Internet Besieged: Countering Cyberspace Scofflaws

This detailed collection of essays takes a practical look at the area of online security. While the editors of and contributors to Internet Besieged pull no punches in their cautions, their purpose is not to alarm but to inform. Given that electronic banditry and vandalism exist, what are wise system designers and operators to do about it? The contributors look at existing computer crimes--including password interception, electronic forgery, and virus passing--and examine the techniques now available to thwart perpetrators. The first of the book's five sections covers the background of the Internet from a security perspective. The second zooms in on the weaknesses of Internet-connected computer systems and shows how cybercriminals exploit them. Part 3 details the cryptographic methods available to help secure systems, while the fourth section explores the particular challenges of electronic commerce. The final section looks at the larger and nontechnical issues of Internet practices, laws, and policies.