BKSCCMES.RVW   20030902

"Secrets of Computer Espionage", Joel McNamara, 2003, 0-7645-3710-5,
U$35.00/C$52.99/UK#24.50
%A   Joel McNamara
%C   5353 Dundas Street West, 4th Floor, Etobicoke, ON   M9B 6H8
%D   2003
%G   0-7645-3710-5
%I   John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
%O   U$35.00/C$52.99/UK#24.50 416-236-4433 fax: 416-236-4448
%O  http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764537105/robsladesinterne
  http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764537105/robsladesinte-21
%O   http://www.amazon.ca/exec/obidos/ASIN/0764537105/robsladesin03-20
%P   362 p.
%T   "Secrets of Computer Espionage"

I suppose one might be able to make a case that this book is about
computer espionage, but the contents are hardly secret.  The fact that
the introduction is decidedly vague about the audience--anyone
concerned that someone might want to spy on their data--would lead one
to suspect that this is another attempt to jump on a hot bandwagon,
without necessarily doing a lot of research first.  And, in this case,
one would be right.

In addition, this is, once again, a book about defence that provides
more help to the attacker.  Not much more, mind, but more.  The
countermeasures included after the attacks and penetration techniques
are generally vague and not very useful.  In quite a number of cases,
the protections are irrelevant to the attacks described.

Chapter one tells us about spies, and particularly that spies are
purposeful.  Never mind that the best data that researchers have been
able to find points out that most network snooping and theft of
computer equipment is random: the concentration on professional spies
allows the author to present a much more sensational view.  The
overview of US federal laws, in chapter two, is rather short on any
examination of legal concepts.  The penetration activities described
in chapter three are mostly physical, and even the computer invasions
suggested in chapter four require physical access to the machine. 
About all that chapter five tells you about searching for evidence, is
that you stand a better chance of finding it if you know how the
machine works.  I suppose this material might impress those who know
very little about computers, but most of it is pretty simplistic and
doesn't have enough detail to help newcomers, either to extract
information or protect themselves.

Chapter six briefly describes some means of cracking weak encryption. 
A list of data storage devices is presented in chapter seven. 
Keyloggers, both hardware and software, are outlined in chapter eight. 
Chapter nine primarily concentrates on remote access trojans, although
it makes no distinctions in regard to other types.  Network intrusion,
in chapter ten, has countermeasures that are, unusually, *too*
specific, dealing with particular exploits while not analyzing the
concepts.  Again, the countermeasures are not comprehensive in regard
to the threats that are discussed.  The overview of wireless security,
in chapter eleven, is not bad, with decent research and an appropriate
presentation for a general audience.  Chapter twelve reviews other
devices, such as secure telephones.  Government surveillance tools, in
chapter thirteen, are described well, and the text even includes
mention of the various controversies, although without much analysis.

Absent the strident and sensational tone of this book, is there
anything really wrong with it?  Well, I suppose not, but there isn't
anything right with it, either.  It is not a book about security in
general, nor even privacy in particular.  The protection measures
suggested are generally only suitable for a computer neophyte, but the
book does not provide adequate instruction for those users to apply
the suggestions.  As noted, the book is somewhat more appropriate for
those trying to break into computers, but only somewhat: this is not
exactly a guide for computer forensic analysts.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2003   BKSCCMES.RVW   20030902