Computer & Internet Security: A Hands-on Approach (2nd Edition)

Specifications

Book Description

The author has 18 years of experience teaching and conducting research, and this book is based on those experiences. The most fundamental aspects of computer and internet security are discussed, such as cryptography, web security, network security, web security, and software and hardware security. It is intended to teach readers how different types of attacks function, what the root causes of those attacks are, how to defend themselves against those attacks, and how different types of defense mechanisms operate. The book is appropriate for use as a textbook for classes at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Since its initial publication in the latter half of 2017, more than eighty educational institutions, including universities and colleges, have purchased and implemented the first edition of this book.

The author has a firm belief in the concept of “learning by doing,” and as a result, the book takes a practical approach. Instead of just reading about the security principles, readers are able to touch, play with, and experiment with the principles themselves thanks to the book's use of a series of hands-on activities to help explain each of the security principles. For instance, if a security principle entails an attack, the book walks readers through the steps necessary to carry out the attack (in a contained environment). In some instances, if a principle involves a security mechanism such as a firewall or Virtual Private Network (VPN), the book guides readers to implement a mini-version of such a mechanism. Examples of such mechanisms include the Virtual Private Network (VPN) and the firewall (e.g., mini-firewall or mini-VPN). Readers can improve their knowledge by participating in activities of this kind.

The hands-on activities are based on the author's widely adopted SEED Labs, which have been utilized by over 1000 institutes located in more than 65 different countries.