Book details of 'Stealing the Network: How to Own a Continent'

Title	Stealing the Network: How to Own a Continent
Author(s)	FX, Paul Craig, Joe Grand, Dan Kaminsky, Fyodor, Ryan Russell, Temmingh, Beale
ISBN	1931836051
Language	English
Publisher	Syngress Publishing

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The Virtual Bookcase Reviews of 'Stealing the Network: How to Own a Continent':

Reviewer Rob Slade wrote:
This book is fiction (more a series of short stories or scenarios than a novel), but, like Winn Schwartau's "Pearl Harbor Dot Com" (cf. BKPRHRDC.RVW, and "Terminal Compromise" before it, BKTRMCMP.RVW), the authors intend the book to be taken as a serious addition to security literature. Chapter one is basically about hiding and paranoia. The central character seems to be using a considerable amount of money to hide while setting up some kind of crime, and then abandons everything. The points in regard to ensuring computers and data are unrecoverable are interesting, and probably workable. The more important aspects of the plot which involve creating a team, employing cutouts, and disappearing are left almost completely undetailed. If, therefore, we are supposed to learn anything either about crime, or how to detect or prevent it, the content and information simply aren't there. The claim that the "technology" is real, and would work, is unverifiable because we haven't had any technology yet. (The writing is edgy, interesting, and mostly readable. However, it's also difficult and confused in places.) The story continues, via another character (two, actually) in chapter two. This time the technical aspects are more detailed (and fairly realistic) although the community factors are questionable (and the story has some important gaps). (I can personally vouch for the fact that the description of the physical attributes of that specific hotel are bang on, although the ... umm ... social amenities are not.) An "Aftermath" section is at the end of every chapter. In some instances the segment provides a little advice on detecting the attacks described in the story, but this is by no means true in all cases. Nothing much is added in chapter three: a wireless network is penetrated for a second time. Man-in-the-middle attacks, some IP, and UNIX cracking are added in chapter four, phone phreaking in five, and sniffing and rootkits in six. Chapters seven and eight describe software analysis and exploits. Malware is used in chapter nine, although there are the usual unresolved problems with directing attacks and limiting spread. The lack of particulars on the intent of the attack makes the chapter quite perplexing. As with any volume where multiple authors work on separate chapters, the quality of the writing varies. (That the authors did strive together on the overall plot is evident from a few subtle ties between different stories. An appendix lists some of the discussion in this regard: for those interested in the process of writing and collaboration it is an interesting piece in its own right.) One specific point is that a few sections have very stilted dialogue. Overall, most of the book is readable as fiction, although it is hardly thriller level plotting. Since it is fiction, the story has to be a story, and interesting, and therefore contain elements that are not related to the technology under examination. It is difficult to draw the line between not enough and too much, but the authors do seem to have included an awful lot of material that is unimportant either to the security functions or to the plot. A number of these digressions are simply confusing. The characters used in the stories are frequently stereotypes, although not always of the same type. (I was very amused by the note that the book attempted to remain true to geek culture, including "swearing, boorishness, and allusions to sex without there being any actual sex.") If you watch a lot of movies with somewhat technical themes you can recognize where quite a number of personae come from. Basic editing is the province of the publisher rather than the author(s), but it must be noted that spelling, grammatical, and typographical errors are surprisingly common. Not enough to be a real annoyance, but a proper copy edit would have improved the book quite a bit. This book is certainly interesting enough (albeit rather disjointed) as fiction, and technical enough for everyone tired of the usual Hollywood view of computers. The security risks noted are real, and therefore a read through the book could be used to alert non- specialists to a number of security issues and vulnerabilities (although you'd hardly want to use it for training). I enjoyed it and I think it's got a place, although I'm having difficulty in defining where that place is. copyright Robert M. Slade, 2004
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Book description:

Unfortunately, the prospect of evil forces unleashing an all out cyber-terrorism attack on the civilized world is no longer just a bad dream. There are now forces at work with the motive and the means to cripple the Internet, arguably, all they need now is the opportunity. This work of fiction is written by some of the leading security and counter-terrorism experts in the world today, and it outlines a plot to "own the box" on a truly global scale by compromising an entire continent's network infrastructure. The authors bring to life a scary cast of characters and set them on a course of imminent cyber-attack, shedding light on some of the most lethal hacks yet imagined. In-the-know readers will recognize the technologies, scenarios, and threatened intrusions. The first book in the "Stealing the Network" series was called a "blockbuster" by Wired magazine, a "refreshing change from more traditional computer books" by Slashdot.org, and "an entertaining and informative look at the weapons and tactics employed by those who attack and defend digital systems" by Amazon.com. This follow-on book once again combines a set of fictional stories with real technology to show readers the danger that lurks in the shadows of the information security industry... Could hackers take over a continent?