Take Back Your Privacy

Take Back Your Privacy

Curious about surveillance? Wondering about the security of your computer or phone? These are just a couple of starting points. The author, with decades of experience in the field, takes us on a journey through the digital landscape. Exhaustively researched, with hundreds of links, it's nevertheless written in an informal and entertaining style. Do you know the difference between "a web browser" and "the internet"? That's about all you'll need, to start. When you're done with this book, you'll know more than most IT (information technology) professionals do about digital security. You'll be able to analyze the claims made by tech bloggers and those who flog their own products. You'll know much, much more about the risks to your privacy and anonymity--and why they're both so important--in today's fast-moving world. Then, at the end, the author tells how he once went to jail for trying to help protect thousands of college students (including himself). It's a chilling reminder of just how easily "spin" can replace substance. And yet, it's a funny story. Come on in and give this book a try. You'll be glad you did. The Table of Contents: Dedication Who needs this book? What's a Barefoot Anarchist? Chapter 1: Why Privacy? Why Encrypt? The Free Speech Argument Dangers of Self-Incrimination Chapter 2: Threat Modeling Sounds Ominous! You Can't Be Totally Anonymous You Must Decide What You Can Live With Attack Surfaces Your IT department Software: Open-Source vs. Closed Companies & Policies Advertising Government & Privacy Chapter 3: Connections Internet Service Providers (ISPs) Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) The Onion Router (Tor) Wi-Fi Networks Chapter 4: Downloading Files Download Sites Use BitTorrent? How About Usenet? Chapter 5: Digital Purchases Credit Card Options A Note on Card/Banking Security A Note on Credit Itself PayPal & Similar Services Bitcoin and Friends Chapter 6: General Computing Virtual Machines Physical Security Disk Encryption Passwords & Logins Smart Cards & Biometrics Sending Anonymous Data Automatic Software Updates Anti-Virus Software Chapter 7: Operating Systems Windows? Instead of Windows? Other Linux Distros Chapter 8: Telephony Location Tracking Cellular Eavesdropping Text Messaging Baseband Hacking...and Beyond? The Metadata is the Message Phones and Wi-Fi Near-Field Communication (NFC) Android vs iOS vs Others Voice over IP (VoIP) Texting Alternatives All-in-one? Silent Circle vs. Signal Chapter 9: Web Browsing Search Engines Which Browser? "Secure" Connections Fingerprinting Advertising Other Plugins Chapter 10: "Cloud" Backups Dropbox and Friends SpiderOak & Its Pals Curmudgeonly Advice Make a Decision Chapter 11: Email Who's giving it to you? How to encrypt it? Chapter 12: Putting It All Together What's Your Threat Model? How Do We Fix Privacy? Appendix A: Encryption Primer Just the Basics Appendix B: Jail! Thanks for Reading! Excerpt from Shiver on the Sky

Internet Forensics

A practical handbook for those investigating an Internet crime explains how to extract clues from a variety of sources, how culprits attempt to cover their tracks, and tricks that developers can use to uncover the facts and protect a system in the future.

PC World