Sebastopol, CA--It doesn't matter if you're looking after a highly secure banking network or if you're an ordinary user concerned with malware and identity theft--security concerns and affects us all.
According to Rick Lehtinen, author of the new second edition of Computer Security Basics (Lehtinen, Russell, and Gangemi, O'Reilly, US $39.99), computer security has taken on some new meanings in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The first of these changes is positive, he says. "As part of a global tightening of belts and rolling up of sleeves, there emerged several outreaches designed to provide security training and certification to folks in all walks of life, from the consumer being alerted about identity theft, to the soldier and sailor and weapons scientist taking greater precautions with items of national security, to the common person on the street gaining a heightened awareness of hackers and crackers and cyber attackers." Lehtinen explains that gradually this new emphasis on computer and network safety has percolated down to the ordinary user's computer in the den or living room. "And because it really is a small Internet," he says, "what affects one usually affects all. The safer individual users are, the safer the Net is for everybody."
To gain a clear understanding of the basics of securing a computer or network, look no further than Computer Security Basics, Second Edition. The first edition of this book was so popular--and practical--that it remained in print since 1991. This new edition builds on the well-established principles developed in the original and updates that core knowledge thoroughly.
The book describes complicated concepts--such as trusted systems, encryption, and mandatory access control--in simple terms. Ideal for anyone who is involved with computer security, including security administrators, system administrators, developers, and IT managers, it covers the following topics and more:
Lehtinen explains the book's focus, "This book is about computer security--what it is, where it came from, where it's going, and why we should care about it. It introduces the many different areas of security in clear and simple terms: access controls, worms and viruses, cryptography, firewalls, network and web security, biometric devices, and more. If you're at all interested in computer security or if computer security is a part of your job (whether you want it to be or not!), you should find this book useful. I've tried to give readers the big picture and quite a few helpful details."
Early praise for Computer Security Basics, Second Edition:
"'Computer Security Basics' is an excellent treatment of a complex subject. It is a complete introduction to computer security and a valuable resource for both security novices and experts."
-Michael McChesney, Chairman and CEO of M1 Global Solutions, Inc.
Additional Resources:
- More information about the book, including author bios
- A cover graphic in JPEG format
Computer Security Basics, Second Edition
Rich Lehtinen, Deborah Russell, and G.T. Gangemi, Sr.
ISBN: 0-596-00669-1, 296 pages, $39.99 US
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