Managing Security with Snort and IDS Tools

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 304 pages
• Published by: O'Reilly Media, Inc.
• Edition: 1st Edition August 2004
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0596006616
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0596006617
• Book Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 0.8 inches
• Weighs: 15.5 ounces

Product Description
Intrusion detection is not for the faint at heart. But, if you are a network administrator chances are you're under increasing pressure to ensure that mission-critical systems are safe--in fact impenetrable--from malicious code, buffer overflows, stealth port scans, SMB probes, OS fingerprinting attempts, CGI attacks, and other network intruders. Designing a reliable way to detect intruders before they get in is a vital but daunting challenge. Because of this, a plethora of complex, sophisticated, and pricy software solutions are now available. In terms of raw power and features, SNORT, the most commonly used Open Source Intrusion Detection System, (IDS) has begun to eclipse many expensive proprietary IDSes. In terms of documentation or ease of use, however, SNORT can seem overwhelming. Which output plugin to use? How do you to email alerts to yourself? Most importantly, how do you sort through the immense amount of information Snort makes available to you? Many intrusion detection books are long on theory but short on specifics and practical examples. Not Managing Security with Snort and IDS Tools. This new book is a thorough, exceptionally practical guide to managing network security using Snort 2.1 (the latest release) and dozens of other high-quality open source other open source intrusion detection programs. Managing Security with Snort and IDS Tools covers reliable methods for detecting network intruders, from using simple packet sniffers to more sophisticated IDS (Intrusion Detection Systems) applications and the GUI interfaces for managing them. A comprehensive but concise guide for monitoring illegal entry attempts, this invaluable new book explains how to shut down and secure workstations, servers, firewalls, routers, sensors and other network devices. Step-by-step instructions are provided to quickly get up and running with Snort. Each chapter includes links for the programs discussed, and additional links at the end of the book give administrators access to numerous web sites for additional information and instructional material that will satisfy even the most serious security enthusiasts. Managing Security with Snort and IDS Tools maps out a proactive--and effective--approach to keeping your systems safe from attack.

About The Author
Kerry J. Cox is a knowledgeable and enthusiastic chief administrator/network engineer at Bonneville International/KSL Radio and Television where he manages forty Red Hat Linux servers, as well as Solaris and FreeBSD, performing installation, patching, hardening, and maintenance. He also handles all Cisco routers, switches, PIX and Checkpoint firewalls, CSS load balancers, IDS sensors and consoles. Kerry has implemented open source solution for monitoring networks, architectures, server processes, and bandwidth. Previously, he worked at network communications companies and ISPs and is the author of two books by Prima: the Linux Productivity Administrator's Guide and Red Hat Linux Administrator's Guide.

Christopher Gerg CISSP, CHSP is the Network Security Manager for Berbee Information Networks. His IT career started with phone technical support for Microsoft's launch of Windows 95 and his MCSE dates back to NT 3.51. He's worked as a system and network.

Reader Reviews
O'Reilly's "Managing Security with Snort and IDS Tools" by Cox and Greg is a practical book that succinctly describes the basic functionality and utility of implanting Snort. The book does an excellent job at discussing the different configuration parameters when deploying Snort. In particular, I was impressed by: * Page 35 - A 5-page list detailing the different options available via the command-line. * Page 69 - Details some of the techniques used to evade IDSs. * Chapter 5's description of preprocessor configurations was a valuable tool to a newbie of UNIX. * Chapter ten description of ACID as a Snort IDS Management Console. The only area I wish the authors expanded on was in Chapter 7 "Creating Your Own Rules". This area can easily be supplemented from documentation on the web. The book has a natural bias toward elevating open source tools (I am fan of open source tools). Appreciating that fact, I must admit I have used this book when I have been describing the value of open source tools. Overall, I think "Managing Security with Snort and IDS Tools" is a valuable addition to anyone's Snort arsenal. I give this book 4 pings out of 5: !!!.!