Sidebar: Security Log

October 27, 2003 12:00 PM ET

Computerworld - Bluefire Boosts Wireless Security
Bluefire Security Technologies Inc. in Baltimore announced a version of its Mobile Firewall Plus security software for carriers of wireless services. The software is designed to protect mobile devices such as PDAs and smart phones from a variety of security threats, including unauthorized access, denial-of-service attacks, information theft and spoofing, according to the company. The technology is aimed at carriers operating GPRS and CDMA wireless networks.
Security Bookshelf
Secrets of Computer Espionage: Tactics and Countermeasures, by Joel McNamara; John Wiley & Sons, 2003.
This is a curious book, written by an ex-Microsoft staffer who takes credit for having developed one of the first macro viruses (a dubious achievement). McNamara exposes the tactics hackers use to spy on people at their computers and discusses the ways users can protect themselves. He packs the text with juicy anecdotes and news reports of spy activity. These stories, which range from companies stealing one another's secrets to corrupt cops and tales of global intelligence agencies, are an enjoyable read. I also appreciated the inclusion of the pricing information for the products he discusses. Too many books simply refer you to the vendor.
Unfortunately, the book's biggest strength is also its one fault: McNamara spends too much time on the attack anecdotes and not enough providing in-depth details on how to keep your systems safe. This book is entertaining, but as a security professional, I found it more useful as a source of budget-justifying stories than as a source of practical, hands-on advice.
-- Vince Tuesday

Secrets of Computer Espionage: Tactics and Countermeasures

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