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Black Hat
Biggs is a technical journalist with more than seven years of real-world IT experience (programming and management), and he handles complex topics on the page in a fun, easy to understand manner. The book begins with the tale of a hapless spam victim in Germany, and moves on to introduce us to Alan Ralsky, the "spam king of Detroit."
Ralsky describes himself as an honorable marketing professional, but a Detroit Free Press article in November of 2002 pointed out that his computers vomit out more than 650,000 emails each hour. While his label of spammer or marketer may be debatable, there's no question about his efficiency. From the interview with Ralsky, Biggs moves into telling the story of his own struggle with spam. The discussion then turns to various relevant legal and social issues, and this shift is a hallmark of the book's positive qualities.
Black Hat effortlessly moves from straightforward factual reporting to first-person narratives to social and political commentary. The factual sections are just-the-facts-ma'am-reporting that would seem at home in any newspaper or technical journal. The first-person narrative sections are funny and reassuring. For leery technophobes like me, it's nice to know the experts struggle with many of the same computer bugaboos that plague me. The political and social commentary sections succinctly explain legal and cultural influences that shape the world of the internet today.
A good example of the political commentary is the chapter entitled "Upload or Perish: Pirates." As an aspiring author myself, I've always found myself believing that "sharing" intellectual property was inherently wrong. So I chose not to use Napster or Kazaa or the other options and totally agreed with efforts to prosecute active Napster users. But in this chapter, Biggs points out the misguided attempts of the industry by targeting the wrong people in their fight against sharing and piracy. In Eastern Europe and China, there are CD-pressing factories spewing out thousands of copies, complete with jewel case, printed insert, and full-color printing that are almost impossible to distinguish from the real product.
Biggs writes: "BMG Music representative Rob Anderson told me that many of the pirates have better CD and DVD reproducing equipment than even the large, official distributors." The discussion of industry actions targeting the wrong people continues with "Record companies can sue as many 12-year-olds as they want...but the equation will always be the same: piracy cannot be stopped." Detailed explanations of key landmark piracy lawsuits follow and the chapter ends with Biggs providing some suggestions for how the industry can help themselves in more effective ways, rather than attacking kids with home computers and a Jones for Metallica. Quite simply, he states the industry should use the technology to effectively deliver their product, at a reasonable cost, to the consumer. If listeners are going to share files, then the industry should harness the technology instead of stomping their feet and demanding that teenagers continue to trek down to the local mall and spend twenty dollars on a CD that may only have one or two good songs.
Personally, I'm still not sure that I believe in file sharing. Just because something isn't tangible (it's music or it's words or it's code) doesn't mean someone didn't work hard for it and invest in it. But Biggs' illuminating discussion certainly made me see how the industry has mismanaged their very lifeblood. I may not be file sharing anytime soon, but I won't be part of the angry mob hunting down file sharers any longer.
In Black Hat, Biggs manages to clearly explain certain technical aspects of spam, viruses, and other internet parasites. For instance, we've all seen that pile of gibberish at beginning of spam e-mails and Biggs explicates that mess in a way that anyone can understand. Like those rare moments in high-school English class when the teacher explains a poem that you always thought was unintelligible garbage, and the light goes on, and suddenly that long-haired Brit makes sense -- after reading Black Hat, I now understand much of what was to me only gibberish before.
In the chapter entitled "Shockwave: Worms and Viruses," Biggs dissects a simple, working worm. The worm was written by 16-year-old in Austria named Second Part to Hell with a taste for programming to White Zombie. Biggs interviews the worm writer and delves into the world of programmers he likens to sword makers, steeped in art and tradition. They do not include any dangerous payloads in their worms, but the possibility that someone could use the worm for malevolence isn't their concern, any more than the sword maker worries about how the weapon is being used. The dissection of Second Part to Hell's worm begins by actually showing the PHP web-programming code. Biggs then walks through each section, explaining how the worm selects which files to infect, creates a copy of itself, and processes its code to spread, and finally appends itself to the top of each file so it can seek out new victims.
The book goes on to discuss Nigerian 419 scammers, malicious virus writers, hacking legends like Lord Digital, spyware, and ultimately what a user can do to protect their computer and data. Entertaining and educational, Black Hat was a valuable read to a non-technical person like me. Best of all, John Biggs' suggestions for protecting my computer against the frightening aspects of the internet have made my cyber activities more comfortable and secure.
You can purchase Black Hat: Misfits, Criminals, and Scammers in the Internet Age from bn.com. Slashdot welcomes readers' book reviews. To see your own review here, carefully read the book review guidelines, then visit the submission page.
I have to ask, is the treatment of "spyware" and "419 scams" only a mention in the book, or is there some detail given to these important subjects?
Also, I am technical, too, but I readily admit to buying and reading "... for Dummys" series books on many (including technical) subjects. It's nice to see a Slashdot review for this type of book.
Kinetic stupidity has a new brand leader: Allen Zadr.
His arguments are convincing. Email is an incredible communications medium, but the bottomless goodwill of the early Internet generation is fast turning into exasperation. I believe he gives the little guy a chance to get his message heard through opt-in emails. Most everyone else disagrees.
Almost everyone in the world with an email account gets thousands of solicitations weekly, even daily, and that's just the beginning. I admit it's an annoyance, but his email is solicited and he stands by his removal schema, going so far as to hire a full-time staffer just to process removal requests.
Those assassination threats are real. Be sure to do as you are told.
A book for n00bs about the terrors of Black Hats isn't going to instill too much confidence, or desire to go online at all. Who's going to buy it except FUD lovers?
When I get an unexpected e-mail, I'm sure it's from some identity theft villain full of virtual lock picks just dying to snatch all my private information.
Because going through life in perpetual fear is always the best way to deal with it.
If you are afraid of something, learn about it. If it doesn't make the fear go away, at least you can learn how to minimize the threat.
(I think that's what this book is about)
Those sending $49.95 will receive a full, detailed rebuttal to these scurrilous attacks against my clients. Or better yet, send your credit card number and we'll just bill you.
I am just curious cause I've been looking for something like this to explain to my parents, both of whom are self-described computer-stupid, and are in need of such knowledge due to some past issues. They're the type of people who might use the acronym CPU and mean a hard drive, if you know what I mean, when describing computer problems. Is this something I could give to them and they'd understand, or is this something I give to someone who's already has a technical understanding of computers?
"What can a thoughtful man hope for mankind on Earth, given the experience of the past million years? Nothing." -Bokonon
From the review
Personally, I'm still not sure that I believe in file sharing. Just because something isn't tangible (it's music or it's words or it's code) doesn't mean someone didn't work hard for it and invest in it. But Biggs' illuminating discussion certainly made me see how the industry has mismanaged their very lifeblood. I may not be file sharing anytime soon, but I won't be part of the angry mob hunting down file sharers any longer.
This suggests that the way to get this message out to people is more through media (books, maybe films?) than just whining about it amongst ourselves or trying to argue with people.
On the other hand, the reviewer is specifically reading the book, looking for this information, rather than having it forced on him, so would seem to be more receptive.
It's just too bad that the media is owned by so few people, all of whom have a vested interest in keeping things the way they are.
Rhymes that keep their secrets will unfold behind the clouds.There upon the rainbow is the answer to a neverending story
At least works like this will help to increase the awareness that the fact that people could be out to screw you over does not disappear and give way to a fairy-tale world just because you go online. People who would feel insecure not locking their cars and their houses do some amazingly stupid things online because there's still this idea that Microsoft or the Web site (think online shopping) or their ISP will take care of all security matters for them. I hope the book sells well, as awareness in this area is sorely needed, plus it sounds entertaining.
It is a miracle that curiosity survives formal education. - Einstein
It's funny, if you go to his site, do a select all and you'll see black on black text with the name: EditRegion1. That's a DreamWeaver template. Oh well, this is an uninteresting fact.
Not even a mention of satelite king Cap'n Crunch.
I am Bennett Haselton! I am Bennett Haselton!
If you are afraid of something, learn about it.
Um, that's probably the reason the reviewer bought the book.
Am I on? or maybe I have a whole chapter... but wait... I have to get caught before anyone knows enough about me to through me in a book.
- Your stupidity got you into this mess, why can't it get you out? -Will Rogers
Okay, you've admitted that you're not technically competent, but now you're claiming that the book is providing you with "more than enough information about how to protect my vulnerable computer"??? How do YOU know? Just because you're paranoid (which is good in this case) doesn't make you competent enough to judge the merits of this text. On the other hand, it just might be a good one.
Just another day in Paradise
Condescend much?
But what I lack in technical skills, I more than make up in apprehension about the darker aspects of the internet. What?
This site IS for experts, and we aren't going to be interested in a book that is for 'laymen'.
I think it's a suggestion for our Xmas shopping lists, in order to keep Uncle Louie from calling all the time asking if such-and-such email is fake or not...
Stop by my site where I write about ERP systems & more
Be sure to send this book to your parents then send them here.
:)
My mom didn't find it that funny..
To summarize:
- Misfits, Crinimals, and Scammers, Oh MY!
- Misfits, Crinimals, and Scammers, Oh MY!
Were off to see the Wizard, the wonderful Wizard of WorTheres no place like 127.0.0.1
Theres no place like 127.0.0.1
I've always found myself believing that "sharing" intellectual property was inherently wrong.
Even if it is PART of their business model?
as in shareware, radio, publicly displayed art, etc...
Do you feel you owe an artist or his family a few dollars if you enjoy a statue or a painting?
What about the architect when you enjoy a building or a park?
It's good to post it because we all know someone who could use a book like this.
My mother-in-law, brother-in-law and wife who like to download libraries of "little smilies" from banner ads, chocked full of spyware, who don't understand attachments and their danger are prime examples.
I can explain it till I'm blue in the face, but all I get is a blank stare. A professional writer, with a sense of humour, might be able to get through to them.
I disagree. There are various levels of expertise. I could be an expert in computational theory, but have only a passing familiarity with network intrusion. I think this type of book is great for filling knowledge gaps that each one of us have. And a review of such book is indeed appropriate for /.
Besides, it's important for us technologists to understand the human side of technology. All of these cybercrimes is a result of the innovation that we made and it's imperative that we look towards the social aspects as well as the technical.
"Glory is fleeting but obscurity is forever" - Napoleon Bonapart.
It would be interesting to hear Mr. Biggs' comments if his profits from his book were suddenly cut in half by an e-book version winding its way through Limwire, kazaa, and bit torrents.
spend twenty dollars on a CD that may only have one or two good songs.
<P>Ah, good, this old chestnut. Guess what? Risk is part of life. The meal you buy may not be up to snuff, the album you buy may not be 100% excellent all the way through. Whoop-de-doo.
<P>Also, that $20 is getting you 60+ minutes of music whereas 25 years ago more money (inflation, remember?) would get you a 35 minute LP.
It doesn't mean much now, it's built for the future.
Black Hat
Moderation Insight
/. is not only for experts. I am an expert on scams but not computers. I am far from one and I still read /. everyday. It is very informative and educational.
BTW, I can not wait to order this book. It looks like a fun read.
For one, this could be a very useful book for us to buy and hand off to relatives, S.O.'s, bosses, etc.
;-)
Second, nobody said this was a site for experts. It's just news for nerds. No claim as to whether those are *expert* nerds or not.
Condescend much?
I wouldn't worry your pretty little head about it.
It hasn't happened yet, and I doubt that it ever will.
I survived the Dick Cheney Presidency 7 to 9 AM 7-21-07
..if you brush up on your technical skills, you'd be able to replace your paranoia based on ignorance with a more healthy attitude based on relevant knowledge.
Personally, I'm still not sure that I believe in file sharing. Just because something isn't tangible (it's music or it's words or it's code) doesn't mean someone didn't work hard for it and invest in it.
I believe the growth of intangibles in our society will require a cultural/corporate paradigm shift. As much as we'd like to believe otherwise, the amount of effort we exert is not the only factor which determines our effort's worth. Supply and Demand.
The proliferation of books and music has traditionally be limited by access and the physical space they take up amongst your personal belongings (unless you go to your Library - Does anyone know if there have been similar historical issues with brick and mortar libraries?). The internet has become a digital library with no return date but, current laws make this illegal.
Here's an idea... How about instead of creating wrapper technologies which block sharing songs, books, and code, all are freely available but wraped in technologies which allow for easy donation to the effort's creator? An encoder which integrates certificates and paypal. I got nothing against middle (wo)men... they can maintain the servers. I can't imagine that this doesn't exist somewhere already...
Michalangelo Progr
It's people like you, enforcer999 (733591) that have ruined slashdot. Come back when you get a UID in the first quarter-million.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
But what I lack in technical skills, I more than make up in apprehension about the darker aspects of the internet
Oh, well... in that case you're hired. Who needs technical skills if you're a certified fraidy cat?
"Is this just useless, or is it expensive as well?"
Perhaps this is a touch offtopic, but I think this is a very misunderstood attack strategy on the part of the RIAA and there are quite a few people who seem not to understand it. Not understanding things technical is the point of this thread. =) If I've misrepresented something, someone ought to tell me.
The point of "attacking uploaders" is that people in a P2P network are essentially selfish. So long as they can get their own content, most parties in the network derive no benefit from uploading to others. People are much more likely to "stop uploading" than they are to "stop downloading" because of this. Instead of attacking people where it matters (Stop getting things for free!), the RIAA strategy works by cutting off the supply (Stop this annoying service that eats up your bandwith and doesn't provide you any benefit).
The problem, of course, is that if *everyone* stops sharing, the P2P network ceases to exist, and if a large enough majority stops sharing, the network becomes bogged down by bandwith issues (because the only way to operate a truly efficient network is to have truly distributed bandwith).
Essentially, the "Stop Uploading" attack has little to do with the fact that the RIAA places some sort of greater moral or legal weight on actually copying a file for someone else. Instead, it's a clever, underhanded way of attacking a P2P network designed to fly under the radar of most pseudo-techies operating nodes.
If you're interested in that stuff, I guess it might be worth checking out.
Which is yet another way of saying people fear what they do not understand.
I'm sorry. That was mean.
--- Ban humanity.
I think that if you look at copyright law, it is not illegal to receive an illegal copy of something. Copyright law makes it illegal to *distribute* copyrighted material.
So the guy downloading a file isn't breaking the law - the guy uploading it is. Or at least they can make a much more clear-cut case in court that the uploader has broken the law.
What?
LETS DECOMPOSE & ENJOY ASSEMBLING
In fact, I'll probably have to get someone to help me add in the tags necessary to convert this review to readable HTML.
/. ID and password, I'd be happy to log in with your ID and add the HTML links to goats^c^c^c^c^c ... um, I mean the HTML to post your story.
If you post your
It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men. -Frederick Douglass
Yes, it would. Too bad that it doesn't work that way in reality. The Baen Free Library has found that the dead-tree copies of their titles actually increase in sales after being posted online for free download.
No book on Black Hats would be complete without an interview with Fyodor in it.
Google confirms: Ruby is the world's most beloved programm
Except that swordmaking takes skill and years of experience, as opposed to running a one-line script.
----
"Ours was a free culture. It is becoming much less so."-Lawrence Lessig
You don't like it, but I hoped that it would be funny. Which makes it more effective than explaining that I don't feel that this guy is very credible, because he seems to feel that the next best thing to understanding something is fearing it.
"John Bigg's new book Black Hat: Misfits, Criminals, and Scammers in the Internet Age is an entertaining and educational book that provides me with more than enough information about how to protect my vulnerable computer."
Considering that you already said that you're not very technical, I fail to see how you are qualified to make this judgement.
Hopefully the book makes the point that the only truly secure computer is one that is locked in a shielded vault without any internet connection (and some would say that the power cord should be unplugged just to make damn sure...).
Even the "experts" have been wrong about what it means to be "secure" before. Once upon a time you were ok as long as you didn't run any executables that were sent to you. Then you were ok as long as you didn't run any server programs. These days just the act of surfing the web without the latest patches or leaving your computer connected to the internet without a firewall is inviting disaster. Who would have thought?
I used to laugh at Star Trek episodes where a virus would make it onto the Enterprise by travelling backwards through a carrier wave or something equally ridiculous, and I always thought "haha, no computer viruse would ever spread that way, fools!". Now I have to think "heck, who knows... in the future maybe computer viruses *will* spread that way".
are scary then others.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
it's been shown, over and over, that the 'donation' system does not work with internet distribution.
The Kruger Dunning explains most post on
When I read the title of this article, was anybody else thinking it was some sort of (evil) Red Hat fork?
My rights don't need management.
"When I get an unexpected e-mail, I'm sure it's from some identity theft villain full of virtual lock picks just dying to snatch all my private information."
Nonsense. Just decent, hard-working Nigerians who believe in the virtues of charity. Silly paranoids.
That's because reading a whole book on line makes your eyes bleed. I would rather buy a book then try and read it on line any day.
If I remember correctly from my elective music business course in college, there's actually a precedent involved. Making a single copy, or even several copies, of a recording to give to friends in actually considered Fair Use. It's only when profit is involved, or the numbers are large enough to really make a difference to the copyright owner, that it starts to look like infringement to a judge.
So the guy who downloads one song at a time for his personal use is less likely to be ruled against than the guy who makes his music collection available to millions of other users.
I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm speaking through the incorrect orifice.
I life my life for myself. Many will think that a selfish attitude, and they are right. But it is no more selfish than those who would tell me how to live my life, for example by telling me to not climb mountains, get shot at, or sleep alone and unprotected in Grizzly country. It is my life, and my choices. I believe that life is about choosing either to live, or merely exist. For me, living is seeking out experiences and challenges, and I'd rather die while living, even if it be fighting to save the life of someone else, rather than to die in a chair of an aneurism.
There better be a whole chapter dedicated to SCO.
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
Hard work doesn't necessitate a return on investment
This just won't work. Maybe you should try out this system with your boss: give them your work for free, and make it easy for them to make donations to you. It is very reasonable to try and charge people for your work, even if it is intangible.
There is a precedent with literature and art (in the past), one that much of science currently uses: grants. If these intangible works are in the public good, then the public should sponsor them. In Mexico, artists are allowed to pay their taxes in art. We should up funding for individual artists, not cut off their paychecks.
Your loss. I've read several books on my laptop. IMHO, it's no different than reading slashdot, minus the trolls and lame running gags.
Doesn't it make sense for slashdot to at least post a biographical blurb of the reviewer?
So at least we know some of the potential conflicts of interest or biases that the reviewer may have.
Because going through life in perpetual fear is always the best way to deal with it.
Perpetual vigilance, on the other hand...
Wouldn't say that I'm paranoid - but back in my windows days - and to some extent even now running Linux - I treat(ed) every email attachment as a potential virus. Probably why I never got infected via email (infected just once, thru other computers at a LAN game.)
I do know some windows users who *are* afraid of viruses - and I'm not sure they are all that wrong to be, either - not when you have to call a tech and pay $ if your computer gets hosed.
SB
It's old. The more humans I meet, the more I like my cats. At least they are honest.
The same person who said just about everything else of importance: James Brown.
And of course, I should know.
If you are afraid of something, learn about it
I'd love to, but I'm too busy cleaning the sand out of my nostrils.
'No rational religion claims "supernatural" exists, that's an atheist slander.' - seen on slashdot.
If you see someone walking around your house with a pair of shears, watch out, because that's the guy who emailed you saying he's going to get you SNIPPED.