3 comments about Cyber Bullying: Bullying in the Digital Age.

1. If you are a parent of an adolescent or an educator, this book is a must read. As the authors have stated, the impact of students using computers, etc. has had not only a positive but also a negative impact on the learning environment and safety issues within our schools. Cyberbullying in its infancy is creating an epidemic of problems. Awareness of the problem, what schools and parents should do to address cyberbullying, how the different states and schools systems view cyberbullying, and current resources are discussed by the authors. It is a compilation of the most current research.



2. I spent a lot of time researching a good book on the subject of cyberbullying. I found this book to be the most informative, well written, and illuminating. The authors are obviously experts in the field and document their statements with research. They give a broad overview of the subject and then offer concrete suggestions to parents and teachers for combatting the problem. I appreciated their Intervention Tips and I found suggestions there for new ways of monitoring children's use of the computer. This is a must read for any parent -- and educator -- as the authors also include a separate chapter on What Educators Can Do. As a parent, I also found that chapter helped me see how I might work with my child's school to control bullying and cyberbullying.



3. This book is an excellent resource for educators and parents because the authors have significant expertise in both traditional bullying and cyber bullying. They have conducted extensive research on cyber bullying, and are able to provide insignt into and context for this emerging youth health risk as a result of their backgrounds. Thus this book allows the reader to understand cyber bullying not just as a "technology problem" but under the broader topic of bullying and relational aggression.
   
   My insight from this book is that prevention of cyber bullying among youth needs to be addressed as part of a comprehensive bullying prevention effort in our schools and communities, not as a mere cyber safety lesson.

5 comments about Information Warfare and Security.

1. Gulf war, fraud, national security, Spam, traitors, and computer viruses. These are just a few of the topics covered by Dorothy Denning's book Information_Warfare_and_Security. This book gives a broad and informative view of information security, however it lacks specifics to make it more than an introductory work to this field.

   The book has a broad overview of subjects. The Introduction section encompasses around 75 pages and gives substantial theory to the how and why of information security. Part II discusses "Offensive Information Warfare" which brings the reader through techniques on obtaining information. "Defensive Information Warfare" in Part III naturally discusses how to repel the offenses discussed in Part II.

   Information_Warfare_and_Security is very informative on the problem areas which it discusses. Computers and phones are obvious places for intrusion and the book covers the facets of these areas in depth. The less obvious methodologies are also mentioned such as eavesdropping, traffic analysis, and sabotage. Denning does not leave out the human factor in her sections on social engineering, traitors, and even dumpster diving.

   Denning's book, however, lacks specific in-depth information. Any chapter subject could have a large book written on it. The book does not give the "how-to's" to create or block an attack; rather it merely discusses the possibilities. To Denning's credit, however, she does include a substantial bibliography and endnotes so the reader can find further information in the source material.

   Information_Warfare_and_Security would serve the purpose of an excellent introductory overview to the information security field. It is broad and informative, but lacks the specific information to execute any of the offenses or defenses. Denning's book is useful to heighten awareness of information security issues, but it is not sufficient to provide an education in this field.




2. Dorothy Denning has produced one of the best 'easy read' reference books I have seen in years. The writing is one of the most striking aspects of this book; right from the introduction the reader is taken on a logical and structured route through the key aspects of Information Security, with numerous references to real life cases. You don't need a note pad, as the language is clear and concepts explained in simple English. This a excellent book to read on the train/plane: it is interesting, job related, informative but not dull or too intellectually challenging.

   That said the strength of argument and excellent references are worth the cost of the book alone! I have personally used excerpts form this book to very good effect when making a point to higher management. Of the 50+ IT, Security and InfoSec books have in my collection this is the one I never, lend out.




3. The book provides a good overview of information warfare. It is divided into three sections, the introduction, offensive information warfare and finally defensive information warfare. Numerous topics are covered. The author is clearly an expert in security and manages to touch upon all the major information security topics.

   The main strength of the book is the breadth of topic selection. By the time you have reached the end of the book, you will have at least a passing acquaintance with all important information security topics. The book is very well referenced and is written in an easy to read style.

   The enormous topic selection means that no topic is treated in any particular depth. This means that you'll get to know something about everything, but unfortunately you won't develop an intimate understanding of any of the topics covered.

   At times I received the impression that the book was simply a collection of anecdotes. Some parts of the book resembled sensationalistic journalism and, four years after it was written, many parts of the book are out of date. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a broad overview of information security. Its scatter gun approach means that you'll hit all of the topics but won't develop a true understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved.




4. Dr. Dorothy Denning is both a genius and a pragmatist.

   She knows what the real risks are and writes about them.

   This book is 100% fact and 0% hype.

   Read it!




5. Dennings Work in this book is great!

5 comments about Net Force.

1. Parts of this book are good. Other parts, not so much. The VR stuff that is interspersed throughout as the way folks surf the net in this somewhere down the line time horizon isn't a strong point of the story at all, and neither is all the net slang used in the dialog. Actually, it's kind of a strange situation where the action part of this action book is actually somewhat weaker than the chartacter development.
   
   I don't know if that means I'll read another Net Force book, though.



2. Don't buy this book unless you want to fall asleep, the books beginning is ridiculous, I shut it after 10 pages of going nowhere. Returned the thing to the book store, waste of $7. Tom Clancy has degraded from an amazing author to a dime writer, after Patriot Games series he completely fell apart.



3. Must read to put context of the 10 books of the series. I loved the series and thankful the first eight of ther series is on audio tape. The audio book is very entertaining.



4. I didnt realise when I borrowed this book that it was a young reader's novel.
   
   Bearing that in mind, its unfair to judge it by the same criteria that I'd apply to a fully fledged novel.
   
   So putting myself into a 12-14 year old's shoes, I thought that it was ok for the intended audience.
   
   The language and words used are simple to understand. There is no swearing at all. Scenes of any violence are very sanitised. There is barely a hint of any physical attraction going on between the teenaged stars.
   
   The plot is the weakest part of the book, it draws heavily on the classic William Gibson's Neuromancer in its setting, and I felt a little more imagination could have been used. There is not all that much suspense in the writing, with most of the problems identified and then solved shortly after. Characterisation is also very shallow, with none of the main characters having any depth whatsoever.
   
   But as I said earlier... maybe thats because young teen or earlier readers don't care about these things.
   
   I'd be happy for my kids to read it and make up their own minds.



5. There are books that you know going in to it not to expect too much. Net Force is one of those because anytime you see an author piggybacking off of a much more well known author you can't expect anything substantial. This is certainly the case with Net Force.
   
   The main plus to the book is that Pieczenik writes well enough that the story never really drags on. His writing is fluid and crisp so that you can read through the book quite quickly. He connects his plot well enough that you understand what is happening.
   
   This is where the positives end, though, as the story doesn't really seem to have a plot. For the better part of the book you follow Net Force as they search for the culprit to many terrorist acts that completely disrupted everyday life, as well as the main plot line of who murdered the Net Force head man (no spoiler here as this happens in the first couple of pages). Then you also follow said evil man and his exploits, yet you never really get a feel for what he is trying to accomplish, what his endgame is. We read he wants power, that he will be the "most powerful man in the world" and yet this is never illustrated. I mean how can a man from Chechnya become the most powerful man in the world? Never really explained, nor, when the explanation begins to come out in the latter pages of the book, is the explanation satisfactory.
   
   Ultimately the book comes down to a fast paced final forty pages with the preceding pages a rather boring and slow lead up to it. I wouldn't recommend this book. Pieczenik writes well enough that if he can come up with a good plot with the proper hooks than he could write a very good book.
   
   2.5 stars.

No comments about Cisco Router and Switch Forensics: Investigating and Analyzing Malicious Network Activity.

1 comments about Cybercrime: The Transformation of Crime in the Information Age (Crime and Society).

1. Nutshell review - This is an excellent book covering all aspects of the cybercrime field from the definitions of cybercrime, the transformation of crime in the information age, how computer technology assists in the execution of crimes and how computer technology, and the Internet specifically, has invented entirely new crimes that did not exist before the advent of the Internet.
   
   The author clearly describes the major avenues through which cybercrime is committed, the major threats we are exposed to, the various attempts to prevent and police cybercrime and how the cybercrime-landscape is evolving in the information age. It is excellently written, well structured and referenced and will be an asset to anyone interested in this field of study. The book contains an extensive reference section providing plenty of additional material for further study into the various aspects of cybercrime.
   
   Another excellent book in this genre is The dotCrime Manifesto: How to Stop Internet Crime by Phillip Hallam-Baker.

1 comments about Complete Guide to Security and Privacy Metrics: Measuring Regulatory Compliance, Operational Resilience, and ROI.

1. ***This is a big book full of a lot of facts and figures.*** (Yes a very big book, not a cover to cover book.) 824 pages, 5 chapters and by no means a read it from cover to cover book. The first two chapters, the "Introduction" and "the What's and Whys of Metrics" are the authors interesting and quite knowledgeable overview of the world of operational, personal, physical and IT security metrics. After, the remaining chapters get in-depth. Chapter 3 "Measuring Compliance" goes into great detail about relating the different acts, bills, regulations and directives with various Metrics. Chapter 4 "Measuring Resilience" provides numerous worksheets and questionnaires as well as an abundance of information regarding threats, asset protection, mission protection, audit trails and others. Finally Chapter 5 "Measuring ROI" covers cost, benefits, some case studies and comparative analysis as well again some great worksheets.
   A very useful and well organized guide. (Although a bit on the expensive side)

5 comments about Bets, Drugs, and Rock & Roll: The Rise and Fall of the World's First Offshore Sports Gambling Empire.

1. Fast shipping, great product, got exactly as described. I would do buisness with this seller again! :) Thank you!



2. all he talks about is how great is father is (the guy seems to be in line for the nobel peace prize) and how smart he is when all he really is is a tool for the New York mob, which called all the shots. The guy is a shameless self promoter. I am ashamed I spend money on this book and immediately tossed it in the garbage.



3. "Bets, Drugs and Rock & Roll" by Steve Budin. This book was written by the father of off shore sports book gambling and is a truly fascinating read. Having learned the basics of bookmaking from his father, who was one of the top bookies in New York City, Steve Budin demonstrated a remarkable talent for his chosen field. The book charts his rise from his early days as a high school bookmaker in Florida, who took bets from his classmates as well as their parents and his teachers, through his time as a casino host to his setting up of the first real offshore sports book in Panama and later in Costa Rica. He describes the difficulties this posed as well as his success in overcoming the many obstacles placed in his path. Steve Budin also discusses his battles with the US government, which ultimately lead to his downfall, notwithstanding that he was meticulous about paying taxes on his earnings. The book is filled with interesting tidbits about some of his celebrity clients, which included actors and professional athletes to his own philosophy about the proper conduct of a bookie. The book also provides an excellent introduction to the basics of sports betting which I found especially enlightening. I will note that Mr. Budin frequently pats himself on the back in his book and brags about his accomplishments but I think he is entitled to his pride when you realize he helped create what is now a multi-billion dollar industry. The book is a fast paced read which I finished in one sitting.



4. Received in time as a special gift for a friend who absolutely loved it. Great book for horse racing fans.



5. Great book. For all Offshore betters it is a must read just to see what this industry has come from, and what Great strides that Steve Budin paved the way for.
   
   I am a Football handicapper myself and am entangled in this business on a full time basis, just glad to see that some people are getting recognition in this business.
   
   2 Thumbs Up Budin.
   
   P.S Steve, let's talk business.

No comments about Cyber Bullying: Protecting Kids and Adults from Online Bullies.

3 comments about The dotCrime Manifesto: How to Stop Internet Crime.

1. This comprehensive book describes in great detail the state of internet crime today and what can be done about it. It gives a complete history that covers hacking and associated crimes beginning with the birth of the internet. In the dot Crime Manifesto, Dr. Hallam-Baker describes the advent and growth of crime on the internet in a way that only someone who has been there and observed it first hand is able to do.
   
   It is well written with many illustrations that make it simpler to understand the difficult and often mind numbing tasks that are a part of the day to day combat known as internet security. One example of how the author gives scope to this complexity is found beginning on page 191. Here, Dr. Hallam-Baker gives an example of what type of man power would have been required to defend similar formations in the past. He starts by describing how the Great Wall of China was originally constructed and how it grew in size over a period of time as more and more invaders circumvented it. He also describes how difficult it was to defend. To quote him, "The wall could not prevent the raiding parties from entering China, but could stop them from escaping with the loot. It is one thing for a few hundred bandits to sneak over an unwatched stretch of wall in the middle of the night, but it is quite another to escape back over a fully guarded wall carrying large quantities of loot with an army in pursuit. - The conventional firewall configuration protects the internal network from external attack. Preventing attacks in the reverse direction reduces the value a captured machine to an attacker." This quote is just one example of how Dot Crime Manifesto surrounds current major issues about security and simplifies the processes that are required to protect systems from attack and penetration.
   
   Dot crime manifesto goes on to describe the most popular processes hackers use to gain access to computer networks and the best ways to defend against them. A good example of the detail and knowledge conferred through Dot Crime Manifesto can be found on page 301. Here the author describes Applied Identity; "When employees require access to valuable assets to perform their jobs, employers need reliable means of controlling access and establishing accountability. Strong authentication is an essential requirement in both cases. - SAML was originally designed to meet the expanding needs of enterprise authentication, authorization, and accountability."
   
   Dot Crime Manifesto also has detailed key points at the end of each chapter, which makes remembering the main points much easier.
   
   Not only does this book include the various means to combat internet crime it includes wealth on information on the history of the internet and the crime it has spawned along the way.
   
   I would highly recommend dot Crime Manifesto to anyone who may be studying for their security certifications or seeking an all-inclusive primer on the processes of internet crime and how to defend against them.



2. Nutshell review - This is an excellent book covering the major sources of internet related crime and how to combat it. It covers causes, effects and concrete solutions. If you are concerned about internet related crime then this is a book for you.



3. Dr. Hallam-Baker has written a very interesting book that clearly explains the history associated with the development of the Internet and why it is inherently insecure. Dr. Hallam-Baker's insights comes from the fact that he was involved in the creation of the technologies and standards that have become the Internet. He also provides interesting information on the types of Internet based crime and explains how much of what passes for cyber-crime has its roots in other criminal activities - (e.g. the Nigerian Advanced Fee Scam has been around since the middle ages). He provides behind-the-scene interactions that led to some of the decisions that helped create the standards for the Internet. All of this data is interesting for people who haven't lived this for 20 years. The concepts advanced in the book are described in ways that people can understand them well, such as the analogy that Internet security is similar to fire safety standards. The style of the book is readable and enjoyable, without being simple. After discussions of the crimes and threats associated with the Internet, Dr. Hallam-Baker provides many possible ways that security problems, such as SPAM, can be stopped. The weakness in the presentation is that most solutions advanced are best handled by large entities, like ISPs and enterprises. There is much less on what individuals can do to protect themselves. Many of the solutions require the development of standards that will make the Internet secure. Interestingly in the final chapter, Dr. Hallam-Baker stated this wasn't the book he set out to write, but the one he had to write before he could do the second. Given the insight and enjoyable conversational style of this book, I look forward to the next book. Additionally I recommend anyone who wants to understand the roots and threats of cyber-crime, and how the Internet adjusted or didn't adjust to these, to read this book.

5 comments about Introduction to Executive Protection, Second Edition.

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!