The Personal Internet Security Guidebook: Keeping Hackers and Crackers out of Your Home (The Korper and Ellis E-Commerce Books Series) (Paperback)

~ (Author), Juanita Ellis (Author), Steffano Korper (Author) "The government has for years been sending out radio signals to our brains with secret messages..." (more)
Key Phrases: file encryption key, share attacks, bad dudes, Laptop Computer, Modem Server, Potential Security Solution (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

As more and more households go online with broadband connections, home Internet security is a hot topic. This book contains useful advice on protecting home PCs from hackers, crackers, trackers, and other "evil bad dudes" (authors' terminology). An extensive appendix on security hardware and software vendors and a chapter on securing DSL, cable, and dial-up connections are especially helpful. Unfortunately, the authors' attempts at humor, including comparing personal computer security to a radio signal-blocking aluminum foil hat, fall somewhat flat. Still, recommended for all public libraries.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Written in an easygoing and friendly manner, the book defines and explains the terms to know, such as routers, servers, bugs, DSL, etc. Threats (such as viruses) and solutions (such as encryption systems) are included. Single computers and home network configuration scenarios are presented, with suggested approaches to consider. Topics include Internet connections, physical security, theft-prevention devices, data protection, and privacy. The book is well-written...An excellent TCP/IP appendix, glossary, and index are included. Although especially useful for readers new to computer security, this book is also recommended for experienced users as a good overall descriptitve work. All levels.
--H.J. Bender, Education Process Inprovement Center, Inc. -- Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Academic Press; 1st edition (October 19, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0126565619
• ISBN-13: 978-0126565614
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,317,931 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars The personal Internet security guidebook, May 6, 2003

By A Customer

This book is poorly written and contains very little useful information. It spends far too much time describing trivial differences between various computer & network configurations, and too little time really discussing security. When it comes to discussing security tools (in an appendix), it simply lists all of the available products, with little to no comparisons or recommendations. The average user will get nothing from this book, and is better off spending the money on a firewall or screensaver.

4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars An appalling mess!, October 3, 2002

By A Customer

This book contains some useful information, simply presented, but it is so poorly written and edited that I kept thinking that it was meant to be a parody, doing for computer books what "Spinal Tap" did for rock documentaries.

The text appears not to have been edited, or even proof-read: In a chapter describing the history of the Internet, Vinton Cerf is sometimes "Cert" and sometimes "Cerf," even on the same page! In one case, the author states "So Cerf (yes dudes, not SERF!) and Kahn developed a new protocol..." and a few paragraphs later, "You see, the original model that Cert and Kahn put together...." (P.11). These quotes also give a good taste of the author's writing style, which might be described as "faux au courant."

Beyond that, the material is very disorganized. Every page seems to be peppered with seemingly random footnotes, often providing trivial information, while many obscure acronyms are never even explained at all.

The book is 200 pages long, much of it taken up with screenshots and diagrams. 40 of those pages are devoted to a list of security-related hardware and software tools with descriptions obviously copied from the vendor's advertising materials, and much of it already out-of-date. The foreword is by the CEO of Linksys. whose products are featured in many screenshots, and who is further flattered with a 2/3 page bio (more than is devoted to all three authors combined on the back cover), leading me to believe that the book is a Linksys commission with some additional support from the other sources mentioned.

The book is a quick read, and it might appeal to the dumb and dumber crowd, but I wouldn't trust it or recommend it for anyone else.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hackers at the door, January 12, 2003

By A Customer

This book was very useful ---- I found that I get attacked every day --- due to logs on my router. I agree with one of the other reviews -- too much Linksys stuff ... but still a great book and provided me with the information I needed to block these constant attacks on my cable modem line.