Internet Security for Your Macintosh: A Guide for the Rest of Us [Paperback]

Alan B. Oppenheimer (Author), Charles Whitaker (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 6, 2001

Within the past few years, permanent connections to the Internet (cable modems, DSL) and peer-to-peer networking (such as Napster) have become popular with home users, but these technological advances open up your computer to security risks. While there are many books available on Internet and network security, there are currently no books available on personal Macintosh security for home users written for both Mac OS 9 and OS X. Macintosh Internet Security: A Guide to Securing your Mac on the Internet fills this void with a home user guide to the essentials of Macintosh security. From viruses and personal firewalls, to analyzing and responding to security threats, Macintosh Internet Security leads beginner and advanced Macintosh users through the basics of personal Macintosh security.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Within the past few years, permanent connections to the Internet (cable modems, DSL) have become available for home users in need of faster and more reliable Internet access. And peer-to-peer networking, made popular by the rapid growth of Napster and other file-sharing applications, is everywhere. But these technological advances also open up your computer to security risks. While there are many books available on Internet and network security, there are virtually no books on Macintosh security for home users. Written by Alan B. Oppenheimer, co-designer of the AppleTalk network system, and Charles Whitaker, a veteran of Informix, Inc., Macintosh Internet Security is a thorough, yet approachable guide to the essential security information for any Internet-connected Macintosh.

About the Author

Alan B. Oppenheimer, co-designer of the AppleTalk network system, spent 11 years at Apple Computer developing networking software. He is the co-founder of and president of Open Door Networks, Inc., a Macintosh Internet tools and services company. He is the author of Inside AppleTalk by Addison-Wesley Longman.

Charles Whitaker is a veteran of Informix, Inc, where he developed Unix-based products. He currently works as a technical writer and quality assurance manager at Open Door Networks.

Product Details

• Paperback: 408 pages
• Publisher: Pearson Education (July 6, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201749696
• ISBN-13: 978-0201749694
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,316,824 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #88 in Books > Computers & Technology > Apple > Mac Administration

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another "Must Have" Mac Computer Book, August 15, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Internet Security for Your Macintosh: A Guide for the Rest of Us (Paperback)

Internet Security for the Macintosh - A Guide for the Rest of Us is I believe a "Must Have" Computer Manual, alongside David Pouges "Missing Manual" and Steve Schwartz "Internet Explorer for Macintosh" for every serious Mac Users reference library

The authors, Oppenheimer and Whittaker come impeccably credentialed and their expertise as filtered by joint authorship has clearly made use of their backgrounds with measured and pragmatic effective advice taking you carefully through security requirements from the bottom up. One undeniable advantage in this respect is that they also currently provide ISP services so they know what the real world is about and it shines through.

In addition the timing of the publication is excellent.

Whilst it is Mac specific it could well be considered an essential basic Internet Security Manual for PC Users as well.

The Manual of around 400 pages and 18 chapters is broken down into four sections 1. General Security Principles 2. Securing Internet Services 3. Enhancing Overall Security and 4. Advanced Topics.

The message comes through. If you don't get the basics right even if you apply the advanced advice there may be holes in your system (Microsoft where have we experienced this before!)

There are chapters on Viruses, Personal Firewalls, Home Networking, Securing Mac OS X and an intriguing - Just say no to FTP!

Here I believe in the one place is pragmatic and sensible advice which if followed will make your computer far less vulnerable to Villains, Hackers and Mischief Makers, particularly now that the migration to Cable, ADSL and other broadband DSL technologies leave us a lot more vulnerable than with dial up connections.

Peachpit Press has set up a website to facilitate feedback updates and more recent information for purchasers of the guide.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear and helpful, September 17, 2001

By 

Jeannine R. Boyer (the Heartland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Internet Security for Your Macintosh: A Guide for the Rest of Us (Paperback)

This book is just what it promises, "a guide for the rest of us." It explains how things work, clearly and in logical order, and is laid out so you can easily pick out the parts you need to read.
I used the book to set up a firewall. I had previously purchased a perfectly good one with simple controls, but had no idea what all the buttons meant in terms of blocking unwanted intrusions while retaining normal Internet access. (I'm an experienced Macintosh user, but naive about the underlying mechanisms of the Internet.)
Oppenheimer defines the underlying concepts and provides simple instructions, and with his book I was able to set up my computer security system in less than an hour.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great work, August 11, 2001

By 

richard miller (Phoenix, AZ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Internet Security for Your Macintosh: A Guide for the Rest of Us (Paperback)

At last..a timely and well written book that specifically details the essentials of Mac security...highly recommended