Internet Cryptography (Paperback)

by Richard E. Smith (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
For all the talk about the Internet's very real security weaknesses, information safety is not all that difficult to achieve. Yes, most Internet technology does a better job of making information accessible than it does of protecting privacy. Still, modern cryptographic products and techniques have made more than adequate security available to just about anyone who needs it. In Internet Cryptography, network security consultant Richard Smith explains the basics of online security. He avoids getting technical with too much cryptographic theory or the mathematics behind the magic. Instead he focuses on providing just enough information to enable information systems managers and administrators to make wise decisions. In fact, Smith pays close attention to matters of system configuration and operation, showing how even the best encryption methods can be ruined by careless operation. From there, Smith explains how today's techniques can protect information from being forged, altered, or stolen. Smith devotes most of his discussion of various cryptographic options to products that are presently on the market. Therefore, the techniques he describes are generally within the reach of most businesses and organizations. He progresses from the simplest to most complex approach, examining the strengths and weaknesses of each. As a result, readers wind up with a solid understanding of cryptographic security as well as a good feel for the level of security they require.

Product Description
"This book provides an excellent overview of how encryption is used, its strengths and weaknesses, and what to look for when building or choosing real-world solutions. This is a must-have book for anyone considering the deployment of an important system relying on modern cryptography." - Marcus J. Ranum, Chief Scientist, V-ONE Corporation.

Here, in one comprehensive, soup-to-nuts book, is the solution for Internet security: modern-day cryptography. Written by a security expert with a wealth of practical experience, this book covers network and Internet security in terms that are easy to understand, using proven technology, systems, and solutions. From the client workstation to the Web host to the e-mail server, every aspect of this important topic is examined and explained. The once-daunting subject of cryptography is demystified and applied to today's security challenges. Topics include: essentials of cryptography; networking and Internet fundamentals; encryption building blocks; virtual private networks; legal considerations; setting realistic security objectives; secured electronic mail; World Wide Web transaction security; and Internet Firewalls.

This book is written for people who want to move data safely across the Internet and protect corporate resources from unauthorized access. Using real-life case studies, examples, and commercially available software products, cryptography is presented as a practical solution to specific, everyday security challenges.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Addison-Wesley Professional (August 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0201924803
• ISBN-13: 978-0201924800
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,399,940 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Right to the Point, March 20, 1999

By	[e-mail] Larry Mintz (New York City) - See all my reviews

This book at will give you just what you want to know. If you want to get into the bits and Bytes then you read every page and you will be a cryptography expert. If however you just need a broad understanding of the subject then skipping the Bits and bytes will do fine. I sell VPN solutions for a living and this book was a real help.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very good overview of cryptography on the internet, October 21, 2000

By	Mark (Ottawa, Canada) - See all my reviews

This is a solid, if a little dry and sometimes a bit out of date, high-level overview of cryptography as it is used on the Internet. There are no equations or lines of code, so if you're looking to implement anything this is the wrong book. However if you're looking to learn about IPSEC, public-key crypto, secret keys, SSL, virtual private networks and things like that this is the right book.

The familiar cryptographic couple Alice and Bob are used in many examples to illustrate four general types of attacks made by "Henry the Forger", "Peeping Tom", "Play-it-again Sam" and "Bailey the Switcher". These are used throughout the book and this really simplifies understanding of how various types of cryptography can be attacked. Another one of the strengths of this book is lots of useful pointers to other books and Internet sites to provide supplementary information.

I'm not going to give this book 5 stars because to me that's a perfect book. However I highly doubt you'll be disappointed with this book as an overview to cryptography and how it is used on the Internet.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very good intro, March 19, 1998

By A Customer

I read this book as I was beginning to research the IPSEC protocol suite and its applications, and I found it to be an invaluable introduction. Anyone interested in how the encryption protocols work on the Internet, or interested in deploying virtual private networking, ought to read this book. The only caveat is that this stuff gets out of date very fast - IPSEC has already been revised since this book came out.