Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 462 pages
- Published by: No Starch Press
- Edition: 2nd Edition January 15, 2000
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 1886411425
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-1886411425
-
Book Dimensions:
9 x 7 x 1.3 inches
- Weighs: 1 pounds
Product Review
Here's a capsule review of
Steal This Computer Book 2: Don't bother. It's a directory of sites, combined with background information (mostly at
USA Today depth) about Internet security and online privacy issues. Its practical advice reflects little more than common sense ("The best way to prevent and cure a computer virus is to buy an antivirus program") and its anecdotal material also tends toward the obvious ("The better virus writers tend to be highly skilled programmers"). Even sections that sound promising ("Writing Your Own Online Harassment Program") contain very few details, and prove to be pretty much useless. In addition, it's printed in an annoying typeface, and several times it quotes obscenity-riddled hacker graffiti (because, you see, the book is so radical and edgy and all).
The particularly shameful thing about
Steal This Computer Book 2 is that its title rips off Abbie Hoffman's
Steal This Book, a 1970 how-to guide for anarchists and happy freeloaders. Where Hoffman strives in his book to subvert a society that he finds repellent, Wallace Wang merely describes some technologies and a few vaguely interesting stories about them. Some better choices: read
Hacking Exposed, Second Edition for its great coverage of hackers' techniques and
software tools, and
Network Intrusion Detection for its accounts of attacks on secured networks. And, for an account of government surveillance of Internet users--perhaps an indication that the system requirements subversion now more than ever--read
The Puzzle Palace.
--David Wall Topics covered: Naughty things to do with computers and on the Internet. The author explores research sites with which you can dig up information on people, and explains something about gaining access to private computing resources. Historical exploits of black-hat hackers get considerable attention, and viruses get lots of attention.
Book Description
Viruses, e-mail bombings, ANSI bombings, keystroke monitors, scams - just what are these phenomena? Steal This Computer Book answers this question and discusses the ethical issues surrounding hacking. This thoroughly updated new edition incorporates the latest on: Trojan Horse programs - how they work, where to find them, and what kind of damage they can cause; the illegal copying of MP3 music files and DVD-encrypted movie disks; computer forensics used for recovering deleted data; security issues accompanying broadband Internet technologies; and more. A gallery of hacker's tools and a CD-ROM with various antihacker and security tools are included. "A delightfully irresponsible primer." -
Chicago Tribune
Reader Reviews
From the seasoned Sys Admin to the newbie hacker looking for information this book is quiet interesting. As you might guess by the title, there is a "Steal This Computer Book" original that's just as enticing. There's a lot going on with this book and it includes a cd-rom for even more hacking fun. Some of this information you'll find elsewhere but this format and the style of the book is pleasing. Don't get me wrong, there's a lot of information covered here and in the original. Some of it may sound familiar but most is unique or a unique take on something. If you've got or want to start a Hacker-Book collection, this book should be in it. Best Regards, turtlex.
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