Thor's Microsoft Security Bible: A Collection of Practical Security Techniques

As a kid, I used to take things apart so I could figure out how they worked. I thought it made perfect sense: to figure something out, just break it down into its components and it will all be clear. As it turned out, it wasn’t until I had to put something back together again that I actually learned something about its function and form.

I think it was one of my earliest experiences of being proved wrong when I thought I had it all figured out, and that lesson has served me well ever since. It’s really amazing how much more I learn when I tell myself that I’m not nearly as clever as I think I am, and how true subject matter expertise is as much a factor of realizing how much one doesn’t know as it is the collection of little bits of knowledge in any particular area.

As it relates to information security, I find the same mindset draws me to the design of defensive security measures as opposed to the more popular “break it” mentality that is so pervasive today. I simply find it more fulfilling and satisfying. It’s also more valuable. This may not make me very popular with all my hacker friends, but breaking security really isn’t all that hard. Just about anyone can come up with some attack technique they think is super cool and pretend it represents real security risks, but the truth is that they are a dime a dozen. I’m not knocking the research business and the conferences about how to hack and attack, I just don’t personally find much value in it.

As such, you’ll find that my writings are all about defense. It works, and it provides tangible value to an industry that clearly continues to suffer from security issues. If you are all about attacking and trying to break things, then you probably won’t find my books too interesting. But if you like having the skills to thwart everyone else’s attacks, then I hope that my work is of some value to you.

In either case, I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute in an area in which I feel that I add value, and hope you enjoy the material you find here.