Principles of Computer Security : CompTIA Security+ and Beyond

Essential Skills for a Successful IT Security Career

Learn the fundamentals of computer and information security while getting complete coverage of all the objectives for the latest release of CompTIA's Security+ certification exam. This instructive, full-color guide discusses communication, infrastructure, operational security, and methods for preventing attacks. Written and edited by leaders in the field, Principles of Computer Security, Second Edition will help you pass the CompTIA Security+ exam and become an IT security expert.

Learn how to:

• Ensure operational and organizational security
• Use cryptography and public key infrastructures (PKIs)
• Secure remote access, wireless, and virtual private networks (VPNs)
• Harden network devices, operating systems, and applications
• Defend against network attacks, such as denial of service, spoofing, hijacking, and password guessing
• Understand legal, ethical, and privacy issues
• Combat viruses, worms, Trojan horses, logic bombs, and time bombs
• Understand secure software development requirements
• Enable disaster recovery and business continuity
• Implement risk, change, and privilege management measures
• Handle computer forensics and incident response

The CD-ROM features:

• One full practice exam
• Complete electronic book

Each chapter includes:

• Learning objectives
• Photographs and illustrations
• Real-world examples
• Try This! and Cross Check exercises
• Key terms highlighted
• Tech Tips, Notes, and Warnings
• Exam Tips
• End-of-chapter quizzes and lab projects

Wm. Arthur Conklin, Ph.D., CompTIA Security+, CISSP, is an assistant professor in the Information and Logistics Technology Department at the University of Houston.

Greg White, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at San Antonio.

Contributing authors: Dwayne Williams, Roger Davis, and Chuck Cothren.

Wm. Arthur Conklin (Houston, TX), Security+, CISSP, is an Assistant Professor in the Information and Logistics Technology department at the University of Houston. In addition to his PhD, Mr. Conklin has a MBA from UTSA, and two graduate degrees in Electrical Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California. Dr. Conklins interests are information security, systems theory, and secure software design.

Greg White (San Antonio, TX), Security+, CISSP, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio. Dr. White is the Director of the Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security at UTSA, and was the author of the first edition of the Security+ All-in-One Exam Guide from McGraw-Hill.

Roger L. Davis is a Senior Internal Audit Manager at NuSkin Enterprises and is responsible for evaluating global business operations in over 35 countries. He is a retired Air Force Colonel with over 20 years of military and information security experience. Mr. Davis is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and holds a Masters Degree in Computer Science from George Washington University.

Chuck Cothren is a Research Scientist at University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Center for Infrastructure Assurance and Security (CIAS) and currently serves on the Information Security Associations Alamo Chapter Board of Directors. Mr. Cothren has a wide array of security experience including performing controlled penetration testing, network security policies, computer intrusion forensics, and computer training. He is a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) and has co-authored other McGraw-Hill/Osborne titles. Mr. Cothren holds a B.S. in Industrial Distribution from Texas A&M University.

Corey D. Schou, Ph.D., is the University Professor of Informatics and the Associate Dean of the College of Business at Idaho State University. He has been involved in establishing computer security and information assurance training and standards for 25 years. His research interests include information assurance, ethics, privacy, and collaborative decision making. He was responsible for compiling and editing computer security standards and training materials for the Committee on National Security Systems (CNSS). Throughout his career, Dr. Schou has remained an active classroom teacher despite his research and service commitments. He is the founding director of the Informatics Research Institute and the National Information Assurance Training and Education Center (NIATEC) that was designated the National Center of Excellence in Information Assurance Education. In 1996, his research center was cited by the Information Systems Security Association (ISSA) for Outstanding Contributions to the Security Profession and he was selected as the Educator of the Year by the Federal Information Systems Security Educators Association (FISSEA). In 1997, the Masie Institute and TechLearn Consortium recognized his contributions to distance education. In 2001, Dr. Schou was honored by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium [(ISC)2] with the Tipton award for his work in professionalization of computer security and his development of the generally accepted common body of knowledge (CBK) used in the certification of information assurance professionals. Dr. Schou serves as the chair of the Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education (CISSE). Under his leadership, the Colloquium creates an environment for exchange and dialogue among leaders in government, industry, and academia concerning information security and information assurance education. In addition, he is the editor of Information Systems Security and serves on the board of several professional organizations.