Bigelow's Virus Troubleshooting Pocket Reference (Pocket References (McGraw-Hill)) [Paperback]

Ken Dunham (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2000 | Series: Pocket References (McGraw-Hill)

This work is a portable guide to virus detection and prevention.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Computer viruses, by their nature, don't lend themselves to being talked about by the authors of books. They're not easily visible, they have no user interfaces, and all that most people want to know about them is how to get rid of them. Software handles detection and disinfection about as well as can be expected, while Web sites and e-mail disseminate news about emerging viruses extremely quickly. Nonetheless, Bigelow's Virus Troubleshooting Pocket Reference does a fine job of explaining viruses to the everyday reader. Author Ken Dunham leaves the detailed work of finding them to antivirus software and experienced system administrators, but he goes to some lengths to explain how various kinds of "malware" (viruses and software that are published maliciously) work, and explain policies and procedures that you can adopt to keep your PC or Mac safe from the bad guys.

Other than his annoying habit of capitalizing the phrase "In the Wild"--as in, that's where viruses are found--Dunham has a straightforward, easy-to-understand writing style. He's thoughtful, too, and goes well beyond the usual advice ("Make sure your antivirus software is up to date"). In a typical section, Dunham explains how to add lines to the HyperCard home stack to shut down some viruses that attack Macs that way. In another, he explains how a virus that's resident in the master boot record of a hard disk can survive even a reformatting procedure. --David Wall

Topics covered: Malicious software of all kinds, including macro viruses, e-mail attachment viruses, Trojan horses, worms, and others. Good computer hygiene gets lots of attention, including use of antivirus software; sections deal with detecting and removing viruses when they appear.

From the Back Cover

Identify, Diagnose and Combat Computer Viruses Now!

With the growing number of viruses infecting computers - and an increasing level of damage - safeguarding your system has never been more important than now. This useful pocket reference shows you how to detect viruses, what steps to take once infected, and how to prevent future attacks. Concise and thorough, this handy guide contains all you need for diagnosing and troubleshooting destructive computer viruses - including the newest generation of network email worms.

Inside you'll find out about:

• Exposed Virus Myths and Hoaxes
• Antivirus Laws
• Symptoms of Infection
• Antivirus Software Scanning Methods
• Submitting Virus Samples for Analysis
• Repair and Rescue of Damaged or Lost Files
• Virus Reinfection and Risky Behavior
• Essential Emergency Software
• Alternative Operating Systems and Procedures
• Recommended Removal Procedures

Renowned anti-virus professional Ken Dunham reveals various troubleshooting scenarios, making this practical reference invaluable for all computer professionals and technicians.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 267 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies; 1st edition (August 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0072126272
• ISBN-13: 978-0072126273
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 4.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,295,698 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ok, but can find it elsewhere, October 4, 2000

By 

Jerald French (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bigelow's Virus Troubleshooting Pocket Reference (Pocket References (McGraw-Hill)) (Paperback)

This book was good, new to the shelf. However, it does not supply anything you cannot find on the internet for free. Virus scans are so abundent as are informational sites about viruses, that I would probably buy this in the future only if I did not like surfing. I prefer some of the more technical manuals written by programmers. Other than that well written.