Customer Reviews

Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation (With CD-ROM) (Networking Series)

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

When I started this book I figured it would be on forensic analysis, data recovery and court presentation. The subject matter, however, tends to be more in tune with scare tactics, information warfare and a review of the author's previous work. The cd of "forensic software" doesn't match the content either. Several of the packages on the cd are interesting, useful and even well known, however the book doesn't go into detail regarding their use. In my opinion, I would recommend the book by Heiser and Kruse as a better choice for those looking for a complete book on the subject of computer forensics.

The first 250 or so pages provide a decent (at best) high-level description of Computer Forensics, but the next 300 pages have little to do with computer crime investigations. It seems as if this book should really be two books: the first book would provide a good overview of computer forensics for those who are not very technical, and the second book (larger book) would be on Information Warfare. If you are looking for a decent book on forensic computing, with a lot of technical meat, this is NOT your book.

I was real excited when I saw this book that looked like the bible of computer forensics and it came with a DVD. The cost of 50 dollars made it expensive but with DVD that I hope would have video that I can watch.

THe book is okay in giving a general idea of computer forensics. It was not very specific in what to do. It has an interactive part in which it give you general answer too not very thorough.

Then, it goes on a tangent about warfare and cyber terrorism. It leaves the forensics behind. And the book goes over 700 pages.

The DVd is intro to some fornesics software, I was hoping it had video
to show people like me that are visual and can learn more this way.

So, the book is okay but I would check others that are more specific and give more thorough details about computer forensics.

Computer Forensics: Computer Crime Scene Investigation (With CD-ROM)by John R. Vacca.

This book is a real disappointment. It is pedantic, has low technical content, 90% palaver, and lots of anecdotal stories of little practical use. Amazon should be ashamed of recommending it.

this is NOT a hands on tech book. it has a lot of procedure that is important for insuring the intergity of information that is gathered but i was expecting the "meat" of the subject.

This second edition gives the reader a comprehensive overview of computer forensics from information security issues to data recovery techniques. It helps you to understand auditing methods from terrorist cyber-attacks. The second addition includes Evidence Identification and Checklist forms, hands-on projects, exercises, and case studies for each chapter. The CD included with the book has tools, presentations, and demos of the latest computer forensics software. If you look through the selected topics you will find the way to protect the software that you use the most in your transactions. This includes: Computer Forensics Fundamentals; Data Recovery; Evidence Collection and Data Seizure; Computer Image Verification; Duplication and Preservation of Digital Evidence; Electronic Evidence Reconstructing Past Events; Deterrence through Attacker ID; Destruction of e-mail; Networks; Protection against Random Terrorist Information Warfare Tactics; The Cyber Foot Print and Criminal Tracking; The Individual Exposed; Advanced Encryption & Hacking; Case Studies and Vignettes; Evidence Checklists and Forms. The cost of this book is a small price to pay for this current knowledge and protection to your data and information.

Vacca appears to have edited rather than written this, and none too well at that. Some chapters use British spelling and some US, some talk of Pounds Sterling and others Dollars. (For each of the five star reviews, examine that writer's other reviews see if you detect a pattern emerging.)

Having said that, the book does present a fairly decent overview of computer forensics for those who want general information about it, and had it been advertised as such I'd have graded it higher. It offers little or nothing, however, to the practitioner or serious student.

My first question is, does the author know what the title of his own book is? I ask this because I was very disappointed with this work since the title simply does not match the content. The initial chapters do capture some essence of forensic investigation, but there is very little technical detail. It is mostly a "how to" guide for investigative teams in that it offers advice as how to organize, plan, and manage investigations--without getting into the specifics of how to do so. This book may be best for those with no understanding of the subject--like people who know almost nothing about computers.

A third of the way into the book, the author starts talking about cyberwarfare, information warfare, and attacks by hackers and terrorists without making any connection whatsoever to computer forensics and crime scene investigation. The information given is so broad with such little specific, useful examples it appears to be an effort to cover everything which ends up covering nothing.

Also, I did not like how the author pontificated about terrorism/counterterrorism policy issues where he is obviously out of his league as when issuing such sophmoric statements that terroists are increasingly focused on urban areas because cities are important. I thought it was because the world is increasingly urbanized with the majority of the global population-which is the terrorists' audience-now living in cities. Guess I was wrong. Finally, the author makes political statements in this work about U.S. political parties and representatives making certain decisions about missile defense strategy. Again, he is clearly out of his league and these examples only underline how far he has strayed off the title of the book--computer forensics and crime scene investigations.

In sum, this is a long book suffering from a lack of focus which only superficially addresses the issue of computer forensics and crime scene investigation. I suggest you look elsewhere for a detailed work on computer forensics. I bought this book on ebay for $5.00 and was I glad I did...it's not worth a penny more.

Computer Forensics is very appropriate considering a number of data storage facilities that
have been recently hacked into, resulting in theft of customer data. The subject matter of computer forsenic
is logically presented from grounds up leading to a volume of valuable information. I was impressed with the
case studies that appear in the appendix. The end of chapter exercises should be very useful,
and thus could be adapted in a teaching environment. This text should form a companinon to the author's
other text on Firewalls.

The second edition of this comprehensive text details how to analyze and conduct a forensic examination which will lead to identifying and prosecuting data thieves. This book provides examples, case studies and check lists to aid in the learning process. In addition, a CD-ROM provides forensic software tools and documentation. This text is especially beneficial to law enforcement professionals or anyone responsible for data security.