, quirky, and intriguing secondary characters. Thankfully, Lauren's suburbs aren't so uniformly bland and white as Hughes', so Ren manages to surround herself with a diverse group of people. How Ren finds her way into a new school, new friends, new challenges, and a new adult support system makes for engaging reading on its own. The fillip of a mystery to solve a la Nancy Drew adds a whiff of danger, and provides momentum to the story. Secrets of my Suburban Life is a delightful read.



2. Ren D'Arc has an unusual name, and an even more unusual story: Her mom was killed when a set of Harry Potter books and her writer dad decides to uproot her from cushy New York City to cushy Danbury, Connecticut. Like any new kid, she struggles to fit in, while also missing her mom, dealing with a distant best friend back home, and befriending her new town's taxi drivers, who she uses exclusively for transportation. She becomes more and more distant from her father, especially when she starts to expect he may be up to no good.
   
   Ren is quirky and witty, sometimes seeming far older than her peers, but when she exults in the friendship that takes her a while to earn, or is forced to join the cheerleading team headed up by popular mean girl Farrin Farraway, it's also clear that she's a normal 16-year-old dealing with all the social problems a 16-year-old regularly deals with. But Ren's spunky and shows herself to excel at problem-solving, and her wry observations of her rich friend's parents, the sex predator she's trying to catch online, and the other adults in her life give her a sense of being wiser than her years.
   
   Lauren Baratz-Logsted has created a highly memorable character in Ren, and not just because of her unique circumstances. One gets the sense that even if Ren lived in a house with a white picket fence and mom and dad at home, she'd still be more than a little offbeat. She wants to fit in, but thankfully she doesn't go to outrageous lengths to do so, and instead finds herself and eccentric group of new friends who help her when she truly needs it. This humorous YA novel also has a message - well, actually more than one, and Ren had me rooting for her even as she walked right into situations that were clearly not going to go her way. She learns that being smart will get you lots of places, but having people you can rely on will get you even further.



3. A lot has happened to Ren in the past few months...her mother has died (in the most unconventional way: crushed under a load of Harry Potter books), her father has moved them from their duplex in New York City to a regular house in the dreadfully boring suburb of Danbury, Connecticut, her best friend is barely returning her emails, and she is being ostracized by everyone at Waylord Academy. Everything in Danbury is the exact opposite of NYC. She is the only one who doesn't drive which causes her to resort to taking a cab everywhere via the small and often times unreliable Wheels Instead of Heels, and Waylord Academy requires every one of its students to participate in a sport. It is by default that she is thrown on to the cheerleading team, and into Farrin Farraway's evil clutches. Then Ren learns Farrin has a secret: she's been communicating with a mysterious older man online, and is planning to meet him. As much as she may despise Farrin, Ren can't bring herself to allow her to do this...especially when she thinks she might know who the man is.
   
   Secrets of My Suburban Life is a page-turner that will suck the reader in. Baratz-Logsted's style is unique, and stashed with subtle humor. Ren's reaction to her mother's death is wholly believable and raw, from her emotional state to her frequent letters addressed to her mother that give the story life, and her expressiveness and loyalty are to be admired, and make her character real. There is a pleasant balance between Ren's grief and friend problems, and the disaster that she is desperate to save Farrin from, which makes this story relatable and plausible. Every word will count in this heartrending, witty, and suspenseful novel.
   
   For more book reviews, author interviews, and contests, visit: [...]



4. I just finished reading this book and, personally, I did not like it all that much. It started out promising with all the aspects of a good book-some good characters, an interesting conflict and an author with a sense of humor. Unfortunately, as I read on I discovered that the cool main character wasn't so cool. She turned out to be totally into herself, even when she was trying to help others. Not only that, but the entire story consisted of her being put in totally malfunctioning situations. I was amazed that, by the end of the book, this character wasn't chronically depressed. As for the main love interest, he got a few pages in but they weren't much to go off of-I mean how in-depth can you be about a character you barely know? Besides that, the plot went from endurable to over-the-top creepy and ended abruptly with some drunk landlady calling the cops on the bad guy and everything going back to normal. All conflict (along with my interest) was gone within seconds. Call me cynical but I'm a teenager, the age directed for reading this book. For others this book may have been a good read, but for both myself and my peers, this book was neither here nor there.



5. SECRETS OF MY SUBURBAN LIFE by Lauren Baratz-Logsted
   Rating **** (4 Stars)
   
   February 23, 2008
   
   This reviewer rarely ventures into the world of YA books and Teen Fiction, and was not aware that SECRETS OF MY SUBURBAN LIFE was just that - teen fiction. But there was no doubt about it, that this book was very funny and enjoyable and regardless of being Teen Fiction or not, it was very good.
   
   The story is narrated by Ren (Lauren), who is learning to deal with life with a single (widowed) Dad, moving to a new city, going to a new school, and trying to fit in with new friends. Ren's mother was a writer who happened to be killed by Harry Potter - a stack of Harry Potter books fell on top of Ren's mother and killed her. So, instead of continuing life in New York, Ren and her father, who also happened to be a writer, are now in the suburbs of Connecticut, which is very boring in comparison to New York.
   
   Farrin is the most popular girl in school. Ren and Farrin "connect" when Ren is forced to join the cheerleading squad (since Ren was a failure at all other sports, and every student was expected to participate on at least one sports team). They are also in some of the same classes, and it's during one of these classes that Ren learns an awful secret that Farrin has been keeping. It's so bad that Ren's life will change because of it. Farrin has been secretly communicating with an older man via the Internet, and Ren is afraid that Farrin is about to make a big mistake. Ren figures out a way to impersonate Farrin online to intercept the pervert, but the "joke" is on Ren when she finds out who this pervert is that Farrin is about to meet!
   
   The book is told from Ren's point of view, along with email communications between a girl (Sexgurl) and an older man (FDA), and Ren's letters to her mother, who she confides with and misses terribly. At times Ren appeared to be a lot older than her teen years, possibly because she's had to grow up that much faster after her mother died.
   
   SECRETS OF MY SUBURBAN LIFE is populated by all sorts of characters typical to the average teenager's life. Ren's got a best friend, Shannon, who she left behind in New York and misses a lot. Shannon, however, has moved on with her life, and has some secrets of her own. Ren's got a crush on Jack, the most popular guy in school, who unfortunately is dating Farrin. Jack and Ren do strike up a friendship, to the astonishment of Ren, and she is secretly hoping Jack may start to have feelings for her. But the competition is pretty fierce. What guy wouldn't want Farrin for a girlfriend? Luckily for Ren, she manages to get involved with Jack's family by mentoring his little sister Amanda, a girl who is as obnoxious as they can get. Ren can't believe that the two are even related. Through Amanda, Ren is able to hang out with Jack's family, and comes closer to him than she ever imagined.
   
   Ren is also making new friends at school, in particular T'Keyah who's related to a famous basketball player, but the two don't hit it off right away. It's a lot of work being the new girl in school, and Ren wishes that her mother never died.
   
   While a good part of the story is funny and light, there are moments that are much more serious, as Ren deals with the death of her mother, being at a stage in her life when having her mother there was most important. Young readers will connect with Ren, who is the best part of the story and the reason to read it. A very likeable character, Ren is definitely the perfect protagonist.
   
   This reviewer is recommending SECRETS OF MY SUBURBAN LIFE because it was such a delightful surprise. Filled with teens that many young readers will relate to, this book is fun to read. It was a very refreshing change for this reviewer, mainly because of the main character, Ren, and for the first time, this reviewer actually enjoyed a book that was aimed at a younger audience. - courtesy of Love Romances and More - M. Lofton

2 comments about Ethical and Social Issues in the Information Age (Texts in Computer Science).

1. Excellent chapters covering morality, law, ethics, professional codes, and intellectual property rights. Provides a basic introduction to many topics that stimulate further study, research, and discussion. Discussion of social issues is limited. The weaker chapters are the modern areas of the information age such as cyberspace, the internet, email, privacy, security, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality.



2. Many chapters ramble on with insignificant facts making it difficult to see what point the author is trying to make. Typographical errors are abundant due to insufficient editing and proofreading. I recommend schools find a different text to ethics in technology courses.

5 comments about Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers, and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online.

1. Net Crimes is an outstanding source of information to learn how to protect yourself while online. It thoroughly covers many topics and addresses several issues that you may not realize put you at risk. After reading it, I am "kicking myself" for things I have inadvertently done online that could have caused some potential problems. I will now be much more cautious about websites I visit and personal information that I provide to them.



2. Ms. Hitchcock outlines the major threats to Internet privacy and safety we face in a clear, easy-to-read, and very comprehensive manner. Although the book caters more to the novice Web surfer than it does the technologically adept, even hardcore geeks will be impressed at how she takes stories of cyberstalking, spoofing, auction fraud, and flame wars and puts human faces on all of them.
   
   Though message boards and newsgroups have been replaced with blogs and MySpace, the basic principles of being smart and protecting yourself when you go online are even more important, and Hitchcock reminds us that no matter how smart or savvy you think you are, you can end up a victim of "Net Crimes", unless you pay attention.
   
   Definitely recommended.



3. This book is jam packed with good information about online stalking, online shopping, protecting your identity, etc. As technology becomes more advanced, there are more and more ways for people to become victims of Internet crime. Jayne Hitchcock explains the steps to take if this ever happens to you and ways to prevent it so it never does!
   
   An excellent read - AND you don't have to be a computer genius to understand all of her technical information!



4. One of the hook lines for this book states, "..an insightful book that is a must read for everyone who owns a computer". No it isn't! The number of people who have not heard anything about computer viruses, identity theft, hackers or at least some form of computer attack must surely be a small minority by now. Even the most non-mechanical of drivers know something about oil, where the gas goes, tire pressures, etc. even if they only ever turn the ignition key and point their vehicle in the direction they want to go. Why then, would someone who owns a computer and surfs the internet assume all it involves is turning on their computer, getting an internet connection and pointing and clicking? This book is for those people.
   
   It does a good job at highlighting the pit falls, traps and virtual land mines waiting for the unprotected, ignorant or just plain stupid. The book also gives good advice on what to do if harassment gets out of hand. However, the sub-title of "Outmaneuvering the spammers, swindlers and stalkers" is somewhat misleading. The outmaneuvering techniques described are basically don't go to chat rooms, news groups or message forums where people take a virtual swipe at you. The passages about outmaneuvering the spammers also seems incredibly naive and is centered around displaying the full header of an email so you'll know who sent it. Wrong! Some mention is made of how return email addresses can be faked, but so too can IP addresses. Complaining to an ISP about spam, especially one which knowingly hosts spamming operations, is a waste of time. Even more so if they originate somewhere in Asia like a lot of them do. Then we have the anonymous emailing web sites and of course the spammers favorite, the zombie computer which they use to re-direct their emails without the computer owner's knowledge.
   
   If you're looking for a technical reference which tells you how to protect yourself online, what tools to use, what they do and why you need them, this book isn't for you. However, if you're concerned about internet horror stories, online safely and are not particularly computer or internet savvy, this book will be useful to you and you'll learn much about the dos and don'ts of life online.



5. I just received the 2nd edition, and Hitchcock has again put the fear of the virtual world in me. Her examples and discussion is certainly eye-opening as to what or who is lurking out there.
   
   Not only is this a good read, but it is also a great reference for high school and undergraduate college. The examples and resources made it a valued purchase for me.

1 comments about Information Insecurity: A Survival Guide to the Uncharted Territories of Cyber-threats And Cyber-security (Ict Task Force Series) (Ict Task Force Series).

1. This guide is written for a general, non-technical audience. It attempts to educate the reader in the common types of malware and cyber attacks that are now seen globally. The scope of the threats vary. Some are the equivalent of graffiti on billboards. Breakins to computers just for the heck of it. Hooliganism, as the book calls it.
   
   But there are more serious attacks. Phishing-style, for example. Where financial fraud is being tried on an unwary user. No adequate technical answer is given to this by the book.
   
   Further along the scale of severity is cyber terrorism, or even cyber war. These are disguished by the former being done by groups unaffiliated with any government. While the latter is, or might be, performed by one government on another. Thus far, few real and damaging examples of cyber terrorism have surfaced. Nuisance value events that might be construed as cyber terrorism have occasionally surfaced in recent years. But nothing more dire.

5 comments about Identity Theft.

1. How many times have you disposed of items containing personal information (e.g., credit card statements, Electric Bills, etc.) without destroying them first or utilized a personal computer in a public place (e.g., Airport, Train Station, etc.)? After reading Identity Theft you may think twice. John Vacca presents an informative text that enlightens the reader on current methods employed by identity predators and how to protect yourself and your business. Mr. Vacca also addresses the Internet environment and the increasing use of E-Commerce, and exposes the dangers that exist both from the user and developer perspectives. For the IT professional, Identity Theft offers many informative essays on the use of digital signatures, Smart Cards, Optical Cards and Encryption as protection methods. I highly recommend this book to anyone!



2. With current advanced technology across the world, crime is also changing in most countries and more sophisticated counter measures are required. John explores the main victim of crime, which is our own identities and it's vulnerability to theft. He gives a full account of how it is done and how to avoid it. Another great book by John.



3. This book is right on the money. I personally experienced an identity theft to the tune of [$$$] on my credit card. Everything described in this book is consistent with my experience and information shared to me by the bank representative and the detective assigned to my case. I strongly recommend that anyone who conducts electronic commerce (who doesn't!)to read this book. This book clearly describes the many elements of personal risk and the controls one can demand and implement for security and peace of mind. Highly recommended.



4. This book is quite timely and very thorough, going from defining the problem to providing solutions. Everyone should take note of the valuable information provided to avoid this growing problem. From a professional standpoint, I was particularly impressed with some of the technical solutions Mr. Vacca provided.



5. This book provides invaluable info for individuals, business and organizations who want to protect themselves from identity theft. And if you happen to bu among those unlucky people whose identity has already been stolen, this book will help you recover (and quickly) from the damage. Easy to understand and yet detailed enough to cover all the bases - from emerging threats to ongoing scames. Also tells readers how to plan effective anti-theft policies and systems. Well worth your time!

5 comments about High Technology Crime Investigator's Handbook.

1. What a practical and informative book. It's about time a book has been written that is not interwoven with conjecture and idealistic gibberish. This book has substance and is very relevant to the real world of crime in the technological environment. The authors' ability to provide such a broad perspective about the subject in such an understandable fashion is appreciated and refreshing. The authors provide a precise overview of the entire high-technology crime investigatory process. This book not only deals with a myriad of important issues but also offers viable solutions and prevention programs which have already been tested. It contains information that is applicable, not only to security professionals, but to law enforcement as well. Let's face it, "high-tech" crime will undoubtedly flourish in the next century. Managers and investigators from law enforcement and industry must have - at least - a basic understanding of the implications of this type of crime and the global information environment before they can effectively react to it. Protecting the assets of the public and private sectors will become higher priorities because the stakes are becoming higher and thieves will continually attempt to take advantage of new and existing technology to commit their crimes. As we move into the next century, the challenge will be to understand and aggressively respond to high-technology crime.



2. If you are wanting to learning the principles of investing computer crime then this book is a must.



3. After reading the reviews of the book, I was really looking forward for receiving it. However, it turned out to be a big disappointment. It may improve towards the end, but the first chapters were of so bad standard I gave up reading it.

   Don't have the book here right now so I can't tell the pages, but in the first few chapters I was told that acceptable use of fire arms (authors claim IT is just like fire arms as it can be used for good and bad) is a police killing an offender that might kill someone else (ever heard of the theory of deterrence?), that phreakers (i.e. those hacking telephone systems for free calls) are the major threat for global information infrastructure security, CERT archives are the major source of information for hackers, SATAN etc. (including outdated Crack) are significant hacker tools, WWW is just a number of screens connected to each other, being given only ping attack as an example of denial of service, spent pages on calculating how many books fit into hard drives of different sizes (Assumption was that a book contains almost 1000 pages, then it was reduced 500 pages, this book is around 300 pages), and was generally being subjected to a number of unjustified claims about computer crime and computer criminals that seem to be if not all wrong, at least so simple unlikely to educate anyone to understand crime in GII.

   As I said, the book may improve but I am not intending on finding out. The US centricity doesn't help, either. I'd rather get back to other sources of computer crime information that are more accurate and comprehensive.

   Luckily, there are a number of good books around. For an introduction to computer crime, I recommend Icove, Seger and VonStorch: Computer Crime, A Crime Fighter's handbook (O'Reilly and Associates 1995). For a number of case studies and examples of computer crime, get Denning's Information Warfare and Security (Addison-Wesley 1999). For the scope of economical espionage and information warfare capacities of countries other than US Check Adams's The Next World War (Arrow Books Limited, 1998). To properly understand that national information infrastructure, nations' dependence on it and inherent vulnerabilities, get your hands on to Schneider's (ed.) Trust in Cyberspace (National Academy Press, 1999). If you want to know the extent of computer crime, go to CSI/FBI computer crime survey online.

   It is widely assumed that law enforcement personnel is not properly educated to handling computer crime. If this is the case, authors should be especially carefull to treat security technology and vulnerabilities appropriately. Simplifications and unjustified assumptions don't help much. Therefore, it's better spend time on the above books and WWW site and get a more comprehensive picture of computer crime.




4. Whether you're a law enforcement or corporate security professional, this book is one you should not just read but thoroughly digest before stepping off the ledge into high tech crime investigation. I've had both the satisfaction and frustration of managing investigations in both worlds over the last 16 years and have experienced, first hand, the hazards and consequences that await the uninformed. If resources such as the High Technology Crime Investigators Handbook had been available when I first began working high tech crimes in 1981, I would have gratefully traded the experience for the knowledge. The book is invaluable in educating law enforcement in the interests and philosophy of private industry as well as educating corporate security professionals in meeting the litmus tests for law enforcement involvement and successful prosecution. If you could only choose one book on high-tech crime investigations, this is it. Whether you are a private investigator, in law enforcement, corporate security, criminal justice student or just interested in the topic, this book is the book to read first, a must read.



5. High-tech crime remains a rapidly growing global menace. Read this book if you are interested in learning the basics of this type of crime and the professional tools and techniques used against it. Written by security professionals, federal/local government and corporate managers should read this book to understand strategies and methods needed to protect public and private resources from high-tech attacks. I especially would expect federal and local managers to be familiar with and following the principles described in this book to protect taxpayer resources - and be aware of deficiencies and taking corrective action. Other readers will gain better security awareness and the steps businesses are taking (or should be taking!) to protect user/customer resources. After reading this book, I certainly have a better understanding of the difficulties my bank and credit union, for example, are facing to protect my money.

2 comments about Secret Software: Making The Most Of Computer Resources For Data Protection, Information Recovery, Forensic Examination, Crime Investgation And More.

1. This book is basically an advertisement for software. The book may be helpful to someone who has limited or no experience with computers and the internet. To the investigator, your money would be better spent elsewhere. I found a couple of things useful but overall it was not much use for the ... I spent to purchase it.



2. While the title may peak your interest, don't sit by your mailbox waiting for enlightenment. This book offers little of value to anyone involved in the computer security field. Frankly it offers little that couldn't be learned from reading the backs of software boxes at your local Fry's or Comp USA. Given the depth of quality recent releases in the field of computer security and high tech investigation and more promising publications on the horizon, it's hard to justify spending the money on this book. Unless you just think the title will look cool on your bookshelf. You'd be better off with any of the recent releases by Eoghan Casey, or Kruse and Heisner. Or you could wait for the upcoming publications by Vacca, and Marcella and Greenfield.