Customer Reviews

The Complete Hacker's Handbook : Everything You Need to Know About Hacking in the Age of the Web

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

Well, what can I say? This is the worst book on the topic of computer hacking ever written. I coulda written a better book than that by far, so this is a complete waste of money. Go out there and read some textfiles, at uha1.com, blacksun.box.sk, and guide.box.sk, neworder.box.sk, etc. and screw this book. I had great expectations and I really couldnt get into the style, the structure, or the actual content. It is mostly at a very low and outdated level with the majority of the info basic and useless. The few interesting parts such as trust relationships, how CGI vulnerabilities are found, IP Spoofing, etc. are described vaguely and with a lack of understanding. This book is impractical and if you have the time, go out there and read some textfiles, they're way better. Also check out Hacking Exposed, Maximum Security, Maximum Linux Security, and Practical Unix and Internet Security. Dont buy this book.

I'm a Unix System Admin, therefore, as you might guess, I have a real and tangible reason to be interested in hackers. Protecting information and my servers is part of my job.

I also have a genuine interest in the entire hacker/cracker field ( yes, these are two very different things ) and I've read a lot of books on the subject - everything from the textbook system guides, to the Kevin Mitnick great-hacker-chase. There are hackers I admire, those with a true hacker ethic. There are also crackers who I think are in it for themselves and themselves alone - that's not what the whole "open source" community is all about...but I digress. Sorry.

With regards to this book, it is mostly an overview. There is a lot of cursory infomation and this information is available most anywhere on the net, all you have to do is look. That's the beauty about the internet - the information is out there, check any search engine. This book does not give any great insight or additional value to what you might find trolling the user groups or informational web-sites.

On the other hand - the information is already gathered for you and in book form. That's a plus.

For those "script kiddies" out there - SORRY. This book is definitely NOT a "how to".

It's also just a little arrogant to indicate that this 192 page book is "everything" you need to know about hacking. That's impossible. Any hacker, or computer professional, will tell you that from the start. The IT/Information Technology field is constantly growing and changing. Information is outdated the second it is published. Security holes are plugged and discovered on a daily basis.

Many of that hacks listed here have already been patched and addressed.

There is some good information here - I believe another reviewer indicated this is a good book for management. I'd have to agree. It's great to give you a starting place, a few buzz words and some concrete starting position information.

If you really want to be a computer professional, if you need to protect your server against hackers - this is NOT the book for you.

This book is for those who'd like an overview - just slightly more technical than an average computer industry article.

There are some really wonderful "computer security" and "network security" books available here at Amazon. If you have some interest in this field - start with some of the "Maximum Security" series of books.

Do I regret buying this book? Ultimately, No. I've got a great deal of interest in this subject and it's always good to know the kinds of books that are "out there".

Consider it a good purchase as an introduction to the hacking world. You'll definitely gain some insight. It is interesting, if you have the basic curiosity. For the management types, it will give you the starting-pad and buzz-words you need to speak to your Sys Admins about security.

Best Regards, turtlex

This was a good effort, but there are more technical books out there on the markey now, and this would have been great five years ago. Hacking, programming network security and all it encompasses can't be explained in one book. many researchers look toward the ACM papers for technical explanations.

When Computer Hacking: Detection and Protection, came out I loved it. It shone some light of the mystical journey a hacker takes, and gave away technical detail too.

This book by Dr.K is all too simular, and not enough technically, to produce a worthy 4/5 star book. Today's hacking books need to get up and close to the hacker and shed more technical light than a maths book!

Although this book is informative for someone new to computer security, it tells no new tales for someone who already knows something about computer security.

Almost all the other books have the same information presented here; some of the other books even present the information better. This is NOT a hacker's guide. This is NOT a manual for computer security professionals. This is a book written to earn the author some quick bucks.

The author may very well be knowledgeable, but that knowledge was not presented here in the book.

For a good security book, look elsewhere.

While the author seems to know a lot about many of the topics he writes about, he, alas, does not know how to write well about them. Therefore, this book is neither of interest to bad guys (crackers) nor to good guys.

I bought this book a while back... as in years. Even then the information was so dated that you couldn't really get all that much information from it. Only way I'd pick it up is if I wanted to take a look back and dream of the old days, or learn how things might have worked if technology and methodology had not advanced.

Although it is true that some of the information included in this book is fairly basic and common-knowledge - that's what a lot of people need. This is a MUST READ for any up and coming hacker and should even be read by more advanced hackers - whether black or white hat. It also has information that is good to have on hand - such as a chapter on "The Hacker's Toolbox" which covers all the basic tools that any hackers need. It can be hard to find a list of all the types of software and names of the programs themselves, all in one place. So this is a convenience. Buy this book!

Leaves much to be desired. A few insights, but no more then can be gleamed from a well written magazine article. There are much better resources/books out there.

But, If you are JUST looking for a MANAGEMENT level overview without ANY detail, it might have SOME value to you...

This book is aimed at newbies/intermediate hackers/security experts, and is one of the few on the subject which actually reveals any code/technique. Obviously anyone with any experience should know all of the knowledge presented, but one has to start somewhere.

Others such books include

Computer Hacking : Detection and Protection by Imtiaz Malik and Richard Scott (UK authors !)

and

The Happy Hacker by Carolyn P. Meinel (by no means perfect, but she has been much maligned by US misogynists who seem to resent that fact that a woman can write/lecture about anything technical)

Given the legal restrictions in the UK (Computer Misuse Act 1990, Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000) the publishers Carlton Books have forced the author to leave out details of lots of techniques with which he is familiar - remember we do not have constitutionally protected "free speech" By all means invest $30 - $50 a time in all kinds of computer security books, but none of these will give you as much of a hands on flavour of what real hackers do/think about...

This book is NOT a "script kiddie" manual, and is streets ahead of such classics as "Secrets of a Super Hacker" by Knightmare

This is a great book. Before i knew anything about hacking i bought this book. Great buy!! helped me on my way! This book isnt for some person to learn everything there is to know about hacking. Its for someone knew to the world of hacking. Your right maybe other books give you more info but hey how many of them cost around 15 bucks! Yeah i remember the last time i had a spare 50+ dollers laying around...NEVER!lol This is a good book and should be on every hackers book shelf. Thanks Dr.K