A Short Course on Computer Viruses (Wiley Professional Computing)

By Frederick B. Cohen

This explanation of computer viruses has been updated to include chapters on network viruses, international viruses and ways to counter viruses by generating good viruses in database systems. The disk contains a virus scanner, a password generator and checker, and an integrity shell.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0471007692
• ISBN13: 9780471007692
• Release Date: March 1994
• Publisher: Wiley
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.3" x 0.8" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Good Theory Book

This book is not about how to write viruses or how to protect yourself from them. It's about the theoretical aspects of viruses. It's a good book. Not great writing, sometimes too difficult theory, leaves out some stuff that could be included now. It's pretty much required reading if you want to really understand how viruses work, not just how to operate your anti virus software, or how to create a new variant of an Outlook virus. It can elevate your thinking about viruses above the specifics of what is going on with today's viruses under today's security models.

Classic reference on viruses

Fred Cohen did pioneering research work in viruses and this book is a survey of virus technology. The book covers the general topic of malicious software from a solid technical level. The book provides no magic bullets either for stopping viruses nor for writing them (there aren't any), but he nails the technology right on. Sill a worthwhile book even though it predates the popularization of active content like Java and the outbreaks of macro viruses in Office applications.