Counter Hack: A Step-by-Step Guide to Computer Attacks and Effective Defenses - Softcover

Skoudis, Edward

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130332739 ISBN 13: 9780130332738

Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR, 2002

Synopsis

This informal, step-by-step guide will empower every network and system administrator to defend their network assets, whether or not they have security experience. It covers both Unix and Windows platforms, presenting in-depth descriptions of the inner workings of the most destructive hacker tools, and proven, step-by-step countermeasures. Skoudis begins by presenting the hacker's view of networks and their vulnerabilities, with especially detailed coverage of how hackers view the TCP/IP protocol suite. He introduces all five phases of hacking: reconnaissance (targeting of a network); scanning for network vulnerabilities; gaining access and exploiting the system; maintaining access; and preventing detection. Counter Hack presents in-depth descriptions of the most widespread and dangerous attack scenarios, and the most widely-used hacker tools, including war dialers, port scanners, firewall scanners, sniffers, session hijackers, and more. For all system administrators, network administrators, security specialists, and others directly involved in protecting network and computing infrastructure.

About this title

Review

In defending your systems against intruders and other meddlers, a little knowledge can be used to make the bad guys--particularly the more casual among them--seek out softer targets. Counter Hack aims to provide its readers with enough knowledge to toughen their Unix and Microsoft Windows systems against attacks in general, and with specific knowledge of the more common sorts of attacks that can be carried out by relatively unskilled "script kiddies." The approach author Ed Skoudis has chosen is effective, in that his readers accumulate the knowledge they need and generally enjoy the process.

The best part of this book may be two chapters, one each for Windows and Unix, that explain the essential security terms, conventions, procedures, and behaviors of each operating system. This is the sort of information that readers need--a Unix person getting into Windows administration for the first time needs an introduction to the Microsoft security scheme, and vice versa. A third chapter explains TCP/IP with focus on security. With that groundwork in place, Skoudis explains how (with emphasis on tools) attackers look for vulnerabilities in systems, gain access, and maintain their access for periods of time without being discovered. You'll probably want to search online resources for more specific information--Skoudis refers to several--but this book by itself will provide you with the vocabulary and foundation knowledge you need to get the details you want. --David Wall

Topics covered: How black-hat hackers work, what tools and techniques they use, and how to assess and improve your systems' defenses. The author explains how Windows, Unix, and TCP/IP can be exploited for nefarious purposes, and details a modus operandi that's typical of the bad guys.

From the Back Cover

The Next Generation Hacker Book

The step-by-step guide to defending against hacker intrusions!

• Defend against today's most powerful hacker attacks!
• Hands-on, step-by-step techniques for UNIX/Linux and Windows environments
• Intrusion detection: New evasion techniques—and countermeasures
• By the security expert who demonstrated hacking to the U.S. Senate!

This easy-to-use, step-by-step guide will empower network and system administrators to defend their information and computing assets—whether or not they have security experience. In Counter Hack, leading network security expert Edward Skoudis presents comprehensive, insider's explanations of today's most destructive hacker tools and tactics-and specific, proven countermeasures for both UNIX and Windows environments. Skoudis covers all this and more:

• Know your adversary: from script kiddies to elite attackers
• A hacker's view of networks, TCP/IP protocols, and their vulnerabilities
• Five phases of hacking: reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, maintaining access, and preventing detection
• The most dangerous and widespread attack scenarios—explained in depth
• Key hacker tools: port scanners, firewall scanners, sniffers, session hijackers, RootKits, and more
• How hackers build elegant attacks from simple building blocks
• Detecting and preventing IP spoofing, covert channels, denial of service attacks, and other key attacks
• How hackers cover their tracks—and how you can uncover their handiwork
• A preview of tomorrow's hacker tools, attacks, and countermeasures

Whatever your role in protecting network infrastructure and data, Counter Hack delivers proven solutions you can implement right now—and long-term strategies that will improve security for years to come.

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall PTR
• Publication date: 2002
• ISBN 10: 0130332739
• ISBN 13: 9780130332738
• Binding: Paperback
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 564