Computer Viruses, Worms, Data Diddlers, Killer Programs, and Other Threats to Your System: What They Are, How They Work, and How to Defend Your PC, Ma - Hardcover

McAfee, John; Haynes, Colin

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0312030649 ISBN 13: 9780312030643

Publisher: St. Martin's Press, 1989

Synopsis

Computer Virus Books We are witnessing on escalating computer-virus arms race - virus, vaccine, counter-virus - that has created a whole anti-virus industry.. software programs, consultants, and many books. The most reliable intelligence from this conflict has been collected in Computer Viruses, Worms, Data Diddlers, Killer Programs, and Other Threats to Your System, by John McAfee. When corporations in Silicon Valley discover a virus, they call McAfee, who arrives in a specially outfitted virus-buster van. " His book, written for the computer-security trade, gives a comprehensive dossier of all known viral strains, post and present (up to fall 1989), and much insider scuttlebutt that is very readable for the lay user. On the other hand, Virus! by Allan Lundell is a wild, irresponsible, and highly speculative book that dramatically exaggerates the subtle attributes of computer viruses, and therefore is the more revealing one, in a vaudeville way. It tackles the question, "What does a computer virus moon?" Treat what is said as well- founded rumor. There's probably more in these two books than most want to know, but for both computer crime- and computer life-watchers, the trail begins here.

About this title

From School Library Journal

YA-- This book is written in terms that are understandable to those with limited computer knowledge, yet it goes deep enough into the subject matter to answer the questions a seasoned hacker might ask. McAfee and Haynes define the various types of computer viruses, trace their origins, and outline their destructive consequences. They point out such interesting aspects as direct and indirect costs of viruses in an illustrated and easy-to-understand form. Additionally the charts and graphs are logical and free of "computerese." Prior to Chapter 10, one gets the impression of being hopelessly at the mercy of computer viruses. In the final chapter, however, McAfee and Haynes reassure readers that there is a cure, although somewhat costly and difficult to achieve. They emphasize that prevention is the key to computer health, and suggest several useful steps for avoiding computer disease. They also review anti-viral software and make recommendations for specific computers. For those whose computers are already infected with a virus, step-by-step instructions are included for purging the computer so that it can function again. All in all, McAfee and Haynes do a commendable job of making the subject matter interesting and informative. --Floyd H. Hancock, Jr., Shell Oil Co., Houston
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

McAfee, chairman of the Computer Virus Industry Association, and Haynes, a reporter who has written about technology and business management for the New York Times , The Times of London, and the Economist , have written an eye-opening book about computer viruses, discussing their definition, history, types, and destructive aspects, as well as how to prevent, detect, and recover from virus infections. Other computer pests, such as worms, trojan horses, and logic bombs, are briefly discussed and compared with these viruses. In addition, there is a chapter examining computer hackers' personalities and motives for tampering with computer systems. The glossary of computer terms will be helpful for lay readers. Ralf Burger's Computer Viruses: A High-tech Disease (Abacus, 1988) is an alternative for serious readers seeking an in-depth knowledge of the viruses and their computer codes. Recommended for public and academic libraries.
- May Rathbone, Virginia Polytechnic Inst. & State Univ. Lib., Blacksburg
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Edition details

• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Publication date: 1989
• ISBN 10: 0312030649
• ISBN 13: 9780312030643
• Binding: Hardcover
• Language: English
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 235