BKHLTHCK.RVW  970706

"Halting the Hacker", Donald L. Pipkin, 1997, 0-13-243718-X, U$44.95/C$62.95
%A   Donald L. Pipkin
%C   One Lake St., Upper Saddle River, NJ   07458
%D   1997
%G   0-13-243718-X
%I   Prentice Hall
%O   U$44.95/C$62.95 201-236-7139 fax: 201-236-7131 betsy_carey@prenhall.com
%P   193
%T   "Halting the Hacker: A Practical Guide to Computer Security"

This book is a compilation of observations on computer security, particularly
on network connected computers, and particularly in regard to outside
intruders.  What specific system information is included relates to UNIX.

Most of the advice is generic.  The information is "practical" in that it
relates to common, rather than theoretical, attacks.  However, the text does
not provide practical answers: the defenses are left as an exercise to the
reader.

There is nothing really wrong with the information provided in the book.  (I
wasn't too thrilled with the section on viruses, but we'll let that go.)  It
has all, though, been said before, notably by works such as Spafford and
Garfinkel's "Practical UNIX and Internet Security" (cf. BKPRUISC.RVW).  In
fact, there were passages that I'm quite sure I could have traced as to origin
and author.

Normally, I don't comment on CD-ROMs unless something unique is available.  As
with most such disks, this one provides information that is available
elsewhere, mostly from COAST.  Overall, though, in this case I think the CD-ROM
does add some value, holding information such as the "Rainbow series" of
security standards, and a list of machine address codes for Internet addressing
as assigned to vendors.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 1997   BKHLTHCK.RVW  970706