4 comments about Cyber Crime Investigator's Field Guide.

1. I was disappointed with the Cyber Crime Investigator's Field Guide. Half of the book (Appendix G) is simply a printout of the US Department of Justice Search and Seizure Guidelines. Although the guidelines are required reading, one should not have to pay for information that is available for free on the Department of Justice Web site. Chapter 6 of the book is a series of questions and answers on various subjects. The questions and answers are valuable, but the overly brief answers do not provide readers with the rationale behind the answers.

   The book is not without merit, though; Chapter 9, "Case Study," describes the general course of action a forensic examiner should take when involved in a computer investigation. The author details what he does in the course of a general forensic investigation -- from the time he gets the call, to his ride from the airport to the client site, to the on-site pre-briefing, and beyond.




2. I found this book to be fantastic. Whether you are an experienced investigator of computer network security incidents (as I am for government/military/commercial organizations) or a neophyte just getting into the field of computer forensics, this book takes you through everything you need to know. The chapter on how the author handles an investigation in detail from start to finish is great. I'm applying what I learned there already. The coverage of forensic tools such as EnCase and tools from NTI is great. He gives me step by step information on how to use these tools, which I really need because you can't remember everything to do with all the tools I am involved with. The various reference sections on web sites, tool sites, attack signatures, etc. has been extremly useful for me and various organizations I work with. It's great to have the DOJ Search & Seizure Guidelines in the book. Sure, I can go out to the DOJ website and after some searching find them, but it is difficult to work through all the various links, I can't take notes there, make underlines, etc. It's really nice to have these and other guidelines in a handy written reference. This is one book that goes with me and my team members whenever we leave for a client site. It has just about everything we need for reference purposes. The author calls it a field guide and that is just what it is. I highly recommend this book. Very practical. I just hope the author is going to write another book...no doubt we will pick it up.



3. I've definately read better computer forensics books. 90% of the applications that the author recommends and describes how to use are not downloadable and cannot be purchased in a software store! All the links point to a 'contact a sales agent today!' This makes me ask, "Is Bruce a paid spokesperson for Forensics-Intl.com"
   Additionally the author goes from very basic information to very complex information, leaving out very important middle information. I've been working with computers for more than 17 years and if I found this book to be somewhat cryptic, a newbie isn't going to understand any of the critical information that he/she should know before attempting to perform any kind of computer forensics.



4. I've heard Bruce Middleton speak at international security conferences before and followed some of the articles he has written in the past on information security so when I noticed that he had written a book on investigating computer security incidents (CyberForensics), I knew it would be a great book to have. I was not disappointed. This is definitely a book for professionals in this field (like he says...it's a field book...something you take to the field with you for reference). Someone new to the field would also get alot out of the book if they have access to the professional level software he uses throughout the book (outstanding software from Guidance Software [EnCase], NTI [their computer forensics tool suite] and AccessData [their FTK = Forensics ToolKit] ). Even if you don't have the software currently and you want to break into this field, it's a great book to buy due to the fact that he goes into detail explaing various process, procedures, methodologies, etc that firmly relate to solving computer related crimes. I also understand that he is holding hands-on training classes with this software and using this book as the foundation. Bottom line...this book is an excellent "must have" for a CyberForensics professional working in the field and a great read for those wishing to break into this field.

No comments about International Guide to Cyber Security.

No comments about Rubber Woman (Quick Reads).

1 comments about Cybercrime: Security and Surveillance in the Information Age.

1. This book is a great reminder of how the internet world can be today. Thomas did a wonderful job of collecting facts, ideas, and views of all the danger that the public is facing today. I recently spoke with a member of a group mentioned in the book that I happen to know, and he referred it to me. It was a great way to pass the time and help learn about mistakes that you could make.

No comments about Information Assurance: Surviving the Information Environment.

5 comments about Night Of The Black Bird.

1. Although the introduction was quite promising, the rest of the book left much to be desired, like an interesting plot, developed characters, and other trivial matters.

   This book reads like a dumbed-down mystery (think "Mystery for Romance Fans 101"), and the plot crawls along oh-so-painfully. The first half is spent detailing just HOW Irish the Kelly family is: multiple renditions of the song "Danny Boy," the truth and the fairy tale of St. Patrick, Irish politics, leprechauns, banshees, fairies, etc. In fact, everyone would be content to be coated in green paint, except for the heroine, who cannot let a day go by, without insisting that she's American and not Irish. No insight is given as to WHY she feels the need to make such a distinction, although an embarrassing childhood episode might have helped to give the character SOME dimension.

   Save yourself the trouble and pick up one of her historical romances. Mystery is NOT where this author's talents lie.




2. This was a great book. I have never heard of this author, but she really came through. I would have never picked up this book because of the political nature of it, but it doesn't overwhelm the book too much. A great love story and shocker at the end!



3. Ms. Graham writes very engrossing suspense novels and this one is no exception. The characters are well developed and the story line full of twists and turns. She just doesn't have a real feel for the ethnicity of the characters, or so I feel. In spite of claims by some of the characters that they are not, she paints the Irish as revolutionaries to a man, most of them violent. Other than that, I recommend the book.



4. Moira Kelly gets a guilt ridden phone call from her mother begging her to come back to Boston for St. Patrick's Day. For the very Irish Kelly family, this holiday is even more important than Christmas. Knowing that her father's health is failing and wanting to please her mother, Moira decides to change her plans to film her travel show in Florida, to a full look at St. Patrick's day celebrations in Boston.
   Unfortunately, her visit is not a pleasant event. Dan O'Hara broke her heart some years ago, but he is back and ready to make a change. Moira has already moved on with the gorgeous Michael, whom she works with and who dotes on her lovingly.
   Something is going on in her family's pub. The politics of Ireland are now in full force and someone among her is planning an assasination. The one person who knows anything mysteriously dies and Moira is left to suspect the one man she has loved nearly her whole life. Not knowing who to trust, Moira does some investigating of her own to find the killer, but what will it cost her?
   
   This romantic suspense/mystery was a little more political than I enjoyed. The issues seemed to drone on about the Irish issues as if reading a text book concerning the continuing conflicts surrounding the dividing of Ireland.
   Even with a number of red herrings, the plot was fairly predictable. Even the romance was not up to other Heather Graham novels.
   
   Is it worth buying?
   Unless you are very interested in Irish politics, the average reader may find this novel to be more wordy than it is suspenseful. Therefore, I do not recommend paying full price for Night of the Blackbird.



5. I finished reading the book, but I was not that impressed with this one. The plot and the characters were not that interesting. I have read 5 of her books so far, and I loved the other 4.

No comments about The Doomsday Virus (Pathway Books).

3 comments about Who Else Knows You Best.

1. Great information that really will open your eyes to identity theft. Easy to read. Wonderful testimonials from actual identity theifs. A book that nobody should go without reading.



2. I have to change my opinion after what this group has done to me!
   Keep reading:
   In early 2006, I was asked to join the Ifida Known team and proofread the
   initial book of Who Else Knows You Best? for an agreed upon price. As of
   October, 2006, I was only paid a fraction of what was owed to me. After
   numerous phone calls and emails, I have yet to receive the balance of $2,000 owed to me OR have them ("Ifida Known") acknowledge my inquiries. Now, more products have been produced, and yet the authors cannot honor their past obligations by paying for work completed. I find it to be an interesting concept that they have a class topic of how to elevate your personal income. I guess this is their idea on how to increase personal wealth, don't pay your bills! AND to add insult to injury, they actually used my review on their website....!
   
   Maybe the next book will be about team building!



3. There are few things more terrifying than having your identity stolen. This book takes the mystery of protection and restoration of one's personal identity out of darkness into the noon-day sun. I am impressed with the comprehensiveness of the content, even as to financial organization and providential living. This is the only book I'll need to protect my identity and my family's.

No comments about Investigating Computer Crime In The 21st Century: Investigating Computer Crime In The Twenty-first Century.

3 comments about High-Technology Crime: Investigating Cases Involving Computers (with 3.5 diskette).

1. Rosenblatt has put together a great source of information along with plenty of practical tips and techniques for both investigators and prosecutors. I found the sections on legal technicalities and practices especially good. I've recommended the book to everyone I know who remotely has anything to do with computer or high technology crime. A must read for the cop of the 21st century!



2. Rosenblatt has an unusually good understanding of the problems faced by law enforcement when dealing with companies who want the crook jailed but don't have time for support work on the case. He also understands corporate perspectives when the case makes the headlines and really becomes a mess for PR.

   This book clearly outlines the many issues related to getting computer-based evidence and making sure that search warrants are well written. It is a bit dated but very useful.




3. This book is a must read for the high-technology security professional. The author's insights and practice tips alone are worth the price of the book.