Harley Hahn's Internet Insecurity - Softcover

Hahn, Harley

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0130334480 ISBN 13: 9780130334480

Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr, 2001

Synopsis

Explores such online security concerns as government surveillance, privacy issues, including the misuse of personal data, viruses, Internet commerce, the effect of the Internet on relationships, detection, and prevention.

About this title

About the Author

Harley has a degree in mathematics and computer science from the University of Waterloo, Canada, and a graduate degree in computer science from the University of California at San Diego. Before becoming a professional writer and the author of more than two dozen books, Harley studied medicine at the University of Toronto. When Harley is not writing, he reads a lot, paints, plays the piano and gives advice to anyone who will listen.

From the Back Cover

By the author of Harley Hahn's Internet Yellow Pages...over two million copies in print!

Why Your Privacy, Security, and Safety are at risk and what you can do about it.

You are being watched!

• Do you have at a right to privacy at work? The answer may scare you. See "Why You Are On Your Own" in Chapter 2.
• Would you like to know how to protect your personal information at work? It's easy. Just read "Cleaning Out Your Computer Every Day" in Chapter 4.
• Do you suspect that your spouse may be having an online affair? Don't be fooled. See "8 Signs That Your Spouse is Having an Online Affair" in Chapter 14.
• Don't get fooled. That suspicious message may not be true. Find out by reading "8 Sure-fire Ways to Spot an Email Hoax" in Chapter 8.
• Are you concerned about the government monitoring your Internet activities? You're in for a surprise. See "Is Big Brother Really Watching?" in Chapter 1.
• Why are big companies allowed to trample on your rights to privacy? Find out the real truth by reading "Have the Cowboys Run Amuck?" in Chapter 6.
• Are you concerned about your family being exposed to pornography on the Net? Don't be a victim. See "Net Sex and Pornography" in Chapter 14.
• Is there a sure-fire way to protect your computer from viruses? Yes! All you need to do is follow the instructions in "How to Be Safe: 4 Simple Rules" in Chapter 10.
• Are you thinking about spending money on the Net? Don't spend a dime until you read "6 Ways to Protect Yourself When You Buy Online" in Chapter 13.
• How can you safeguard your email address from advertisers and prevent unwanted email (spam)? It's easier than you think. See "Protecting Your Email Address" in Chapter 8.
• You need to protect your children when they use the Net, but what is the best way to do it? The answer is in "Children and the Net" in Chapter 14.

Real Answers to Important Questions from the Best-Selling Internet Author of All Time.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

A Personal Note From Harley Hahn

During the twentieth century, the human race made so much progress that we came to believe that, given enough science and technology, we could control our own fate - if not as individuals, then at least collectively. What the Internet has shown us is that this assumption is false. As you will see in this book, we are influenced by strong forces that are far beyond our control.

The Internet is so complex, so powerful, so important and so new, that no one can truly explain what it is. Nobody knows why we built the Internet or what it really means to us. As a result, our society is awash in an enormous amount of misinformation.

Most of our worries and concerns about the Internet come from misconceptions and from our inability to understand our motivations clearly. It is my job to explain those misconceptions, and to put everything in perspective - to explain what is happening and why.

Have you noticed how much the world has changed since the mid-1990s when the Internet began to spread so widely? Have you also noticed how, in such a short time, the Internet has insinuated itself into every important aspect of our lives?

I do not want you worrying needlessly about things that are not really a problem. For example, regardless of what you might hear, you do not need to worry about computer viruses or about unknown perpetrators breaking into your system - not if you take a few simple precautions (which I will explain in Chapters 10 and 11).

There are far more important things I want you to think about: how the Internet affects your privacy, your security, your money, your relationships, your work, and your family.

In this book, I am going to explain a lot of ideas that other people don't want you to know: Why are companies so mean-spirited when it comes to treating people well? Why is government so ineffective when it comes to standing up to big business? Why do people love to pass on misinformation to their friends? Why do so many "experts" try to scare us?

I am also going to explain ideas that are crucial to using the Net well, but are mostly ignored in our popular culture. Do we have a biological need for privacy? What is money, and why is it important to us? Why do we need relationships, and what happens to them when we start using the Internet?

The Internet is a lot more than a global computer network. It is a permanent part of our everyday life and, if you and I are to use it well, we must first understand ourselves and our culture.

For this reason, I am going to talk about much more than technology and computers. I am going to discuss psychology, history, philosophy, science, money and relationships. Although these may seem like unrelated topics, I promise you that, by the time you finish reading this book, it will all come together.

I hope by now you understand that this is not a normal computer book, not by a long shot. Indeed, it is my hope that you will find this book to be unlike anything you have ever read.

If you buy this book, I will make you several promises: I promise to explain everything you need to know to use the Internet in a way that makes you and your family safe and comfortable. I promise to show you the best strategies for protecting yourself against the strong forces that control so much of our society.

And finally, I promise that, as long as you are reading this book, you will never be bored.

I want you to read this book for two reasons. First, it is interesting and useful. Second, by the time you finish, you will understand the world a lot better than you do now.

I promise.harley

Edition details

• Publisher: Prentice Hall Ptr
• Publication date: 2001
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0130334480
• ISBN 13: 9780130334480
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 528