[PLUG] Book Review, Open Source Security Tools

[gyoza@comcast.net]

My first book review.  (Please review my review.)

"Open Source Security Tools: A Practical Guide to Security Applications"

http://phptr.com/title/0321194438

This book provides a good overview of security tools.  It could help 
readers get started by explaining security concepts and stepping the 
reader through installation of useful tools.  (The book includes a CD 
containing the utilities covered in the text.)  It doesn't however, give 
good coverage to interpreting the results of scans and monitoring.

About 1/4 to 1/3 of the book is wasted on appendices of readily 
available information.  GPL and BSD licenses, well-known port numbers, 
and a huge list of Nessus plug-ins.  The space might have been better 
utilized by providing coverage of virus scanners or even common 
application alternatives that are more resistant to attack.

I like the fact that the book covers utilities for both Linux and 
Windows.  And the fact that the utilities are free and Open Source, of 
course.

I learned a few new tricks from this book even though I was already 
familiar with many of the utilities and concepts.
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