Readings

Here is a collection of some abstracts of mine from books, magazines, journals, or internet sites, that present really interesting material (according to my standards and my taste ofcourse). You will not find here news or software updates, but reference material. Full bibliographical details are given, so that anyone that reads this page will be also able to find the material in full. My selection of material and my abstracts are my responsibility. The actual content of the material briefly presented here is the responsibility of the original authors. The original authors or publishers retain their copyright. I just collect and briefly present. So, if you are going to use material that you found here, then mention the original authors, not me!

The most recent entry in the list is on the bottom!

• english dominates the web
• websites as traps
• recent nuclear errors
• survivable systems
• the ten most critical internet security threats
• global brain
• Quantum Computing

english dominates the web

• Abstract: Almost 70% of the world's web traffic comes from the U.S., Japan is second with 7%, Germany is third with 5% reports CNN. Spanish-language web sites make up less than 2%.
• Found: May 16, 2000.
• Original title: English dominates web.
• Author(s): Robert Fox.
• Reference: Communications of the ACM, Volume 43, Number 3 (2000), page 10.
• Copyright holder: The Association for Computing Machinery, Inc. (New York).

websites as traps

• Abstract: The web, the net and the trap. I think that the surfers will gain a lot by reading this article. The article examines personal and commercial sites produced by Trinidadiants and explores how their contents and aesthetic forms strive to attract and trap certain surfers while escaping the attention of those surfers who are not its intended viewers.
• Found: March 20, 2000.
• Original title: The fame of trinis: websites as traps.
• Author(s): Daniel Miller (University College, London).
• Reference: Journal of Material Culture, Volume 5, Number 1 (2000), pp 5-24.
• Copyright holder: Sage Publications Ltd. (London).

recent nuclear errors

• Abstract: The authors discuss how dangerous gaps in Russian early-warning networks are heightening the risk of accidental nuc war. In the course of the discussion we learn that as recently as 25 January 1995, Russian radars erroneously detected a rocket launched from an island near Norway. What happened next is not known, but as we all know, no nuc retaliation against the west was launched.
• Found: March 30, 2000.
• Original title: False alarm, nuclear danger.
• Author(s): Geoffrey Forden (Congressional Budget Office), Pavel Podvig (Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology), Theodore A. Postol (Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
• Reference: IEEE Specrtum, Volume 37, Number 3 (2000), pp 31-39.
• Copyright holder: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (New York).

survivable systems

• Abstract: The authors present their views on how to protect a critical system. Among other things discussed, they find that a survivable system must exhibit four key properties: (a) Resistance to attacks, (b) Recognition of attacks and the extent of damage, (c) Recovery of full and essential services after attack, (d) Adaptation and evolution to reduce effectiveness of future attacks.
• Found: June 1, 2000.
• Original title: Survivability: protecting your critical systems.
• Author(s): Robert J. Ellison, David A. Fisher, Richard C. Linger, Howard F. Lipson, Thomas A. Longstaff, Nancy R. Mead (all from CERT Coordination Center, Software Engineering Institute)
• Reference: IEEE Internet Computing, Volume 3, Number 6 (1999), pp 55-63.
• Copyright holder: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. (New York).

the ten most critical internet security threats

• Abstract: The SANS institute presents the ten most critical internet security threats, and detailed methodologies on how to fix the problems for a variety of systems, including linux, win nt, mac, unix, etc. The majority of successful attacks on computer systems via the Internet can be traced to exploitation of one of a small number of security flaws. Briefly shown next is the experts' list of the Ten Most Often Exploited Internet Security Flaws. In the article you will also find the actions needed to rid your systems of these vulnerabilities. 1. BIND weaknesses: nxt, qinv and in.named allow immediate root compromise. 2. Vulnerable CGI programs and application extensions (e.g., ColdFusion) installed on web servers. 3. Remote Procedure Call (RPC) weaknesses in rpc.ttdbserverd (ToolTalk), rpc.cmsd (Calendar Manager), and rpc.statd that allow immediate root compromise. 4. RDS security hole in the Microsoft Internet Information Server (IIS). 5. Sendmail buffer overflow weaknesses, pipe attacks and MIMEbo, that allow immediate root compromise. 6. sadmind and mountd Sadmind allows remote administration access to Solaris systems, providing graphical access to system administration functions. 7. Global file sharing and inappropriate information sharing via NetBIOS and Windows NT ports 135->139 (445 in Windows2000), or UNIX NFS exports on port 2049, or Macintosh Web sharing or AppleShare/IP on ports 80, 427, and 548. 8. User IDs, especially root/administrator with no passwords or weak passwords. 9. IMAP and POP buffer overflow vulnerabilities or incorrect configuration. 10. Default SNMP community strings set to 'public' and 'private.'
• Found: June 17, 2000.
• Original title: How To Eliminate The Ten Most Critical Internet Security Threats.
• Author(s):Randy Marchany (Virginia Tech), Scott Conti (University of Massachusetts), Matt Bishop (University of California, Davis), Lance Spitzner (Sun Microsystems GESS Security Team), Alan Paller (SANS Institute), Stephen Northcutt (SANS Institute), Eric Cole (SANS Institute), Gene Spafford (Purdue University CERIAS), Jim Ransome (Pilot Network Services), Frank Swift (Pilot Network Services), Jim Magdych (Network Associates, Inc.), Jimmy Kuo (Network Associates, Inc.), Igor Gashinsky (NetSec, Inc.), Greg Shipley (Neohapsis), Tony Sager (National Security Agency), Larry Merritt (National Security Agency), Bill Hill (MITRE), Steve Christey (MITRE), Viriya Upatising (Loxley Information Services Co.), Marcus Sachs (JTF-CND, US Department of Defense), Billy Austin (Intrusion.com), Christopher W. Klaus (Internet Security Systems), Wayne Stenson (Honeywell), Martin Roesch (Hiverworld, Inc.), Jeff Stutzman (Healthcare ISAC), Ed Skoudis (Global Integrity), Gene Schultz (Global Integrity), Kelly Cooper (Genuity), Eric Schultze (Foundstone), Bill Hancock (Exodus Communications), Ron Nguyen (Ernst & Young), Lee Brotzman (NASIRC, Allied Technology Group, Inc.), Scott Lawler (DoD Cert), Hal Pomeranz (Deer Run Associates), Chris Brenton (Dartmouth Institute for Security Studies), Bruce Schneier (Counterpane Internet Security, Inc.), Nick FitzGerald (Computer Virus Consulting Ltd.), Shawn Hernan (CERT Coordination Center), Kathy Fithen (CERT Coordination Center), Derek Simmel (Carnegie Mellon University), Jesper Johansson (Boston University), Dave Mann (BindView), Rob Clyde (Axent), David Nolan (Arch Paging), Mudge (@stake).
• Reference:Page Version 1.21 June 16, 2000. Address: http://www.sans.org/topten.htm
• Copyright holder: Copyright 2000, The SANS Institute.

global brain

• Abstract: Scientists could have the Internet functioning as a "global brain" within five years, as researchers bring more advanced techniques to the Web. It is believed, that we will not be able to fully understand the behaviour of such a complex system! According, for example, to Daniel Dennett, director of the Centre for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University in Medford, Massachusetts, "the global communication network is already capable of complex behaviour that defies the efforts of human experts to comprehend".
• Found: July 13, 2000.
• Original title:Global brain
• Author(s):Michael Brooks (Sussex)
• Reference:New Scientist (06/24/00) Vol. 166, No. 2244, P. 22. www.newscientist.com
• Copyright holder: Copyright New Scientist, RBI Limited 2000.

Quantum Computing

• Abstract: Quantum Physics has some odd rules -- particles can have ghostly links and exist in two states at once. Researchers around the world are starting to use those phenomena to perform previously unimaginable calculations. The fundamental unit of quantum information, the qubit, can be both zero and one at the same time. With only a few hundred qubits it is possible to represent simultaneously more numbers than there are atoms in the universe!
• Found: March 10, 2001.
• Original title: The topsy Turvy World of Quantum Computing
• Author(s): Justin Mullins (IEEE)
• Reference: IEEE Specrtum, Volume 38, Number 2 (2001), pp 42-49. www.spectrum.ieee.org
• Copyright holder: The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc. (New York).

Last updated: June 7, 2008