Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers, and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online [Paperback]

J. A. Hitchcock (Author), Jayne A. Hitchcock (Author), Loraine Page (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2002

Cybercrime expert J.A. Hitchcock helps individuals and business users of the Web protect themselves, their children, and their employees against online cheats and predators. Hitchcock details a broad range of abusive practices, shares victims' stories, and offers advice on how to handle junk e-mail, "flaming," privacy invasion, financial scams, cyberstalking, and identity theft. She provides tips and techniques that can be put to immediate use and points to the laws, organizations, and Web resources that can aid victims and help them fight back Supported by a Web site.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

This book by Internet crime and security expert Hitchcock advises Internet users on how to preserve their safety, security, and privacy at home, in the workplace, and in educational environments. The chapters range widely, covering spam, hoaxes, online shopping and banking, auctions, adoption fraud, stolen identity, flaming, protecting children, protecting university sites and students, workplace safety, encryption, and protecting your computer from viruses and worms. A summary of online security and safety issues rounds out the text. There is abundant concrete advice on handling problems on the Internet, including how to analyze issues, whom to contact, how to track down perpetrators, and how to take preventive measures. This is surprisingly easy and interesting to read, with the author using many apt examples for illustration. Another recent book that covers a portion of this material is David Wall's Crime and the Internet. With an extensive list of online resources, Hitchcock's useful book is highly recommended for all libraries.
Mary Jane Brustman, Univ. at Albany Libs.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Revealed at last-the secrets to all the spam that comes through your email...without exaggeration, this advice will benefit millions. -- Clive Cussler

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Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Cyberage Books (July 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0910965579
• ISBN-13: 978-0910965576
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,475,241 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Book is Timely, Gripping, and Compelling., August 17, 2002

By 

Jim Moran - See all my reviews

This review is from: Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers, and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online (Paperback)

The Internet has opened up many doors of opportunity for people to communicate with one another and to share lots of information. The Internet has also broken down many walls of seclusion that once shielded us from other people. Unfortunately, some of the same social ills commonplace in society today - such as stalking, harassment, scamming, and identity theft, have found fresh life and new victims online - sometimes with devastating results - including rape and murder.

Jayne Hitchcock wrote Net Crimes & Misdemeanors to recount her own horror story and to offer readers important information that will help them prevent - or at least minimize - the likelihood that they themselves and others will encounter the same mistreatment at the hands of other people. Hitchcock was herself the victim of both online and off line stalking and harassment. This book spells it out - fraudulent newsgroup postings, harassing e-mails, spamming, phone calls, identity theft, and other criminal activity. She experienced a severely challenging period of time in her own life. Her personal account is most gripping.

After discussing her own experiences, Hitchcock goes on to discuss these and other crimes and mischievous activities at length that threaten the welfare of people online - fraudulent postings, e-mail harassment, invasion of privacy, spamming, scamming, identity theft, auction frauds, adoption frauds, banking and shopping concerns, inappropriate information gathering techniques, threats to child safety, and so on. Readers are provided with stunning accounts of other people who faced various forms of online harassment and scamming. We read about how they responded to these threats, how their lives were changed, and how we can take action to avoid much of these same problems ourselves.

The strengths of the book includes the sharing of well-planned strategies, helpful checklists that encourage and nurture responsible behavior, a variety of helpful online resources, and much creative advice on how to cope with many real-life situations. For instance, readers will learn how to tweak Internet software programs for maximum protection, how to safely communicate with other people online, how to deal with problematic people they may encounter, how to locate and notify local, state, and federal agencies in regards to computer and Internet criminal activity, and how we can learn to best help one another.

Jayne Hitchcock distinguishes herself as a real cybercrime expert. Her book will motivate people to sit up and take notice of what's going on around them and to help them to respond appropriately to the threats that all people face online. Online stalking, harassment, and other crimes are not laughing matters and they should never be taken lightly. In this one book Jayne Hitchcock provides all the reasons why everyone should take such threats more seriously.

The book is ideally suited for a variety of workshops, seminars, and community awareness events. Government agencies, local law enforcement agencies, college campus officials, women's service groups, and child protection organizations will greatly benefit from the detailed information provided. The book is timely, gripping, and compelling. It's essential reading and highly recommended.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Eye-Opener for Online Hazards!, December 18, 2003

By 

David R. Bess (Charleston, WV) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers, and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online (Paperback)

This book is a very realistic volume about the dangers present on the Internet, and what just about anyone can do to be safer. The author begins by describing her own experience with being stalked online then offline. The impact of her story is that this kind of thing CAN and DOES happen.

Hitchcock then begins moving through a variety of online dangers, from stalking to spoofing to scamming. Each danger she describes is very much present. Her words should not be taken lightly by a reader with little or no experience with the Internet.

The best pointer I received from this book was the lack of security in email. The author describes email more as a postcard than a letter written and sealed in an envelope. Since I write many emails and sometimes address sensitive ministerial issues, I have begun using and promoting free encryption and digital signature software.

For people who spend any amount of time online, whether it be email, chat or shopping, this book is a MUST. It is one of the best summaries of online hazards I have read. This one is well worth the price!

5.0 out of 5 stars Thumbs up!! Scary, yet so true; a wonderful resource!, August 17, 2002

By 

J. Hitchcock "A real author" (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Net Crimes & Misdemeanors: Outmaneuvering the Spammers, Swindlers, and Stalkers Who Are Targeting You Online (Paperback)

I picked this up at a local bookstore on the advice of a friend - I'm new to the net. Wow! I was amazed at the stories about what happened to others online, but this book shows you how to protect yourself from being scammed, stalked, harassed, hacked and more. Plus, if something does happen to you, there is advice on what steps to take. I especially liked the chapter about spam and how to report it. I now have this book next to my computer for easy reference. It's a must for anyone who is online!!!