The Stephen Cobb Complete Book of PC and LAN Security

Stephen Cobb

Publisher: McGraw-Hill, 1992, 556 pages

ISBN: 0-8306-3280-8

Keywords: IT Security, Networks

Last modified: June 13, 2021, 3:59 p.m.

The thought of someone getting unauthorized access to the information you have stored on your personal computer is not a pleasant one. Even worse, however, would be the sudden disappearance of all your data in a disk crash.

Now, with The Stephen Cobb Complete Book of PC and LAN Security, you'll discover the most cost-effective methods for protecting your personal computer and the data that it holds from unwanted intruders and equipment failures. Computer expert Stephen Cobb takes a calm, realistic approach to this growing problem, explaining how to guard your system from today's most common threats, including:

  • Hackers and other interlopers
  • Viruses, worms, and logic bombs
  • Vandals and thieves
  • Competitors and industrial spies
  • Disgruntled and/or careless employees
  • Power failures
  • Fires and other catastrophes

And, since an increasing number of offices are connecting their computer systems together, Cobb examines not only the security aspects of stand-alone PCs, but also the problems that face local area networks (LANs).

Throughout, the emphasis is on how to create effective security through careful planning, simple precautions, and user-training, rather than with expensive equipment. Whether you're a PC owner or a network administrator, this comprehensive guide can show you how to improve the security of your data without spending a fortune.

  1. The Need for Security
    • Good news and bad news
    • Personal computer security defined
    • What is at stake
    • Do you really need this book?
    • Attacks, threats, and scares
    • Questions of security
    • What is assumed
    • Summary
  2. The First Steps
    • People, people, people
    • Backup, backup, backup
    • Under lock and key
    • Turning on your computers
    • Secure boot
    • Summary
  3. The First Steps
    • Basic file protection
    • While you're away from me
    • Password protection
    • Disk disaster recovery and prevention
  4. Analysis and Planning
    • The terminology of risk
    • Methodology
    • Performing risk evaluation
    • The questions to ask
    • Assessing probability
    • Assessing value
    • Security policy
    • A contingency plan
    • Begin again
    • Commercial analysis and planning systems
    • Summary
  5. Securing Hardware
    • A secure example
    • Hardware restraint
    • Power and internal control
    • Damage protection
    • Making your mark
    • Securing the perimeter
    • Protecting the whole system
    • Faking it
    • An introduction to batch files
    • A range of products
    • Summary
  6. Keeping the Computers Running
    • Power to the computer
    • Fuses, grounds, and breakers
    • Regulating the power supply
    • The noise problem
    • Line conditioners
    • Buyer beware
    • Guaranteeing the power supply
    • Software assistance
    • Batteries included
    • Global village?
    • Computer insurance
    • Summary
  7. Controlling Computer Access
    • Site access control
    • Physical keys
    • Physical key management
    • Authentication hardware
    • The unattended system
    • Electronic eavesdropping
    • Batch files for boot control
    • Using the ASK command
    • The ANSWER command
    • Using REPLY.COM
    • Safety via CONFIG.SYS
    • Boot disk problems
    • A secure design
    • Other hardware approaches
    • Summary
  8. Controlling File Access
    • The role of file access control
    • A file access scenario
    • Free password protection
    • Prying into files
    • The technicalities of encryption
    • Password selection and management
    • Commercial access controls for DOS systems
    • Footnote: The secrecy/privacy debate
    • Summary
  9. File Backup
    • The backup dilemma
    • Backup strategies
    • Backing up to floppies
    • Data, files, and backup tape
    • High-capacity removable media
    • Optical storage
    • Cost factors
    • Evaluating backup software
    • Backup commands in DOS
    • The restoration
    • The COPY commands
    • Third-party DOS backup
    • Macintosh backup
    • Software safety nets
    • Summary
  10. The Virus Threat
    • Good news and bad news
    • What viruses are
    • Where they come from
    • Virus awareness
    • The virus makers
    • Virus examples
    • Defensive measures
    • Defensive techniques
    • Anti-virus hardware
    • Anti-virus software
    • Further anti-virus programs
    • If you are infected
    • Summary
  11. Software Piracy and Pitfalls
    • Software piracy
    • Why people cheat
    • A history of copy-protection
    • Onlookers and interlopers
    • Formatting, erasing, and recovering
    • Access after the fact
    • Summary
  12. Network and Communication Security
    • The combatants
    • The field of combat
    • Network background and terminology
    • Current network offerings
    • The network hardware security angle
    • Networking and fault tolerance
    • The network software security angle
    • Security on Novell networks
    • Telephone connections
    • Micro-to-mainframe
    • Quick links
    • Hot links
    • Summary
  13. Hackers and Other Human Factors
    • The people problem
    • The people solution
    • Hackers
    • Hacking and the law
    • Anti-hacking protection
    • Summary
  14. Conclusion and Future Developments
    • Grand summary
    • The layered approach
    • The next front
    • Conclusion
  1. Company Listing
  2. Going On-Line for Security
  3. A Catalog of Viruses

Reviews

The Stephen Cobb Complete Book of PC and LAN Security

Reviewed by Roland Buresund

Excrement * (1 out of 10)

Last modified: Nov. 15, 2008, 1:41 a.m.

AAAARRRGGG!!!!! I'm ashamed to own this book. Qualified bullshit that makes a press release from Microsoft look truthful.

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