The Hacker’s Nightmare – Is it still relevant?

Short answer: YES INDEED - but the price has been SLASHED!  Here’s why…

I occasionally receive an e-mail from someone considering purchasing my popular e-book The Hacker’s Nightmare, asking if it’s contents are still relevant. In this article I want to answer that question fairly specifically, so in future I can save time by referring such inquiries directly to here.

Not so long ago I was very close to pulling The Hacker’s Nightmare off the market, but fortunately I did a little research before taking that step.

Now if you are NOT using Windows XP, don’t stop at the next paragraph — there’s relevant stuff to come even for users of other Windows versions.

You see, the prime focus of The Hacker’s Nightmare was Windows XP and, without actually KNOWING any different, I wrongly ASSUMED that Windows XP (and thus The Hacker’s Nightmare) had run its course. Even though I still use Windows XP on some of my own computers.

But with further consideration I realized that is by no means the whole truth, or the only consideration.

For one thing, much of the book is NOT operating system specific. There are many chapters that deal with the generalities of computer and online security and which contain information that is a valuable education for any computer user, regardless of their preferred operating system.

But I also uncovered a fact that I admit surprised me, and that I’m sure will surprise a lot of others as well.

According to StatCounter.com, as at June 2011, Windows XP still has the lion’s share of the operating system market!

Even now, almost 2 years after the appearance of Windows 7 (released to retail on October 22, 2009) Windows XP still claims 45.14% of the operating system market, compared with 34.31% for Windows 7 and 12.12% for Vista, with the dregs going to Apple (6.3%), Linux (0.8%) and “other” (1.33%).

Source: StatCounter Global Stats – Operating System Market Share

Those percentages are accurate for the date I’m writing this article. Obviously they will change marginally with time.

In other words, for writers, developers, etc in the technical space, Windows XP is very much still a force to be reckoned with and cannot be ignored.

So I decided that removing The Hacker’s Nightmare from availability at this time would be premature, and would deny a valuable resource to many people who badly need such a reference. After all, it is very clear that computer users are more threatened today by viruses, spyware, identity theft, password cracking programs, con-men, and so on than they have ever been.

Identity theft in particular has become a multi-billion dollar crime worldwide, and much of it is facilitated by violating our computer-related technologies.

So, for now, The Hacker’s Nightmare will remain available.

But intending purchasers should be aware that, although there have been updates, the book was originally written when Windows XP was the current Windows operating system and that there will be certain references and examples that may be Windows XP specific.

With that limitation in mind, and as an incentive for windows users everywhere to take some action in their own defense, I have also decided to slash the price of admittance to our community.

The Hacker’s Nightmare, which originally sold for US$69, is now a gift at US$27, available only through PayPal’s secure ordering system.

The Hacker’s Nightmare has sold so many copies around the world that I could quite easily afford to give it away for free at this time. But support and answering e-mails takes time, so to do that I would have to include a “no support” condition. And that, I believe, would reduce its value.

So the bottom line is that the giveaway price of US$27 will include the full support that we have always offered: if there is something in the book that you don’t understand, contact us and we’ll help you through it.

But don’t delay — I’ll be keeping an eye on this offer and if it looks like being more trouble than it’s worth I’ll withdraw the book from sale permanently, though existing owners will of course continue to receive the support promised.

To give you an indication of what The Hacker’s Nightmare contains I will list the chapters below.

So don’t be a sitting duck…

The Hacker’s Nightmare :: Table of Contents

NOTE: Subject to change without notice

Notices
Preface

Section 1 – Introduction

Chapter 1: Software Tools and Utility Programs
Chapter 2: Security overview
Chapter 3: The Game Plan
Chapter 4: Basic preparations
Chapter 5: What you should know about your PC

Section 2 – First Line of Defense

Chapter 6: Phishing—the Sport of Thugs
Chapter 7: A Wake-up Call
Chapter 8: The Forward Sentry
Chapter 9: Selecting a Firewall/Router
Chapter 10: Wireless security
Chapter 11: Connecting the pieces

Section 3 – Defense in Depth

Chapter 12: An Overview of Local Protection
Chapter 13: The Importance of Task Scheduling
Chapter 14: Vanquishing the Virus
Chapter 15: Trojans & Spyware
Chapter 16: Walls within Walls

Section 4 – Other Threats and Tactics

Chapter 17: Patches & Updates 1: Overview
Chapter 18: Patches & Updates 2: Microsoft Products
Chapter 19: Patches & Updates 3: Other Products
Chapter 20: Dispensable DCOM
Chapter 21: Keeping Informed
Chapter 22: Managing Cookies
Chapter 23: Backups—surviving a disaster
Chapter 24: Microsoft Word Revelations
Chapter 25: Erase Data Securely
Chapter 26: Remote computing
Chapter 27: The Fine Art of Social Engineering
Chapter 28: Passwords I—Choosing & Using
Chapter 29: Passwords II—Biometrics
Chapter 30: The hazards of “freebies”
Chapter 31: Dirty tricks with extensions
Chapter 32: Taming the eMail Preview Pane
Chapter 33: Icon Spoofing

Section 5 – Additional Strategies

Chapter 34: Restricting ‘removables’—stop data from walking
Chapter 35: Pop-ups from Hell
Chapter 36: Preventing digital product theft

Appendices

Appendix 1: Definitions
Appendix 2: The EndItAll Utility Program
Appendix 3: Installing & Removing Software
Appendix 4: Implementing a Fast Reboot icon
Appendix 5: Identity Theft
Appendix 6: IP Addresses 101
Appendix 7: Anti-virus 101
Appendix 8: Port usage
Appendix 9: Determining Port Usage on a PC
Appendix 10: Browser ‘session cookie’ settings
Appendix 11: Cookie Pal
Appendix 12: Browser Wars
Appendix 13: Floppy Disk Basics