Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

VVV Vol. 6 Review
Awesome book! Atsushi Suzumi does it again with a steller next book in the VVV series! A+, 5 stars! ... Read more

Product Description
Outlines computer sabotage risk assessment and offers a checklist; explains anti-virus products, including scanners, generic detectors, and eradicators; and details security measures involving hardware, software, and system management. Original. (Intermediate). ... Read more

Product Description
Think there's no malicious software on your computer? PC Magazine thinks you should think again.

Scans by ISPs have revealed as many as twenty-eight spyware programs running on the average home computer--like yours. That's a lot of people prying into what's on your PC, and a DSL or cable connection is a virtual welcome mat. But by following Ed Tittel's advice, you can learn how invasions occur, spot an infestation, repair damage that's already done, and slam the door on those who want to hijack your PC--along with your wallet.

Here's how you can
* Learn to recognize when a Trojan horse, a virus, adware, or spyware has invaded your PC
* Get the tools that can cure an infection
* Dig into the Windows Registry to remove the nastiest of bugs
* Prevent a recurrence with personal firewalls and protective software
* Deal with the onslaught of spam
* Keep your defenses up-to-date


Give it the boot

If you believe you've caught something and you're willing to kiss everything goodbye that you've added to or changed ... since the last time you booted up your computer ... try this. While Windows is first booting up, hit the F8 key .... Choose the Last Known Good Configuration option, and Windows should boot running the version of the Registry that existed the last time your system booted--that is, before you got infected.
-- From Chapter 4 ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Simply the Best
I normally like to write some detailed reviews but not on this book.

If you really want a fast read broken down into areas that let you know how the bad guys are screwing with your computer AND you buy this book.

You will learn what spyware, malware, viruses and trojans are and the best ways-products to use. No second guessing and in fact this book should be required reading for all American students.

On average I find about 35 instances of pests per PC I work on so do yourself a favor. If you want to learn more in detail, get this book.

And don't forget as Red Green says, "if the women don't find you handsome they should at least find you handy".

Mike

Wordy but helpful
This book gives alot of information, probably more than most will want to read. But if you can wade through all of it you will find some very useful information. It is very techinical information. Itdoes however provide an indepth explanation of how viruses, hijackers, etc work and what you can do to protect yourself. Overall it is a great buy with very much useful info.

fighting malware
Tittel can certainly unsettle the reader! He warns of the increasing encroachments against your computer. The biggest single danger is that this might be your home computer. Not a computer at your workplace, for which you might be able to ask a sysadmin for help.

So it's you and Tittel against the 3 menaces. Be aware that the terminology in the text and title may vary from what others use. Often, malware is taken to include viruses. I think he chose to break viruses out separately from malware so that the title would outreach to more people. Malware is still somewhat of a techie term, while spyware and viruses have broader recognition.

Naturally, since we're discussing personal computers, the text tends to focus on those running a Microsoft operating system. But in fact, much of his advice applies to Macs and linux/unix machines. Though users of the former 2 types might take heart in knowing that most viruses or worms won't go after their machines.

Tittel explains that increasingly, it's harder to draw clear lines between malware, spyware and adware. But he shows how to use existing anti-malware products that can scan for these and remove them. These products use combinations of signatures of known malware, and also search for "strange" activity that is typical of malware. However, since new variants of malware are continually being developed and found, you should always download the latest sets of signatures from your vendor, before running the tests.

Tittel also gives a succinct description of phishing. A particularly virulent type of malware that has increased enormously in the last 2 years. He suggests that you scrutinise the links and be very wary of any message that asks for personal information; either in a reply, or in a web page pointed to from that message. Unfortunately, the phishers continue to refine their tactics and many users simply aren't savvy enough to follow Tittel's suggestions. These users may be a minority, but there are enough of them to make this worthwhile for the phishers.

Good Overall Viewpoint
Any of us connected on-line for even a few minutes has probably been the recipient of at least one virus attack.

Not only viruses, but many other kinds of intrusive software would like to come into your machine for its own purpose. This book talks about the major kinds of invasions you might expect and how to prevent them from entering your machine.

Most of us have learned about viruses the hard way, we cought them and then had to learn how to clean the system. Here in one book is a complete introduction to the problem. It covers all the common types of problems a PC is likely to encounter in one place.
... Read more

Product Description
Defend your system against the real threat of computer viruses with help from this comprehensive resource. Up-do-date and informative, this book presents a full-scale analysis on computer virus protection. Through use of case studies depicting actual virus infestations, this guide provides both the technical knowledge and practical solutions necessary to guard against the increasing threat of virus attacks.Amazon.com Review
Hardly a week goes by without news of some malicious program or other playing hob with large numbers of computers somewhere on the Internet. Viruses Revealed shows where computer viruses come from, how they spread, and how you can protect the computers you're responsible for. It recognizes that viruses are inherent in the modern computing environment (which makes it easy to share data among machines) and that there's no absolutely certain way to maintain any degree of usefulness in a computer while eliminating all risk of viral infection. From there, the three authors proceed to make their readers informed participants in a dangerous computing world. They do this by defining terms (like dropper, a program that isn't a virus itself but which serves to install one), explaining concepts (like the difficulties antivirus programs face in detecting Trojan programs), and documenting historical events (infamous viruses of the past--Love Bug, Kournikova, and so on--and why they worked).

To their great credit, the authors go to great lengths to be authoritative. They document pretty much everything they say with references and rarely assume that the reader knows what any but the most basic terms mean. Furthermore, they're modest and don't claim that what they say will save your machines from viral attack. Rather, they say that appropriate defenses will reduce your risk of infection, and solid documentation, backup, and recovery mechanisms will help you halt successful attacks early and recover from them promptly. The prose here is well written and often funny--Viruses Revealed is a big winner. --David Wall

Topics covered: Computer viruses--what they are, where they come from, how they work, and how to deal with them. A combination of case studies and explanatory prose shows how to minimize your virus risk, regardless of what kinds of computers you run. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Essential for managers
Most books that seek to give an overview of computer viruses are technically uninformed or else poorly-disguised endorsements of commercial products.This book, at least, is neither of those.It provides the most comprehensive high-level review of the subject available and I recommend it for your technical bookshelf.

The book covers
- a brief history of viruses and worms.Better than most I've read;
- an overview of virus mechanisms at the systems level (but no virus code);
- a comprehensive review of anti-malware measures suitable for systems managers,This includes a substantial list of references, a risk assessment strategy, incident management strategy and advice on how to manage users (including other managers).This section is the most realistic and helpful that I have read;
- a series of case studies of different viruses and worms, and some notable myths and hoaxes.At last a reality-based assessment with no warnings that the sky is falling!
- a chapter devoted to virus writers that approaches the topic from well-established sociological principles instead of seeing virus writers as Satan's minions;
- a section on hoaxes and spam;
- a section on legal matters that will actually be useful.For US readers there is an overview of US laws and policies (which tend to be unique) and for the rest of us is an overview of the UK approach, which is closest to what the rest of the world does;
- a chapter is devoted to the discussion of ethics: managers, anti-virus software vendors and virus writers.This recognises the effect of different cultures and viewpoints - a nice change from the unsophisticated sermonising of most writers.

Taken all in all this is an ideal text for managers, so why only four stars?Like most technical writing, the prose plods along.It is quite boring and needs a good editor.Where the prose is sparse, it's actually quite readable, but that's not often.It also lacks technological depth that makes it unsuitable for those seeking a deeper understanding of malicious code.I'm afraid that you will have to resort to those dubious websites referred to in the book!

-

Good reference, but pick your spots
"Viruses Revealed" is a comprehensive review of the subject, written from the perspective of a security professional.If you're searching for an in-depth understanding of virus programming, keep looking.But if you're a system administrator or technology manager responsible for minimizing risk, then this is an important reference to study.I'd also recommend this book to any IT professional who wants to develop a good overview of virus technology.

The authors really know their field and they have a bit of an attitude, but it's generally amusing.They assume the reader has a modest technical background and carefully cover the fundamentals, provide a brief historical overview, then dive into virus structures and mechanisms. Good stuff, but you've seen much of it before, so pick and choose.The next section - a good overview of management solutions - is worthwhile.Then the authors select a representative sample of the better-known viruses roughly in the chronological order they were released.Each virus is discussed, but the value of such a lengthy section eludes me.Another place to pick and choose.Finally, the authors examine non-technical (social) aspects, such as social engineering, legal issues, ethics and so on.No light bulbs went off, but it's useful information.

Excellent overview of the field, but not worth reading cover to cover unless you're new to the subject.The authors should have culled out much of the repetitive information and tightened the rest."Viruses Revealed" is good, but pick your spots.

High Level Overview
How you tend to rate a book often depends on what you are looking to get out of it. For my purposes, this book leans a bit too much toward the high-level end of the spectrum. For example, the discussions on how viruses and anti-virus software solutions work is presented from the 10000 foot level. Much of the content seems to focus on the management/policy making end of the problem space rather than the technical point of view. This is not necessarily a bad thing, but as a techie, it just wasn't what I was after.

Oddly enough, the author rates Roger Grimes' Mailicious Mobile Code as a mediocre to poor reference on the subject of computer malware. Even though Grimes' book is Microsoft-centric, I consider it a far better reference from a technical standpoint.

Good idea, poorly executed
I really had trouble reading this book. It isn't very well written and it felt that most of it had been gleaned from the internet, edited, bound and published. The book sensationalizes viruses and other malicious code, while the actual threat from viruses has decreased significantly.

Fewer sophisticated viruses are released every year. The average worm or email virus that is written by some disgruntled teenager just isn't sophisticated enough to be worried about, and fewer proficient programmers are producing malicious code (the stakes are too high).

As a technically proficient person, I found the book boring and, condescending. The authors went on and on, were not concise, and didn't "reveal" anything that even a computer savvy 16 year old wouldn't already know. At the same time the confused writing, will only serve to baffle novices.
In short, I doubt the experience and expertise of the writers, and the book is poorly written. Save your money, install virus protection on your computer and keep it updated. That will protect you, this book will not.

If you want reliable information about malicious code then try:

1) Malicious Mobile Code: Virus Protection for Windows,
2) Know Your Enemy: Revealing the Security Tools, Tactics, and Motives of the Blackhat Community
3) E-mail Virus Protection Handbook : Protect your E-mail from Viruses, Tojan Horses, and Mobile Code Attacks

A great book to any computer user's computer book library!
Viruses Revealed

Viruses Revealed is one of the best computer books I have seen on the market to date. The book possess a vast array of knowledge regarding the destructive world of computers not to mention the anatomy of Computer viruses and how they work. If you are looking to protect your computer from just these destructive things (i.e. Viruses). I say, get this book. I would of gave it a 5-star rating if they only had more source code of viruses to view. Those of us out there who are Computer Programmer's would love to view the source code. Anyway, a great book to have in any computer user's library! (JC) ... Read more

Product Description
A compendium of readily reproducible and novel methods to manipulate DNA viruses and characterize their varied biological properties. The authors emphasize techniques for viral detection and genetics, but also include methods for structure determination, gene expression, replication, pathogenesis, complex cellular models, recombinant genetics, and computational/systems approaches. Wide-ranging and highly practical, DNA Viruses: Methods and Protocols will stimulate new directions in virology research with its novel strategies for engineering viral vectors in gene therapy, and its advanced approaches for detecting viruses in human disease. ... Read more

Product Description
This symposium book covers the central factors that influence the pathogenicity of virus and prion infections. Virus and prion diseases remain a major public health threat, in both developed and developing countries. The worldwide HIV pandemic is one example of a newly emerged virus disease, and older human viruses such as influenza, papilloma, and the hepatitis viruses still cause major health problems. Some viruses may also establish persistent infections which can lead to the development of chronic diseases, including cancer. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Good overview of several virus families
This will serve anyone well that is interested in the molecular mechanisms of virus pathogenesis.The price is a bit excessive, but worth it IF the viruses you are interested in are discussed within.Overall a very good brief overview/introduction to the specific mechanisms of action for several medically important viral pathogens. ... Read more

Product Description

This is the first book to focus entirely on viruses in foods. It collates information on the occurrence, detection, transmission, and epidemiology of viruses in various foods. Although methods for bacterial detection in food are available, methods for detection of viruses in food, with the exception of shellfish, are not available. It is important, therefore, to develop methods for direct examination of food for viruses and to explore alternate indicators that can accurately reflect the virological quality of food.

This book addresses these issues along with strategies for the prevention and control of viral contamination of food.

Product Description
The tragic death of young Merilee Scioria leads her fiery father to Bomber Hanson, the world-renowned trial attorney.

Was Merilee an angel or a hellion? Bomber's son and investigator Tod explores her background and uncovers surprise after surprise from a maverick scientist, dubious doctor, drug-dealing menace, bereaved bartender and a coroner's lonely secretary.

Was Merilee killed by her prescribed cure? Was it innocent or intentional? Was her diagnosed virus a Phantom Virus?

In this fourth Bomber Hanson case, Merilee's family sues her doctor for malpractice. Bomber argues murder is malpractice. Phantom Virus brings all the courtroom complexities, theatrics and surprises Bomber Hanson fans have come to love. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

If You Question the Norm, Read this Book!
David Champion's Phantom Virus is a compelling story, especially if you are someone who tends to question the norm.In this case, the norm is the belief that "medicine is the best cure", when sometimes it can make the problem worse, or cause the problem in the first place.The main character is tenacious in his quest to find out what killed Merilee Scioria, and the readers' hearts will go out to her parents, even if her father does seem a bit overbearing at first. As I've said in other reviews, Bomber Hanson's direct and blunt approach to his questioning in the courtroom might turn off some readers, but to me it makes him all the more entertaining.I'd recommend this book for students college-aged and older, and anyone who likes courtroom dramas.

ONE HECK OF A READ
PHANTOM VIRUS is the fourth installment of David Champion's series of legal mysteries. The first is "Mountain Massacres," the second "Nobody Roots ForGoliath," and "Celebrity Trouble" is the third.

Angelo Scioria has lost his daughter, Merilee, to a virus called "Wanns" (an aids like virus) that was supposedly passed to her by her dentist.He has already been sued, and the Sciorias won a 2-million dollar lawsuit from the estate of the dentist.Now Angelo and his wife, Regina, have heard from a Dr. Walter Daimler, from Berkley College, that the drug JCD that was used for Wann's patients is toxic and killing patients rather than helping them. Angelo and Regina go to ostentatious lawyer Bomber Hanson to see if he will take the case to sue Dr. Carl Valentine, the maker of the JCD drug.At first, Bomber does not want to help them, but soon changes his mind.Bomber sends in his son Todd as he always does to investigate.Todd, with his very engaging personality, gets the witnesses to open up and testify in court; that's where Bomber comes in with his flashy courtroom style.But is that enough to win this case?

PHANTOM VIRUS is a free-flowing story line with lots of surprises mixed in.Bomber Hanson woos the courtroom with the flamboyant theatrics he is known for.It's a book that you will not be able to put down until you have finished; it really grabs you right from the very beginning.

This is a good read, interesting and entertaining
On par with his previous big case (which was called NOBODY ROOTS FOR GOLIATH) The Bomber Hansen character is entertaining and keeps things moving. His son as always, is the pavement pounder. The Wanns disease is aallusion to aids with a different twist. I read it in a few nights andenjoyed it. ... Read more

Product Description
With the publication of Naked Lunch in 1959, William Burroughs abruptly brought international letters into the postmodern age. Beginning with his very early writing (including a chapter from his and Jack Kerouac's never-before-seen collaborative novel), Word Virus follows the arc of Burroughs's remarkable career, from his darkly hilarious "routines" to the experimental cut-up novels to "Cities of the Red Night" and "The Cat Inside". Beautifully edited and complemented by James Grauerholz's illuminating biographical essays, Word Virus charts Burroughs's major themes and places the work in the context of the life. It is an excellent tool for the scholar and a delight for the general reader. Throughout a career that spanned half of the twentieth century, William S. Burroughs managed continually to be a visionary among writers. When he died in 1997, the world of letters lost its most elegant outsider. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Cut up what you mean to say
Some of the greatest writers are great on account of their ability to express complex thoughts clearly and concisely. This may have been a more prized characteristic among the ancients, and it may have taken a turn for the worse in the Renaissance, then steadily into the 18th and 19th centuries. Notable exceptions, such as Machiavelli and Rabelais, probably sought to emulate the ancients more than their own contemporaries. The 20th century, especially among American authors, cured much of the flowery belaboring that was concurrently culminating in Europe. On one side of the ocean Proust and Musil, while on the other side Hemingway and Dreiser. On one side Celan and Michaux, while on the other side Berryman and Olson. So... here we have William Burroughs, an American author of the 20th century, skilled in the craft of getting to the point... but at the same time educated by European letters. And one wonders if the author's decision to cut up his sentences and paragraphs, shuffle these around and make them, as a result, less direct and downright dubious, was in an attempt to serve both masters. The beauty of the prose, however, is astonishing, as are the images and situations depicted. Perhaps the cutups serve even to enhance this beauty in a way, and it does not make any difference where one opens the book. This makes Burroughs an ideal subject for an anthology, and this anthology contains a great selection of samples.

Useful introduction to the author's work
This book was a hard one to review. The writings sampled are inconsistent-but then again, so was Burroughs's output, so in that respect the writings are a true representation of Burroughs's corpus. The chapter introductions by Grauerholz are especially valuable for readers who are removed from Burroughs's original context, and assist in further illuminating Burroughs's writings. The later works (after the "cut-ups") are especially prophetic; it was interesting to read Burroughs's commentaries on Hussein and anotherBush in 2003. All in all, a useful and comprehensive introduction to one who is seeking to get acquainted with the wide range of work that came from the pen of Burroughs.

great collection
A very exspansive and definitive collection for the Burroughs enthusist. This does not have it all, but it does offer a generous portion of this man's work. Including the forementioned, in the other reviews, colaboration with Jack Kerouac. Grauerholz really put togther this labor of love. I'd recomend it for first timers as well as old time collectors. Inbetween each chapter biographical information pertinent to that era is included. Also features a cd spoken word sampler, that pulls material from the Giornio boxed set. I'd also recomend that hefty delight.

The one Burroughs book to buy
The one book by William S. Burroughs you should buy. The unique genius that William truly was-yes, indulgent, odd and unsettling at 80, but how great it would have been to have known him young and probably pretty in 1950-is best understood with the direction of J. Grauerholz, although a bourgeois beatnik, for sure, who did love him and is the world expert on him. Ira Silverberg is a true young publishing genius, the new Ferlinghetti, and most responsible for the book. My earlier review I withdraw. Although true, it did not reflect the genius and truth of William-and Jack, Allen, Anne, Philip, Lawrence, Gregory, Gary, even Neal and Huncke, et al. View their literature with a full and clear understanding of their weaknesses and that we, the readers, are almost certain to have less ability to `drive-on' pass the drugs, sex, parties, confusion-to produce as they could or can. At least be warned. A lot of souls have been lost on the beat road.

Chilling
Every book that anyone owns will, upon reflection, remind them of the period of their life in which they read the book. Sort of like music.

IfI look at my bookcase, I can run my eyes over the spines of a hundred or so spines, and by extension, a hundred or so feelings given to me from those books.

'Word Virus' is by no means an exception to this rule. If anything, it proves it. Simply due to its extensiveness, and the complexity (or stupidity depending on how you look at it) of Burroughs' writing, it took me a few months to hack through in my final year of high school. Even now, the glaring red spine amongst my other books manages to evoke my feelings of that time even now.

But by god it's worth it. There is nothing more frightening than Burroughs' prose. Everything he writes cannot be understood intellectually, but rather emotionally. You read his words, trying to make head or tail of what is printed in front of you, but that's not the point. You just have to let his ideas, his experiments simply wash over you and you'll understand them in due course.

A true shining light in literature.

Belive the myth. ... Read more

Product Description
A biological attack is launched against the United States. The virus quickly encompasses the rest of the world within its deadly clutches. The United States government tries desperately to maintain control of the deadly plague that has been unleashed on the world. Government procedures designed to deal with this type of terrorist attack quickly prove to be almost useless when confronted with the reality of a virus that has a 95 percent kill rate. As key people begin to die what will stop humanity from complete annihilation? Or is it already too late to stop humanity from descending into another dark age and civilization as we know it from disappearing? Jerry Hotchkin was an obscure government analyst who now has been thrust into the spotlight for discovering the plot. Can he now use his knowledge to prevent the end of the world? This action-packed page turner will keep you enthralled right from the first page. Dive in and discover the terror that is The Armageddon Virus. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

A Great Book Read in Duluth
The Armageddon Virus by E. Richard Jodoin was a book that left me in suspense throughout.Using every different class of people and their reactions to what is a possible situation was one of the best fiction novels I have read always leaving me to this if it was really possible.The devastation that occurs and the hope and love that is shown is truly a great mix.

Mr. Jodoin is a new author with a great future that everyone should check out and enjoy.I can't wait for the next book to see what happens.

The Armageddon Virus has infected me
The story slowly draws the reader into this new world full of death andfear.As events fall into place, the story becomes more real andthreatening.When the reader finishes The Armageddon Virus, they arewondering if this was really fiction, or if it is a look into the future ofour world.Most stories of pain and suffering usually hold littleinterest, but this drama had the right mix of romance, love and compassion. Any book that can touch such deep emotion will certainly hold theattention of many.The story by Mr. Jodoin, has me on pins and needles forthe rest of the story.The readers will look forward to the next novel.

Top Notch Yarn that could be Tomorrow's Headlines!
This book is an excellent piece of fiction from a brand new author that explores what happens when terrorism and biological warfare link up. It's aspine chilling tale that will keep you turning pages through the nightuntil you run out of book! It compares favorably with Robert Preston's"The Cobra Event", really taking things one step further.

E.Richard Jodoin looks at the dark side of humanity and what can happen whenevil triumph's over good. For those who take the politics of terrorismseriously, this book is a must read! ... Read more

Product Description
A clandestine society, financed by a billionaire, has created a new infectious virus capable of inserting genes which determine the way individuals feel about sex. The FBI and CDC have been targeted first, in hopes that infected personnel will hamper any investigation. The virus spreads rapidly, but its effects are not noticed by individuals to begin with--and when discovered, the change in sexual attitudes is not recognized as something induced into the body from an outside source. When an FBI investigator finally does suspect that something unusual is going on, the Center for Disease Control is contacted and brought into the investigation. It is quickly discovered that indeed a virus capable of changing sexual attitudes is spreading over the world. While the FBI and CDC are racing to discover the originators of the virus and to create a cure or vaccine, the investigation is hampered by the fact that the agents themselves are becoming infected. The men and women trying desperately to stop the sex virus have to cope with their own changed attitudes and hope the virus can be stopped before society is irrevocably changed. And it may already be too late. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Proofreading.Do it!
I'm roughly halfway through the Kindle version of the story; it's a fairly quick read.The problem with this title, and it jumps out at you from the first page, is a problem with double consonants."Book" will come out fine, but words like "call", "finally", and "matter" will frequently appear as "cal", "finaly", and "mater".I actually like the story; be warned, there is some semi-graphic sex involved (not exactly a problem in my mind, but I know there are some who don't read for that type of pleasure.)Go figure, based on the title.The proofreading failure, though, is highly noticeable, and detracts from the story in a large fashion. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

Dense text
I am not sure what level this text is intended for.I used it in my senior level Virology course, but it was above and beyond anything we covered at the undergraduate level.I think it is better suited for graduate level coursework.

Has the information, just have to find it.
I used this book for an undergraduate virology course. The teacher taught the class by virus not how the book is set up. The book makes it difficult to find information on any one virus without having to read/search through the entire chapter only to have the piece of info you are looking for tucked into a picture caption. It is not a bad book if you want to know how replication works for all virus, just not the details of one virus. By the end of the course I hated the book because of the time needed to find anything but I'm sure that if the class was taught like how the book is set up it wouldn't have been so bad.

Great!
Sorry it took so long to make this review... The product was great and in great condition! The shipping was fast

Great for grad students
I used this book in my graduate level virology class, and I thought it was great.I really like how the book is divided into basic concepts in the viral life cycle (i.e. entry, genome replication, etc), and then discusses the strategies that different viruses use during these steps in the cell.I prefer this to most other virology texts I've seen, where they just catalog viruses by species, and don't make connections between how different viruses deal with similar situations in the cell.

NOTE:I would not recommend this text for undergrads, however.It's a very densely written book, and covers a lot of ground.For undergrads, I'd recommend something more basic, like the Voyles text.

A bit conveluded
Has many diagrams but doesn't bring the point home. Even for virology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (16)

Aging book on viruses is still great for learning system programming
This book was written over ten years ago, so obviously you are not going to read it and be on the cutting edge of virus writing and protection at this point. However, this book is still an excellent one for those who want to learn the ins and outs of Windows systems programming including how your computer can be controlled/manipulated using some assembly language and the operating system as it already exists. Basically, the author is using the subject of viruses to educate you on the fine points of assembly language programming for the PC without you knowing it was ever happening. I highly recommend it. However, as other reviewers have already said, the book is now free online, so don't pay some ridiculously high price believing its contents are a rare find.

This book is written to be accessible to anyone with a little experience with assembly language programming, or to anyone with any programming experience, provided they're willing to do a little work to learn assembler. Actually, this book acts as a pretty good tutorial on assembly language programming itself. The book is broken down into three parts. The first section discusses viral reproduction techniques, ranging from the simplest overwriting virus to complex multi-partite viruses and viruses for advanced operating systems. The second section discusses anti anti-virus techniques commonly used in viruses, including simple techniques to hide file changes, ways to hide virus code from prying eyes, and polymorphism. The third section discusses payloads, both destructive and beneficial. The following is the table of contents.

Introduction
Computer Virus Basics

PART I
The Simplest COM Infector
Companion Viruses
Parasitic COM Infectors: Part I
Parasitic COM Infectors: Part II
A Memory Resident Virus
Infecting EXE Files
Advanced Memory Residence Techniques
An Introduction to Boot Sector Viruses
The Most Successful Boot Sector Virus
Advanced Boot Sector Techniques
Multi-Partite Viruses
Infecting Device Drivers
Windows Viruses
An OS/2 Virus
Unix Viruses
Source Code Viruses
Many New Techniques

Part II: Anti-Anti Virus Techniques
How A Virus Detector Works
Exercises
Stealth for Boot Sector Viruses
Stealth Techniques for File Infectors
Protected Mode Stealth
Polymorphic Viruses
Retaliating Viruses
Advanced Anti-Virus Techniques
Genetic Viruses
Who Will Win?

Part III. Payloads for Viruses
Destructive Code
A Viral Unix Security Breach
Operating System Holes and Covert Channels
A Good Virus
Appendix A: ISR Reference
Appendix B: Resources

Older edition is free on the Internet
This book is a classic exposition on the programming of computer viruses.I concur with the other reviewers in that this is the best book ever on the subject (it is likely the only book on the subject from my searches).The first edition of this book is free to download from the publisher's website (search for American Eagle Publications in Google because Amazon.com won't let me put the URL) (it requires you to register but that is free too) along with the Little Black Book of Computer Viruses and lots of other information.THIS BOOK CAN STILL BE PURCHASED NEW FROM THE PUBLISHER'S WEBSITE for forty dollars, so don't order an overpriced used copy from Amazon.com (at the time of this writing, some jerk was trying to sell it for over one hundred dollars used!What a rip-off!).

Forget Computer Viruses
Ok this book is about computer viruses but for those of us who have no intention of writing viruses, this book can teach quite a bit about system programming. The aurthor is clearly a very good programmer and he is able to teach the subject well.

Mr Ludwig, I think you should consider writing "under the hood" articles for the benefit of other programmers.

A good bit of Assembler, and Windows Goes!
I tested a few of these programs for effectiveness on a Win95 and 98 (not 98se) machine. Wow, i was impressed at the speed and efficiency of the given code!
I have programmed in assembly, and this taught me a few tricks i hadn't seen before. Who knew that u could reach hidden functions in kernel32.dll?
Not I, not until now. I highly recommend this book for the curious, advanced, and master programmer alike.

You will learn the structure and power of assembly based virii, and how (if you think about it) to defend against them. A great little gem if you want to know how bad you can 'get it'.
hope this helps

Most informative & interesting book I've ever read
The book teaches all that one wanted to know about computer viruses & vaccines. It also teaches how to write good assembly programs in a simple manner. Buy this book and you won't be disappointed! ... Read more

Product Description

Understanding Viruses with Max Axiom, Super Scientist is a Capstone Press publication.

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Customer Reviews (1)

Excellent source
This text is just excellent. I am in the middle of something in school, but I can't wait to have the opportunity to use it as a teaching tool. With AH1N1 so prevalent now in our minds, this text comes in just handy. I recommend it for teaching. ... Read more

Product Description
This book discusses the ecology of viruses with an emphasis on the emergence of devastating hemorrhagic diseases, and a review of the molecular and cellular basis of the pathogenesis of several viral diseases. The volume provides an introduction to the mathematical analysis of recurrent epidemic viral diseases and examines the neurological and psychological diseases in relation to the pathological mechanisms underlying prion disease.Chapters explore new viral threats including HIV, bunyaviruses, morbilliviruses and caliciviruses. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Villarreal's work is the next step in evolutionary theory.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants a deeper understanding of evolutionary theory.In this book Villarreal highlights the strange and even symbiotic relationships viruses have with their hosts.Most of the time when we think of viruses they're often portrayed as lethal killers and agents of misery,with good reason, because some of them actually are.However Villareal explores an area of virology that seems unimaginable.The idea that by infecting a cell a virus precludes infection by other viruses.This idea turns everything we that most of us have been taught about viruses on it's head.

Of course things get stranger as Villarreal talks about how defective viruses act as parasites of viruses and other parasites can be parasites of these viral parasites!

Another interesting aspect of Villarreal's book is that he views any piece of genetic information that needs a host to reproduce as a virus,so even Introns and Prions could be classified as viruses by his definition.

However Villarreal's true stroke of genius is his observation about identity systems and how viruses can create systems of identity.For example two genetically identical bacteria can be very different if one is infected with a virus and the other isn't.The virus will simply kill the other bacteria and leave the infected organism unscathed.Even though the only difference between these two bacteria may be the virus this creates a situation where the virus has in effect created a new identity in it's host, which is the subject of Villarreal's other book the Origin of Group Identity.

The biggest breakthrough from an evolutionary perspective is his "big picture" interpretation of all these events.He implies that selection may not just operate on individuals, but in networked systems where the virus and its host may be thought of as a single group.Selection may operate on this system rather than any of it's individual components.

Although I'm not a molecular biologist or even a biologist for that matter I think this book should be required reading for anyone who wants to see a compelling and amazing interpretation of evolution acting on a group level.I believe that Villarreal's work is nothing less than a comprehensive clarification of Darwin's theory of Evolution. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume reports on a meeting, co-sponsored by the American Society for Microbiology and the Vietnam Association for Microbiology, which provided a common platform for Vietnamese scientists and ASM international members to discuss emerging viral infectious diseases with special emphasis on the Asia-Pacific region.

NOTE: Annals volumes are available for sale as individual books or as a journal. For information on institutional journal subscriptions, please visit www.blackwellpublishing.com/nyas.

ACADEMY MEMBERS: Please contact the New York Academy of Sciences directly to place your order (www.nyas.org). Members of the New York Academy of Science receive full-text access to the Annals online and discounts on print volumes. Please visit http://www.nyas.org/MemberCenter/Join.aspx for more information about becoming a member ... Read more

Product Description

Batten down the hatches! Hackers, spammers and thieves (oh my!) are after you! The mere act of turning on an Internet-connected computer can put you, your family, and your personal finances at risk by exposing you to viruses, scam artists, hackers, identity thieves, and spammers. How do you fight back? Absolute Beginner's Guide to Security, Spam, Spyware and Viruses is your first line of defense.

Clear, easy-to-understand definitions of viruses, spyware, and hackers will help you understand what you're up against everytime you go online. Then, you'll learn about other threats, such as identity theft, phishing, and other potential dangers you'll face in your everyday computing. Find out how to search out and destroy spyware, malware and other viscious programs that could potentially harm your computer. Then find out how to lock out hackers, spammers, and theives for good.

We'll tell you how to immediately cut the risk of being attacked in half — in less than 10 minutes! Protect your bank accounts, digital photos, digital music collection, masters thesis, and everything you hold near and dear on your computer with the help of the Absolute Beginner's Guide to Security, Spam, Spyware and Viruses.

Customer Reviews (7)

Safeguarding Your Computer!
I found that this book answered all of my many security questions in great detail. My current interest was to install a router for my computers and to provide additional security. This book provided step by step procedures on installation and setup, as well as explanations of security measures and precautions. The writer has a great sense of humor and makes what might be a dry and boring subject, a page turning experience.

Excellent Product More for Experienced Users
I checked the book out of the library to give me something to read on a trip, and liked it so much, I purchased it when I returned.It includes step by step instructions for the beginner, but as you get further into the book, some of the details may scare away new computer users.Working on computers for 20+ years, I figured it would be a good review, but I learned a lot.

Practical, with attitude!
If you were a fan of Call for Help, you remember Andy Walker's madcap segments. From the bunny suit to the propane torch and marshmallows, this guy can take a complicated topic and make it easy to understand. Andy's attitude comes through in this book - it is easy to understand and fun to read.

Helpful But Repititious and a Bit Disorganized
This book does a pretty good job at clearing away some of the mystery surrounding home computer security.For the uninitiated, it defines viruses, spyware, adware, spam, phishing, etc. and does a pretty good job of helping you to understand how these threats differ from each other.The book is less successful in differentiating the symptoms that help indicate which type of infection you might have.I think the author should have included a "symptoms matrix" which showed, in one chart, which symptoms apply to which threat and which threats might exhibit overlapping symptoms.Let's face it, many readers of this book bought it because they are having some type of malware problem and they need help in diagnosing it and then fixing it.Understanding what may have caused the problem is an important step, but it's only a step.

The book puts too much reliance on virus checkers and spyware to resolve your problems.Even if these tools prevent 99% of all threats, it only takes one threat to bring your system to its knees.I don't think the book does enough to help you fix that type of problem.

I also felt that the book may be a little irresponsible in encouraging you to wipe your system clean (reformat your hard disk and start over) if all else fails.It's a little bit like a book about warfare that spends a lot of time on dropping a nuclear bomb but didn't explain very well all of the other less drastic measures that should have been tried first.

Another issue with the book is that Parts I, II, and III contain essentially the same tips organized in a different way.So, while the straightforward and humorous writing style should make a cover-to-cover read entertaining, the somewhat redundant sections actually make such a read a boring task as the book wears on.I suspect that the writer was trying to make these sections as self-contained as possible, but I don't think the book's organization was sufficiently well thought out.The author needed to make up his mind whether this book was going to be a compendium of stand-alone articles or a step-by-step tutor for beginners. It tries to be both and that gets messy as one gets deeper into the book.

In summary, if you know little or nothing about the topics covered in this book, I recommend it as a learning tool.It's also great for gearing you up to prevent problems.But don't expect it to help you much in getting rid of an infection after the fact. Unless you are into nuclear warfare.

Secure your computer.
This book is a must have for anyone who owns a PC running windows. This is not your typical computer book. It is very well written, easy to read and is interspersed with excellent snippets of humor. Each chapter contains a wealth information, recommendations and sage advice to boot. Do yourself a favor and buy this book - secure your computer now. ... Read more