The Bottom Line
Aviel Rubin tries to fill a void with this book. White-Hat Security Arsenal attempts to fill the space between hacking theory and security practice. It succeeds fairly well and is a very good book
Pros
- Real-world scenarios help define the issue
- Bridges the gap from theory to practice
- Good resource for administrators
Cons
- Some advice and techniques are a little dated
- Focuses a little too heavy on cryptography
Description
- Case studies are an excellent way to get readers to relate the theory to real-world implementation
- Good detailed description of some well-known viruses and worms, but nothing recent
- Well-written book with many useful references to other writings if you want more detail
- Covers most areas that a security administrator needs to be aware of- but predates IDS
- Good "how-to" reference that explains how to implement various security tools and devices
Guide Review - Book Review: White-Hat Security Arsenal
Aviel Rubin helps readers to identify risks, learn about potential attacks and build a secure defense. Instead of just talking hacker theory, the book uses real-world examples and case studies to help relate the information to practical uses the reader can understand. The author goes into enough detail to make his point without going over the top, but refers the reader to plenty of outside references if they desire more in-depth detail on a particular subject. The section on viruses is good, but ends with the "I Love You" virus. The book covers most security technology, but misses discussing IDS and other technology since 2001. Overall it is a good book for security administrators to have in their library though and I would recommend it.