Showing posts with label hacking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label hacking. Show all posts

Network Security for Dummies Review

Network Security for Dummies
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I bought this Network Security for Dummies after spending two frustrating hours in a large bookstore looking at one security text after another and finding that they were all written for people who already know a lot about networks. I suppose the assumption is that you won't get into network security until you have experience running a network, but the small company where I work only just set up a network and we need security right away. We can't afford to pay someone to run the network or be in charge of security. To my relief, the author of Network Security for Dummies understands this. It is obvious that she is just as knowledgeable about protecting networks as the authors of the other books I looked at (I was pretty amazed at what I found when I searched the web for the NRO, which the cover says is where she used to work). But she has taken the time to explain things to those of us who don't live and breathe computers. And she does so without talking down to you. At work we have already used some of the techniques she suggests and I feel confident we can make our network a lot more secure than it was, without spending a lot of money, but with the added advantage of really understanding what we are doing.

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CNN is reporting that a vicious new virus is wreaking havoc on the world's computer networks. Somebody's hacked one of your favorite Web sites and stolen thousands of credit card numbers. The FBI just released a new report on computer crime that's got you shaking in your boots. The experts will tell you that keeping your network safe from the cyber-wolves howling after your assets is complicated, expensive, and best left to them. But the truth is, anybody with a working knowledge of networks and computers can do just about everything necessary to defend their network against most security threats.
Network Security For Dummies arms you with quick, easy, low-cost solutions to all your network security concerns. Whether your network consists of one computer with a high-speed Internet connection or hundreds of workstations distributed across dozens of locations, you'll find what you need to confidently:
Identify your network's security weaknesses
Install an intrusion detection system
Use simple, economical techniques to secure your data
Defend against viruses
Keep hackers at bay
Plug security holes in individual applications
Build a secure network from scratch

Leading national expert Chey Cobb fills you in on the basics of data security, and he explains more complex options you can use to keep your network safe as your grow your business. Among other things, you'll explore:
Developing risk assessments and security plans
Choosing controls without breaking the bank
Anti-virus software, firewalls, intrusion detection systems and access controls
Addressing Unix, Windows and Mac security issues
Patching holes in email, databases, Windows Media Player, NetMeeting, AOL Instant Messenger, and other individual applications
Securing a wireless network
E-Commerce security
Incident response and disaster recovery

Whether you run a storefront tax preparing business or you're the network administrator at a multinational accounting giant, your computer assets are your business. Let Network Security For Dummies provide you with proven strategies and techniques for keeping your precious assets safe.

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CEH: Official Certified Ethical Hacker Review Guide: Exam 312-50 Review

CEH: Official Certified Ethical Hacker Review Guide: Exam 312-50
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This book is great. Why? Well it's not just because its a great study guide for the CEH exam (Certified Ethical Hacker), but also for the amount of info crammed into a small book. If you're wanting to learn the basics of ethical hacking, then this is the book. Its a quick read, packed full of interesting workable senarios.
What this book is:
1. A great book for your junior security people.
2. Very easy to work through the chapters as labs.
3. Lots of references to cool programs you can find and download.
What this book isn't:
1. Your not going to learn any code.
2. If you're already a better than average hacker this book is not for you.
3. You won't get CEH certified with this book as a stand alone.
4. You do need a basic understanding of networking, security and systems. (This book isnt hacking for dummies).

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Hacking: The Next Generation (Animal Guide) Review

Hacking: The Next Generation (Animal Guide)
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I'm always skeptical about books that propose to cover such a vast spectrum of subjects, the book in question however does a wonderful job at explaining in plain english what is happening behind an attack, it unveils the possible motives and end result, and I personally found it a superb manuscript on what is happening today in the fields of hacking and social engineering.
On a more technical side it covers XSS attacks and blended exploits, again in plain english. Though the authors also throw some code in there to keep the techiest of us entertained, personally I found the inclusion of code somewhat unnecessary. 'Plain english' would suffice especially because I found that this would otherwise be the perfect book to hand to someone less techy who wants to know what is happening out there in the wild and to some extent what they need to look out for if they intend to be security conscious. Could they ignore the code? sure! will they? depends on the individual and his/her aversion to programming. It still keeps its five stars though, I cant fault a book for having too much information. The book also covers phishing attacks, that chapter was a very worth wile read. I hold no interest or curiosity in phishing attacks and after reading it I was surprised on what I had learned.
The chapters on social engineering and information gathering were very interesting as well. The authors made a clear effort to mention current online tools that attackers can use to acquire information on a target (may that be a person or a corporate entity) and go into deeper detail on how such an attack can develop into face to face contact with a target. The way the book is written makes it feel like a story, like one attack unfolds into another and that is really why this book is such good fun to read.
If there's something I can fault in this book its really its life span. You have to get it now for it to matter. In 2 years time all this will be old, stale news and at the speed things change in the IT/IS world its really quite inevitable. Social engineering will always be social engineering but the tools used to gather information will surely change.

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Network Security Bible Review

Network Security Bible
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This is a great book; it goes in great detail about security in all aspects of the computer industry. However it lacks one critical aspect, how do I do that? Like all network and computer professionals, I do not know everything, so when you tell me I should do something a certain way I'd hope that you will also tell me how to do it. With this book I found myself saying, maybe they will tell me what to do later, over and over, never happens. If you want to buy a book that's a reference manual, this is the one to get. If you are looking for a "how to" as well as a "what to look for" book, consider looking elsewhere.

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Digital Video Surveillance and Security Review

Digital Video Surveillance and Security
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I suspect that this is going to be a text book in some course. It is far beyond the scope of the average handy guy who just wants to put in his own security system. It is designed for huge office buildings and equipment that is too sophisticated and expensive for the layman.
In other words, don't get this if you are thinking of putting in your own computer camera surveillance for your home and property.
If you are in the business of installing for corporations, then it may be what you are looking for.

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Digital Video Surveillance & Security provides a blueprint for the IP-based electronic security system clients need, allowing security professionals to protect their client's place of business or home. The author gives detailed plans on the best camera position, areas of coverage, hardware and software to select in order to maximize the effectiveness of newer lower cost networked technologies. Clear, step-by-step descriptions and detailed illustrations describe the integration of such components as the current or new security system, door and window sensors, or other access controls, instantly launching a video of the area under the surveillance on a computer or HDTV.
*Vendor-neutral comparisons of camera equipment and recording options*Case studies and descriptions of best practices*Step-by-step guide to planning and installation*Easy-to-read diagrams and schematics

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Network Warrior Review

Network Warrior
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Upshot: And you may find yourself...in a machine room or data center. You will need this book. Pros: If you just passed your CCNA exam, or have started working with enterprise level Cisco kit, there's a lot here for you. Cons: If you DON'T work with Cisco kit, why are you here?
For anyone not acquainted with data-centers & network operations, this book shows you how the other hardware half lives. When the author says `you should have passed the CCNA' he's very serious. There are NO EXPLANATIONS of basic Cisco terms. If you are not versed in TCP/IP and SOME Cisco kit, you will be spending a LOT of time in Google. And probably asking yourself why you bought this book.
Those cautions aside, there are gems of `best practices' for non Cisco or smaller network techs here: Amid the Cisco jargon you will find practical advice even for your small business or SOHO LAN, like in Ch. 27 `Basic Firewall Theory', or Chapter 29 on different flavors of 802.11x WiFi and how to secure it. The author even introduces IPv6, with one of the most straightforward explanations I've read yet.
But what really makes this book worth it are the backstories & practical advice from a veteran to new engineers on how to handle failure scenarios as well as the politics involved in maintaining large networks.
In fact, everything from Chapter 39 (`Failure'), Chapter 40 (`GAD's Maxims') to Chapter 41 (`Avoiding Frustration') would be welcome in any IT, infosec or dev reference.
In short, I would somewhat recommend this book for non-CCNA folks interested in Network Engineering or Infrastructure. But I would highly recommend Network Warrior for the audience for which it was intended.
Disclosure: I received the eBook download from O'Reilly for review purposes. I'm not a CCNA but have been around.

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Pick up where certification exams leave off. With this practical, in-depth guide to the entire network infrastructure, you'll learn how to deal with real Cisco networks, rather than the hypothetical situations presented on exams like the CCNA. Network Warrior takes you step by step through the world of routers, switches, firewalls, and other technologies based on the author's extensive field experience. You'll find new content for MPLS, IPv6, VoIP, and wireless in this completely revised second edition, along with examples of Cisco Nexus 5000 and 7000 switches throughout.

Topics include:

An in-depth view of routers and routing
Switching, using Cisco Catalyst and Nexus switches as examples
SOHO VoIP and SOHO wireless access point design and configuration
Introduction to IPv6 with configuration examples
Telecom technologies in the data-networking world, including T1, DS3, frame relay, and MPLS
Security, firewall theory, and configuration, as well as ACL and authentication
Quality of Service (QoS), with an emphasis on low-latency queuing (LLQ)
IP address allocation, Network Time Protocol (NTP), and device failures


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CISSP Study Guide Review

CISSP Study Guide
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Obviously I am biased since I am a fellow SANS instructor, but will try to support my thoughts with data. I agree with another poster that the one star ratings are unfair, especially the guy that had not read the book; too funny. Well I have read the book, cover to cover on airplanes and some sections I have read twice. Why four stars? I am concerned that if this is the only CISSP prep you have, you will not be fully prepared for the exam. On the other hand, if you have taken a CISSP review course or read another book, this will be a great supplemental tool. I am a big fan of the Shawn Harris CISSP prep book as well, but you really can't take that monster with you on a trip, this book fit right in my carry on outside pocket.
OK, let's drill down into the book:
Ch 1: How to pass the exam, 5*s, clear and practical
Ch 2: Information Security Governance, 5*s, complete, concise, nothing missing that I can see
Ch 3: Access Control: 4*s, this chapter gets a bit muddy, the authors chose to cover some of the data flow access models in Ch 6 which is fine. First half of the chapter is true to the spirit of the book, the types of attackers section seems to be a touch superficial, thought the Metasploit "Point, click and root" was a chuckle.
Ch 4:Cryptography, 5*s, in my view this is the strongest chapter in the book, clearest explanations I have ever seen with one exception, in 2nd edition I would rework the Vienere Cipher section.
Ch 5: Physical Security, 5*s, complete, concise, let's you review the material in the shortest amount of time
Ch 6:Security Architecture, 4*s, I think there is a risk that the exam could cover more virtualization than the book prepares the candidate for. Not that I have knowledge of what is on the exam, but it is one of the most important topics in security right now and it only gets three paragraphs. I would also rework polyinstantiation, most of the sections are crystal clear, but this is a bit muddy.
Ch 7: Business Continuity, 4*s, I think this chapter could have been a touch shorter to be true to the spirit and approach of the book, all the information is there, but I had to force myself to read it, in second edition, suggest a do over.
Ch 8: Telecommunications, 5*s, authors are true domain experts, so they are able to concisely explain the material
Ch 9: Application Development Security, 5*s, same comment as above, since the authors know this stuff cold, they can make it very clear
Ch 10: Operations Security, 5*s, I do wish ISC2 would get on board with the better incident response model, but that is not the author's fault, this chapter is also true to the spirit of the book.
Ch 11: Legal regulations, 5*s, authors did a better job overall than I do with my course ( I will start the rewrite this week). I would suggest adding the concept of attestation to Chain of Custody.
The remainder of the book is a self test and the authors have additional practice testing on their web site. The Glossary is complete and also concise.


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The CISSP Study Guide is aligned to cover all of the material included in the exam, complete with special attention to recent updates. The10 domains are covered completely and as concisely as possible with an eye to passing the exam thr first time. Each of the 10 domains has its own chapter that includes specially-designed pedagogy to aid you in passing the exam.

Clearly Stated Exam Objectives
Unique Terms / Definitions
Exam Warnings
Helpful Notes
Learning By Example
Stepped Chapter Ending Questions
Self Test Appendix
Detailed Glossary
Web Site (http://booksite.syngress.com/companion/conrad) Contains Two Practice Exams and Ten Podcasts-One for Each Domain




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Build Your Own Security Lab: A Field Guide for Network Testing Review

Build Your Own Security Lab: A Field Guide for Network Testing
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I'll be completely honest. I went through this in about two hours, and I plan on returning it. It simply didn't have anything new for me. I was expecting it to be more along the lines of setting up a virtual network, attempting to hack the VMs, and then checking the procedures to see if you did it right.
Instead, this book covers things like how to install OSes into VMs, gives basic overviews of tools, etc. However, this is a great book if you're at the appropriate level for it. I think this makes a good follow-up to CompTIA's Security+ certification. It'll help novices get their feet wet with actual hands-on activities. I've done nearly everything in this book on my own, and that's really the only problem with it. While I didn't pay a great deal of attention to every bit of text, it seemed to be technically accurate and free from errors.
I wish I could give a more detailed review, but I thought I'd at least post this since no one has reviewed it yet. Just take your skill level into account when considering this title. If you want more advanced books, check out the Hacking Exposed series, Grey Hat Hacking, and the Penetration Tester's Open Source Toolkit.

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If your job is to design or implement IT security solutions or if you're studying for any security certification, this is the how-to guide you've been looking for. Here's how to assess your needs, gather the tools, and create a controlled environment in which you can experiment, test, and develop the solutions that work. With liberal examples from real-world scenarios, it tells you exactly how to implement a strategy to secure your systems now and in the future.
Note: CD-ROM/DVD and other supplementary materials are not included as part of eBook file.

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Unauthorised Access: Physical Penetration Testing For IT Security Teams Review

Unauthorised Access: Physical Penetration Testing For IT Security Teams
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Unauthorised Access is nothing short of a manual for corporate espionage. Author Wil Allsopp, is a "penetration tester", a hired gun brought in by companies to find out how effective the security defences protecting their premises are.
While conventional penetration testing ("pentesting") involves remote hacking, typically through software vulnerabilities, physical pen-testers gain access to a company's offices or data centre with the goal of connecting to a restricted network, planting a bug or even an imitation explosive device
With ten years experience as a pen-tester, Allsopp offers superb insight into common methods used by criminals to manipulate employees, from phone calls to outright espionage. The chapter on social engineering, in particular, is guaranteed to spark paranoia and sleepless nights among even the most grizzled chief security officers.
Specific tactics he reveals include employing politeness, inducing fear, faking supplication, invoking authority, ingratiation and deference, and even sexual manipulation.
Another chapter details several successful pen-tests conducted by Allsopp and his team, including attacks on a UK power plant and a supercomputing facility conducting spatial modelling of nuclear explosions for the military. He also describes the antics of a pentester who bypassed the security of a large corporate by observing the uniform of the firm's security guard, then showing up the next day in identical costume, pulling rank and relieving the man of duty
The enjoyment Allsopp clearly derives from his work is reflected in his book; he writes with that particular tone of repressed glee common among white hat hackers. This, together with his tendency to adopt a Boy's Own adventure narrative style, makes the book very readable but occasionally somewhat glib. And at times it is hard to tell whether Allsopp is offering advice to the CSO, helping the reader start their own pen-testing company or trying to prove to a less salubrious readership how clever he is.
Indeed, many of the techniques described in Unauthorised Access are open to abuse. Allsopp gives the excuse that "the bad guys already know", before urging the reader to consider taking up lock picking as a rewarding hobby.

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The first guide to planning and performing a physical penetration test on your computer's security
Most IT security teams concentrate on keeping networks and systems safe from attacks from the outside-but what if your attacker was on the inside? While nearly all IT teams perform a variety of network and application penetration testing procedures, an audit and test of the physical location has not been as prevalent. IT teams are now increasingly requesting physical penetration tests, but there is little available in terms of training. The goal of the test is to demonstrate any deficiencies in operating procedures concerning physical security.
Featuring a Foreword written by world-renowned hacker Kevin D. Mitnick and lead author of The Art of Intrusion and The Art of Deception, this book is the first guide to planning and performing a physical penetration test. Inside, IT security expert Wil Allsopp guides you through the entire process from gathering intelligence, getting inside, dealing with threats, staying hidden (often in plain sight), and getting access to networks and data.
Teaches IT security teams how to break into their own facility in order to defend against such attacks, which is often overlooked by IT security teams but is of critical importance
Deals with intelligence gathering, such as getting access building blueprints and satellite imagery, hacking security cameras, planting bugs, and eavesdropping on security channels
Includes safeguards for consultants paid to probe facilities unbeknown to staff
Covers preparing the report and presenting it to management

In order to defend data, you need to think like a thief-let Unauthorised Access show you how to get inside.

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Dissecting the Hack: The F0rb1dd3n Network, Revised Edition Review

Dissecting the Hack: The F0rb1dd3n Network, Revised Edition
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I personally have never seen a book like this one. I think it has created a genre of its own, and I liked it. I hope that other authors might be able to build off this real life hacking, explanatory fiction. The story kept my attention, and the only con I can think of is that I just wished it was a little longer. I have already recommended this book to friends of mine, and they're planning on reading it too.

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Dissecting the Hack is one heck of a ride! Hackers, IT professional, and Infosec aficionados (as well as everyday people interested in security) will find a gripping story that takes the reader on a global trip through the world of computer security exploits. One-half thriller, one-half reference, each provides context for the other. Together they will show you how to see the digital world just below the surface of daily life.

Yes, the security threats are real! In this revised edition the Part 2 content is completely NEW. Read more about the tactics that you see executed throughout the story in the second half of the book where you will learn to recon, scan, explore, exploit, and expunge with the tools and techniques shown in the story.

Revised edition includes a completely NEW STAR Section (Part 2)
Utilizes actual hacking and security tools in its story- helps to familiarize a newbie with the many devices and their code
Introduces basic hacking techniques in real life context for ease of learning
Presented in the words of the hacker/security pro, effortlessly envelops the beginner in the language of the hack
Check out the companion site at www.dissectingthehack.com complete with an interactive forum!
Exclusive interviews in this revised edition include thoughtful insights into security issues and hacking culture from industry leaders Dan Kaminsky, Johnny Long, Jeff Moss and Marcus Ranum






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Hacking For Dummies Review

Hacking For Dummies
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I used to wonder why anyone would want to break into my computer, there's not much there of any interest. Even I don't find it all that interesting. Then one day I was puzzled when my ISP asked why my machine was putting out millions of bytes of stuff to the point where it was bogging down their T1 line. I didn't know. We unpluged the machine from the network and it stopped sending. We plugged it back in and it wasn't sending. But the next day it was.
It wasn't until we got an e-mail telling us to stop sending out copyrighted movies that we realized what had happened. It wasn't anything in my computer they wanted, it was the bandwidth. Knowing what to look for it wasn't all that hard to stop. Google quickly provided links on this problem.
This book is aimed at people just like me. It gives an overall, if fairly light, view of the overall security problem. Like the other For Dummies books it has a writing style that doesn't (quite) put you to sleep. It has enough humor to enable you to get through it. It won't make you an expert, but it will point out the problem areas so that you can go deeper into those that are important to you. It's a good introduction.

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A new edition of the bestselling guide-now updated to cover the latest hacks and how to prevent them!
It's bad enough when a hack occurs-stealing identities, bank accounts, and personal information. But when the hack could have been prevented by taking basic security measures-like the ones described in this book-somehow that makes a bad situation even worse. This beginner guide to hacking examines some of the best security measures that exist and has been updated to cover the latest hacks for Windows 7 and the newest version of Linux.
Offering increased coverage of Web application hacks, database hacks, VoIP hacks, and mobile computing hacks, this guide addresses a wide range of vulnerabilities and how to identify and prevent them. Plus, you'll examine why ethical hacking is oftentimes the only way to find security flaws, which can then prevent any future malicious attacks.
Explores the malicious hackers's mindset so that you can counteract or avoid attacks completely
Covers developing strategies for reporting vulnerabilities, managing security changes, and putting anti-hacking policies and procedures in place
Completely updated to examine the latest hacks to Windows 7 and the newest version of Linux
Explains ethical hacking and why it is essential

Hacking For Dummies, 3rd Edition shows you how to put all the necessary security measures in place so that you avoid becoming a victim of malicious hacking.

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Practical Packet Analysis: Using Wireshark to Solve Real-World Network Problems Review

Practical Packet Analysis: Using Wireshark to Solve Real-World Network Problems
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First of all if you consider yourself an expert in packet analysis don't read this book to learn advanced techniques in packet analysis. Instead read this book as a teaching tool to help better explain packet analysis to others. I found myself reading this book and going "hey I wish someone would have explained it to me that way when I started" and "why didn't I explain it that way."
This book is written for people who have little to no experience with packet analysis. It is also a good read for those who might have been out of the packet analysis game for a little while and need a quick read to brush up the skill-set. The book is well written and Sanders does an excellent job explaining things in a manner that is well understood. He eases the reader into explanations by going from layman to more technical jargon. The examples in the book match the title, they are practical and likely to be experienced in the real world. I would highly recommend this book to those who have little to no experience with packet analysis and are looking for a solid book to help them understand what many of the other books tend to explain in a lofty manner.

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It's easy to capture packets with Wireshark, the world's most popular network sniffer, whether off the wire or from the air. But how do you use those packets to understand what's happening on your network?

With an expanded discussion of network protocols and 45 completely new scenarios, this extensively revised second edition of the best-selling Practical Packet Analysis will teach you how to make sense of your PCAP data. You'll find new sections on troubleshooting slow networks and packet analysis for security to help you better understand how modern exploits and malware behave at the packet level. Add to this a thorough introduction to the TCP/IP network stack and you're on your way to packet analysis proficiency.

Learn how to:

Use packet analysis to identify and resolve common network problems like loss of connectivity, DNS issues, sluggish speeds, and malware infections
Build customized capture and display filters
Monitor your network in real-time and tap live network communications
Graph traffic patterns to visualize the data flowing across your network
Use advanced Wireshark features to understand confusing captures
Build statistics and reports to help you better explain technical network information to non-techies

Practical Packet Analysis is a must for any network technician, administrator, or engineer. Stop guessing and start troubleshooting the problems on your network.


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Linksys® Networks: The Official Guide, 3rd Ed. (One-Off) Review

Linksysandreg; Networks: The Official Guide, 3rd Ed. (One-Off)
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This is very much a how-to book. There is little on network principles. The other side of that is it misses little in how to install, bring to life, and manage a home network. If you have Linksys hardware, you'll find the content directly addresses your needs; yet, despite its name, the book is not that Linksys specific.
Glenn covers four topics especially well: network security, resource sharing, tips and troubleshooting, and advanced network tools. The latter, in an appendix, presents Windows graphical and command-line network tools. It makes Windows XP network diagnostic tools available to just about anyone, even those with no technical exposure to networking.
If you just want the practical details on how to set up a wired or wireless network, you would probably give Linksys Networks five stars. I wanted more on principles.


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Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets and Solutions, Sixth Edition Review

Hacking Exposed: Network Security Secrets and Solutions, Sixth Edition
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Hardly a week goes by that CNN does not report a high-profile Web site being defiled or an e-commerce site being penetrated. While most people know why these incidents occurred, Hacking Exposed explains how they occurred and, more important, how to prevent them from occurring.
The cover of Hacking Exposed announces that "Network security is Y2K without the deadline." That alarmist statement, however, is the only hype in the book. The work is packed with real-world examples and links to tools needed to assess the security of any type of client/server and Web system. As they detail the myriad vulnerabilities in different types of systems, the authors provide countermeasures for each of them.
Well organized, the book progresses in an orderly fashion. It methodically goes through the process of exploiting a target to penetrate a system--from identification and enumeration to actual penetration. The authors provide detailed instructions and explanations for many security features and flaws in Unix, Linux, Windows, NetWare, routers, firewalls, and more. Topics covered include state-of-the-art computer and network penetration, as viewed by both the attacker and the defender; remote system identification; vulnerability identification; war dialers; firewall circumvention; and denial-of-service attacks. An appendix explores the security characteristics of Windows 2000.
Some may argue that books such as this one only serve to motivate and educate hackers. The truth is that hackers are already aware of the book's contents. This book is designed for system administrators and managers who need to know their systems' risks and vulnerabilities and how to address them. When they are done with this book, system administrators and managers will be familiar with such critical topics as back channels, port redirection, banner grabbing, and buffer overflows. Hacking Exposed is a must-read for anyone who wants to know what is really happening on their network....

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Kismet Hacking Review

Kismet Hacking
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My complaint. This book didn't even mention that they use Gentoo, sorta a major piece of info. This is kinda important if you need to recompile the kernel, which you do. And if you do..what optional software to have installed to make recompiling easier? That's all I can think of because I just set it down somewhere that it is likely to just collect dust. There were of course some information that would be great to know that was told. That information was that you had to do a recompile and a few other items necessary to install kismet.

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Kismet is the industry standard for examining wireless network traffic, and is used by over 250,000 security professionals, wireless networking enthusiasts, and WarDriving hobbyists.Unlike other wireless networking books that have been published in recent years that geared towards Windows users, Kismet Hacking is geared to those individuals that use the Linux operating system. People who use Linux and want to use wireless tools need to use Kismet. Now with the introduction of Kismet NewCore, they have a book that will answer all their questions about using this great tool. This book continues in the successful vein of books for wireless users such as WarDriving: Drive, Detect Defend.*Wardrive Running Kismet from the BackTrack Live CD*Build and Integrate Drones with your Kismet Server*Map Your Data with GPSMap, KisMap, WiGLE and GpsDrive

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Aggressive Network Self-Defense Review

Aggressive Network Self-Defense
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Continuing in the new theme of fiction and technical how-to, Aggressive Network Self-Defense brings together several authors to provide a wide range of material. Syngress' niche in this space seems to be breaking new ground -- and for the most part, it works. While you don't get as in-depth a treatment as a typical technical book gives you, there is an added dimension: namely, a more realistic scenario of how these tools fit together in a real, live series of actions.
Not being a big fan of most fiction (I tend to prefer history), it's hard to say definitively good or bad things about the quality of the writing. What I can say is that it's infinitely less irritating, and far more realistic, than Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon or Gibson's Neuromancer. No over-the-top smearing of adjectives to describe the mundane, and no unrealistic sequences of events. Then again, there's no character development and no real story progression, so it's not great fiction.
As a series of hacker vignettes, the book works just fine, and very well for the purposes at hand. Basically, what the authors want you to get from the book is two-fold: First, they want you to debate the issues around "strike back" attack methodologies. Several of the authors are open advocates of what are legal grey areas and open moral questions in the field of network security. Secondly, they want you to see how it's done, what you do when you actually use a tool to achieve a goal. Most books that do this, like Hacking Exposed, cover far more tools, but they usually do so without showing you each tool's use in a real-world scenario.
I won't bore you with a lengthy, detailed overview of the first part of the book. Like I said, it's a series of part fiction, part tutorial series of short stories. In them, you'll see tools like Metasploit, virus creation, some nmap, sniffers, and keystroke loggers, all in action, being used as an operator would use them, and achieving real goals. This is more valuable than a basic manual, and the stories themselves act as a nice setting. While not great fiction writers, the authors are decent enough at the job, and they write the technical material clearly.
The second part of the book is interesting. It makes up about a fifth of the book in volume, but a lot more in technical weight. The book bills this section as "The technologies and concepts behind network strike-back," and that's an accurate summary. It's a series of four unique perspectives and technical chapters that complement the rest of the book quite well.
The first introduces ADAM, the "Active Defense Algorithm and Model," which develops a methodology for network administrators to actively defend their networks against attacks. It's quite interesting, and brings together a number of risk models in an uncommon take. The authors are academic researchers from the University of Idaho, so it's a lot more academic than the previous material in Aggressive Network Self-Defense, but it formalizes a lot of the thinking that was present in the writing of the stories and techniques.
The second is Tim Mullen's classic "Defending your right to defend." This is the original position paper shared by Mullen with the information security community in 2002 or so. Here, Mullen makes a compelling case for actually striking back at worm infected hosts. After all, the position holds, someone should do something about them to help clean up the Internet. While it's a position I disagreed with at the time and still do, Mullen's writing is articulate and an important read. It really helps you understand a lot of the thinking that went into the book itself.
Dan Kaminsky wrote the next chapter, "MD5 to be considered harmful someday." Largely considered to be a follow-on to Joux and Wang's one-way hash function research, what it shows is how practical such an attack can be. Kaminsky never fails to come up with interesting ideas he puts into practice, and he adds another level of depth to this book.
Finally, Aggressive Network Self-Defense ends with an interesting paper, "When the tables turn: Passive strike-back." Like any good paper, it has a clear and thoughtful motivation, and really demonstrates the principles at play, namely building network resources that don't simply lure the attacker in, they trip her up. There are so many ways to do this, the authors show us, and ultimately it's almost fun. A good way to end the book.
An over-arching concern with the book that I have is the question of ethics. Mullen, in the foreword, states that he hopes the book stirs a debate about the ethics of the actions in the book. However, the book itself falls short in this area. Instead, sometimes the characters get busted, and sometimes they don't, but just because they didn't get caught doesn't mean some ethical lines weren't crossed. All too often the authors leave the ethical debate up in the air. While I prefer this to overt preaching or questions, the style leaves me wondering if this goal was achieved.
So, where do I stand on Aggressive Network Self-Defense? In the end, I like it, more so than a book like Hacking Exposed or other "hacking how-to" types. The style of presentation doesn't lend itself all that well to exploring a very wide number of tools, but it does give you a deeper context to see how they assemble into something larger. For many people I expect it will be a page turner, and I think the format has some utility, as shown here.

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Over the past year there has been a shift within the computer security world away from passive, reactive defense towards more aggressive, proactive countermeasures. Although such tactics are extremely controversial, many security professionals are reaching into the dark side of their tool box to identify, target, and suppress their adversaries. This book will provide a detailed analysis of the most timely and dangerous attack vectors targeted at operating systems, applications, and critical infrastructure and the cutting-edge counter-measures used to nullify the actions of an attacking, criminal hacker.*First book to demonstrate and explore controversial network strike back and countermeasure techniques. *Provides tightly guarded secrets to find out WHO is really attacking you over the internet. *Provides security professionals and forensic specialists with invaluable information for finding and prosecuting criminal hackers.

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Joe Grand's Best of Hardware, Wireless, and Game Console Hacking Review

Joe Grand's Best of Hardware, Wireless, and Game Console Hacking
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OK, of course I say it's a nice collection; I'm the author. :) This combination book/DVD is a selection of our favorite hacks from Hardware Hacking: Have Fun While Voiding Your Warranty and Game Console Hacking. If you're curious about modifying hardware and electronic products to do things they weren't intended to do, then this collection is for you. It's a great way to get involved in the hobby without breaking the bank. Cheaper than either of the previously mentioned larger books, only 4 chapters are printed (Tools of the Warranty-Voiding Trade, Electrical Engineering Basics, Operating Systems Overview, and Coding 101) The actual hacks (the rest of the material) is on the included DVD in PDF and HTML format with high-resolution images (most of them in color, as opposed to the black and white of the previous books). Some of the hacks include: Declawing your Cuecat, hacking the Playstation 2, hacking the iPod, modifications for the classic/retro Atari 2600, 5200, 7800, and 8-bit systems, hacking the Xbox, and how to build your own DVR/Home Theater PC. Don't be afraid to modify or hack your hardware - have fun voiding your warranty!

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