 |
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Charles P. Pfleeger, Shari Lawrence Pfleeger Edition: Hardcover Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2006-10-23 ISBN: 0132390779 Number of pages: 880 Publisher: Prentice Hall
Book Reviews of Security in Computing, 4th EditionBook Review: accessible to a general IT readership Summary: 5 Stars
[A review of the 4th Edition, that was published in October 2006.]
I would compare this book to Matt Bishop's "Introduction to Computer Security". The latter is far more mathematical. Probably too much so for the typical sysadmin who is looking to defend her computers and network. Bishop's book is perhaps best suited to someone who wants to deeply understand cryptosystems and malware, and who might want to design a new cryptosystem or a malware detector. Whereas the Pfleeger book does not stress mathematical formalism at all. Much easier for a broader IT audience to understand. For a sysadmin, programmer, or an IT manager. All you need is some general background in computing, and much of the book will be very intelligible.
For cryptography, there are 2 chapters, that give a quick overview of symmetric and public key systems. At the schematic level, with few equations. The seminal RSA algorithm is explained. The second cryptography chapter is actually the book's last chapter. Appropriate, because it is the most mathematical section of the text. It includes a nice Figure 12-3, that is an especially clear schematic of the hierarchies of complexity classes. It should make apparent the distinction between NP and P(olynomial) complete problems.
There is a wide survey of malware. For viruses, there are qualitative explanations of how viruses can infect code. The level of detail is not that of more specialised books that focus just on viruses. The text does not give you enough to detect or write a virus. But you can understand how they work, at a level adequate for a sysadmin, say. In other words, if you have computers to defend, and you need to choose between various tools for detection, the book gives you enough education to rationally understand the differences between the methods of those tools. At least to the extent that the toolmakers offer such information, and that it is accurate.
For the malware known as phishing, the book does not offer any technical solution. This reflects the current position of much antiphishing thinking. That phishing is social engineering, and no effective technical antidote is known. To which I say, wait a few months. Marvin Shannon and I invented a seminal antiphishing method, and its Patent Pending should soon be published by the US Patent and Trademark Office. I predict that the 5th edition of this book will have a thorough rewrite of antiphishing.
Summary of Security in Computing, 4th EditionThe New State-of-the-Art in Information Security: Now Covers the Economics of Cyber Security and the Intersection of Privacy and Information Security For years, IT and security professionals and students have turned to Security in Computing as the definitive guide to information about computer security attacks and countermeasures. In their new fourth edition, Charles P. Pfleeger and Shari Lawrence Pfleeger have thoroughly updated their classic guide to reflect today's newest technologies, standards, and trends. The authors first introduce the core concepts and vocabulary of computer security, including attacks and controls. Next, the authors systematically identify and assess threats now facing programs, operating systems, database systems, and networks. For each threat, they offer best-practice responses. Security in Computing, Fourth Edition, goes beyond technology, covering crucial management issues faced in protecting infrastructure and information. This edition contains an all-new chapter on the economics of cybersecurity, explaining ways to make a business case for security investments. Another new chapter addresses privacy--from data mining and identity theft, to RFID and e-voting. New coverage also includes - Programming mistakes that compromise security: man-in-the-middle, timing, and privilege escalation attacks
- Web application threats and vulnerabilities
- Networks of compromised systems: bots, botnets, and drones
- Rootkits--including the notorious Sony XCP
- Wi-Fi network security challenges, standards, and techniques
- New malicious code attacks, including false interfaces and keystroke loggers
- Improving code quality: software engineering, testing, and liability approaches
- Biometric authentication: capabilities and limitations
- Using the Advanced Encryption System (AES) more effectively
- Balancing dissemination with piracy control in music and other digital content
- Countering new cryptanalytic attacks against RSA, DES, and SHA
- Responding to the emergence of organized attacker groups pursuing profit
Privacy Books
|
 |
Cryptography Decryptedby H. X. Mel, Doris M. Baker Addison-Wesley Professional; Published: 2000-12-31; Paperback; BookBest price: $30.00Price in other shops: $54.99
The Law of Copyright and the Internet: The 1996 WIPO Treaties, Their Interpretation and Implementationby Mihï¿1/2ly Ficsor Oxford University Press, USA; Published: 2002-05-16; Hardcover; BookBest price: $157.22Price in other shops: $510.00
Network Security for Government and Corporate Executivesby Rand Morimoto, Chris Amaris, Andrew Abbate, Mark Weinhardt Prentice Hall; Published: 2006-10-01; Paperback; BookBest price: $70.00Price in other shops: $73.33
Myspace: Safe Online Networking for Your Kidsby Larry Magid, Anne Collier Prentice Hall; Published: 2006-12-07; Paperback; Book
Using Set for Secure Electronic Commerce with CDROMby Grady Drew Prentice Hall PTR; Published: 1998-11-30; Paperback; BookBest price: $3.80Price in other shops: $44.99
Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World (2nd Edition)by Charlie Kaufman, Radia Perlman, Mike Speciner Prentice Hall; Published: 2002-05-02; Hardcover; BookBest price: $54.99Price in other shops: $84.99
Windows Internet Security: Protecting Your Critical Databy Seth Fogie, Cyrus Peikari Prentice Hall; Published: 2001-10-07; Paperback; BookBest price: $6.99Price in other shops: $39.99
Administrating Web Servers, Security, & Maintenance Interactive Workbookby Eric Larson, Brian Stephens Prentice Hall; Published: 2000-01-09; Paperback; BookBest price: $12.99Price in other shops: $65.32
Keeping Found Things Found: The Study and Practice of Personal Information Management (Interactive Technologies)by William Jones Morgan Kaufmann; Published: 2007-11-15; Paperback; BookBest price: $34.00Price in other shops: $57.95
Upgrade Your Life: The Lifehacker Guide to Working Smarter, Faster, Betterby Gina Trapani Wiley; Published: 2008-03-17; Paperback; BookBest price: $5.00Price in other shops: $29.99
|
Analyzing Intelligence: Origins, Obstacles, and InnovationsGeorgetown University Press; Published: 2008-04-09; Paperback; BookBest price: $19.47Price in other shops: $29.95
Introduction to Algorithmsby Thomas H. Cormen, Charles E. Leiserson, Ronald L. Rivest, Clifford Stein The MIT Press; Published: 2009-07-31; Hardcover; BookBest price: $48.99Price in other shops: $87.00
Data Structures and Algorithms in Java (2nd Edition)by Robert Lafore Sams; Published: 2002-11-16; Hardcover; BookBest price: $36.85Price in other shops: $64.99
Network Security: The Complete Referenceby Mark Rhodes-Ousley, Roberta Bragg, Keith Strassberg McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; Published: 2003-11-17; Paperback; BookBest price: $29.99Price in other shops: $62.99
Network Security: Private Communication in a Public World (2nd Edition)by Charlie Kaufman, Radia Perlman, Mike Speciner Prentice Hall; Published: 2002-05-02; Hardcover; BookBest price: $54.99Price in other shops: $84.99
Security Engineering: A Guide to Building Dependable Distributed Systemsby Ross J. Anderson Wiley; Published: 2008-04-14; Hardcover; BookBest price: $42.00Price in other shops: $75.00
Ethics in Information Technologyby George Reynolds Course Technology; Published: 2009-10-26; Paperback; BookBest price: $59.95Price in other shops: $82.95
A Gift of Fire: Social, Legal, and Ethical Issues for Computing and the Internet (3rd Edition)by Sara Baase Prentice Hall; Published: 2008-01-06; Paperback; BookBest price: $67.23Price in other shops: $99.00
Inside Cyber Warfare: Mapping the Cyber Underworldby Jeffrey Carr O'Reilly Media; Published: 2009-12-22; Paperback; BookBest price: $23.98Price in other shops: $39.99
Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets and Solutions, Sixth Editionby Stuart McClure, Joel Scambray, George Kurtz McGraw-Hill Osborne Media; Published: 2009-01-05; Paperback; BookBest price: $24.00Price in other shops: $49.99
|