“At Large: The Strange Case of the World’s Biggest Internet Invasion,” by David H. Freedman and Charles C. Mann, Touchstone, NY, 1997. This 315-page paperback tells the story of a persistent hacker from 1990 who broke into computer networks across the country using basic techniques. He searched for passwords, gained sysop status, and inserted Trojans with back doors before moving on to other networks.
Once in a computer, he copied the password file, which UNIX systems encrypted. He would move it to another computer and then run a program that encrypted dictionaries of common words (and probably names, dates, and numbers) to find weak, easy to guess passwords. He sought access to supercomputers to process password files faster. He also exploited those who used the same password on multiple computers.
Sysops worried that he might be accumulating passwords for a massive nefarious attack, but apparently his mission was access. The perp proved to be a disabled 20-year old with limited social skills. He was reclusive and spent much of his time on a computer. He lived in Oregon. The Portland State University system was his usual entry point.
At this time, the FBI and Secret Service were setting up their first computer crime units. Their resources were meager. FBI agents with computer skills were few. Promotions at the FBI went to the man on the street making newsworthy arrests. Computer crime was counter to the culture in that it required agents to be at their desk in front of a computer. The FBI required printed documents. Data collected by wiretaps had to be printed out for legal purposes. It also had to be purged of non-relevant info to avoid eavesdropping.
The book tells us much about hackers and their techniques. Passwords and other info collected by hackers are commonly stored on the system on a little used computer for later retrieval. Key loggers are readily available. Hackers routinely exchange credit card numbers for passwords. The long hours involved make you wonder if methamphetamine might have been involved.
The perp was clumsy in typing and careless in programming. He often replaced the login program with one containing a Trojan, but failure to use a capital p in the word Password, made his presence easy to detect. Sysops were after him across the country, but authorities had trouble finding a crime worth prosecuting. Ideally they wanted a high visibility show trial that would let hackers know they might be caught. Eventually he got into government systems associated with classified information. Computers with classified information are kept separate, but the “white” computers used by personnel for routine communications sometimes contain some “gray” information. This concern resulted in the perp’s arrest. Authorities decided not to prosecute due to his disabilities. However, they were slow to return the computers taken as evidence.
The authors do a good job of introducing readers to the technical aspects of hacking. Their jargon is not overly technical. The book provides a useful reminder of the importance of taking care of passwords. A single weak password can compromise a network. A hacker can quickly install multiple entry points making it difficult to expel an interloper. Index. References (but one wonder if they are still current almost 30 years later).
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle Cloud Reader.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Authors
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Popular titles by this author
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer reviews
@LARG, I love it, because i have twist, i am buying from Kindle-Amazon. I have Read it. But is Especialy, Maybe you dont know ? @Larg is Best Seller at Virtapay-EarlyBird Program .this book content about Internet Feonomenon that Unik, Irrasional, but viry spectaculer at this Life. Please Read...! Internet Knowledge, Internet Science...
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2018
Reviewed in the United States on October 16, 2011
I Love it
By Cici Wirachmat on October 16, 2011
@LARG, I love it, because i have twist, i am buying from Kindle-Amazon. I have Read it. But is Especialy, Maybe you dont know ? @Larg is Best Seller at Virtapay-EarlyBird Program .this book content about Internet Feonomenon that Unik, Irrasional, but viry spectaculer at this Life. Please Read...! Internet Knowledge, Internet Science...
By Cici Wirachmat on October 16, 2011
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States on December 23, 2020
Reviewed in the United States on July 18, 2010
Top reviews from other countries
Mrs Sarah Killingback
An oldie but a goodie
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 18, 2018
