The Personal Internet Security Guidebook is a complete guide to protecting your computer(s) on the Internet. The newest attack point for hackers is home computers on DSL and/or cable modems. This book will show you how to set up a home network and protect it from the "bad dudes." Also covered in this book is how to protect your computer on the road. Many hotels are now offering high-speed Internet access and this book will show you how to keep your computer safe in the hotel room as well as on the hotel network.

This is a how-to guide to keeping your personal computer safe on the Internet. Following the success of The Internet Security Guidebook, the authors have used their expertise to create a book specifically addressing home computers and traveling notebooks. Included in this book is a comprehensive list of vendors and services. Included are these key elements: protecting your PC on the Internet, home firewall software, how to set up a home network, protecting your PC on the road, and protecting your PC via DSL and/or cable modem.

A comprehensive list of vendors and services that you can download or purchase
Key elements such as: protecting your PC on the internet
How to fully utilise home firewall software
How to set-up a home network
Information on protecting you PC on the road
Information on protecting your PC via DSL and cable modems

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The text appears not to have been edited, or even proof-read: In a chapter describing the history of the Internet, Vinton Cerf is sometimes "Cert" and sometimes "Cerf," even on the same page! In one case, the author states "So Cerf (yes dudes, not SERF!) and Kahn developed a new protocol..." and a few paragraphs later, "You see, the original model that Cert and Kahn put together...." (P.11). These quotes also give a good taste of the author's writing style, which might be described as "faux au courant."

Beyond that, the material is very disorganized. Every page seems to be peppered with seemingly random footnotes, often providing trivial information, while many obscure acronyms are never even explained at all.

The book is 200 pages long, much of it taken up with screenshots and diagrams. 40 of those pages are devoted to a list of security-related hardware and software tools with descriptions obviously copied from the vendor's advertising materials, and much of it already out-of-date. The foreword is by the CEO of Linksys. whose products are featured in many screenshots, and who is further flattered with a 2/3 page bio (more than is devoted to all three authors combined on the back cover), leading me to believe that the book is a Linksys commission with some additional support from the other sources mentioned.

The book is a quick read, and it might appeal to the dumb and dumber crowd, but I wouldn't trust it or recommend it for anyone else.

2 of 3 found the following review helpful:

Hackers at the doorJan 13, 2003

This book was very useful ---- I found that I get attacked every day --- due to logs on my router. I agree with one of the other reviews -- too much Linksys stuff ... but still a great book and provided me with the information I needed to block these constant attacks on my cable modem line.

1 of 2 found the following review helpful:

Good Simple Easy to understandNov 24, 2001

I was very impressed with the way the author was able to simplify the discussions around securing your computers, whether it be at home or a laptop on the road. The list of reference websites was amazing and proves that the author took the time to research the book carefully. He did not just give simple instructions for securing the computer. He actually took the time to explain what everything was and why it was important to make the changes. Good book for novices at home and can help fill in the gaps for more knowledgeable people. An excellent resource and reference. I recommend it.

0 of 1 found the following review helpful:

Home router protectionMar 15, 2003

I was able to use the advise from this book to setup my home router. I have been watching the logs and it is amazing how many times on any one day that I get attacked. I have a cable modem at my apt. This book was great on the details about how to setup the home router.