Der Cyber Survival Guide: So wehren Sie sich erfolgreich gegen Hacker, Stalker, und andere Cyber-Gangster

by Nick Selby, Heather Vescent

As we live more of our lives online and entrust personal information to the cloud, we need to be much more aware and proactive about protecting ourselves. Are you safe from hackers? Not without taking precautions. Your identity can be stolen, your company's intellectual property can be copied and sold, and even hacks that just a few years ago sounded like science fiction will soon be vehicle systems can already be hacked, and our power grid can be manipulated or sabotaged by terrorists. But knowledge is power. In this easy-to-read, fascinating and fully illustrated book, you learn how hackers make money, and what they target - along with concrete, hands-on hints for fighting back, whether you’re a concerned parent or a top executive. With all the surrounding threats, what better person to prepare the public, than a team of internationally known cybersecurity experts? Nick Selby is a police detective specializing in sharing intelligence and busting cybercriminals. He knows how these crimes happen, who does them, and how to make your life safer. In The Cyber Attack Survival Manual he and a veritable brain trust of experts from the world of intelligence, digital currency, vehicle-hacking, and sophisticated crimeware, share the best techniques for everyone.This indispensable, step-by-step guide to cyber defense Everyday How to keep your identity from being stolen, protect your kids, protect your cards and much more.Big Silk Road, Ashley Madison, FBI vs. Apple, WikiLeaks, BitCoins, and what they mean to individuals and society at large.Global the NSA, how hackers can crash your car, and is China really planning to crash Google?Crucial to surviving the worst the Internet can throw at you, The Cyber Attack Survival Manual is the must-have book of the 21st century. Think you don’t need this book because, “I have nothing to hide”? Selby and Vescent, along with Eric Olson, Moeed Siddiui, and John Bear, show you why you’re wrong (everyone now has something to hide) - and how lack of security can endanger your finances, your safety, and your reputation.

Genres: Nonfiction, True Crime

Paperback

Published October 15, 2018

About the author

Nick spent five years writing books for Lonely Planet Publications in Melbourne, Australia, and took half of 1992 to write The Visitor's Guide To The New St Petersburg, the first English-language guide to the city after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Reviews

[Ryan]

Great overview of security topics for everyone

This book is a high level introduction to a lot of security issues from the perspective of an individual end user. Lots of examples, infographics, lists, etc. Covers a huge breadth of topics with useful advice, but without being boring or overwhelming. For a professional in this industry, this book is a useful resource to recommend to others.

[Chad]

Pretty good personal cybersecurity advice covering a range of topics, but not as helpful as other books I've read, and not very engagingly written. Each chapter ends with takeaways in 3 levels: basic security, advanced measures, and tinfoil-hat brigade (for the extremely cautious or paranoid). The book has a realism and grittiness that probably comes from co-author Selby's police work. I like the artwork throughout the book.

Co-author Nick Selby is a police detective who investigates computer crime, fraud, and child exploitation. He consults law enforcement agencies on cyber intelligence and investigations. He has fought cybercrime for over a decade and is clearly well-acquainted with online scams, fraud, and hacks.

Co-author Heather Vescent is a futurist with expertise in cyber-economics and cryptocurrency.

I read this to increase my knowledge of digital security and privacy.

Notes
Keep Your Identity Safe
Password managers: LastPass, Dashlane, 1Password.

Takeaways
• Use a different strong password for every login (websites, desktop programs, phone apps).
• Use a password vault program (password manager).
• Don't get your kids social security cards unless necessary.
• Check kids' credit at least quarterly.

Where the Money Is
Takeaways
• If you get a message from your bank asking you for info, call bank's known number to ensure it's legit.
• Check credit reports regularly.
• Use only cards with chips (don't swipe).

Protect Your Privacy Online
Hackers can "sniff" insecure public W-Fi to see what you're doing. Hackers can set up a second network with the same or a similar name as a trap. Always ask for the name of the network, and use a secured network whenever possible.

Think twice about storing sensitive data online (identification, tax docs, etc.).

Takeaways
• Set all social media privacy settings as high as possible.
• Protect home Wi-Fi with WPA2.
• Don't accept friend requests from strangers.
• Never use public Wi-Fi without a VPN.
• Restrict what you share on social media.
• Consider covering cameras and microphones with electrical tape.

Keep Kids Safe Online
Kids shouldn't assume nude photos they send will stay private.

Use OpenDNS to control the sites kids can visit.

To prevent kids from using a bootable operating system (OS) on your computer, set a BIOS password on a Windows machine or a firmware password on a Mac.

Teach kids that they're not anonymous online, and there are bad people online. Don't scare them, but help them understand the threat is real.

Set alerts for when a kid tries to access a blocked site or search certain words.

Check browsing history in router or with ISP.

Regularly discuss online safety with kids as they grow. Praise good behavior. Let them know they can come to you if they get into trouble.

Review teen's online footprint together; act like a college admissions officer or potential employer.

Takeaways
• Monitor kids' social media (with software, or manually).
• Talk to kids about what's safe to share.
• Log traffic.
• Enable GPS tracking on kids' phones.

The Internet of Things
Protect yourself from Internet of Things (IoT) devices
• Read everything you can about a device, especially data-use policies.
• Opt out of data collection and/or use offline or airplane mode.
• Change default passwords immediately.

Secure messaging systems: Signal, Wickr, Tor.

Takeaways
• Change default modem and router passwords.
• Use screen lock codes on all mobile devices.
• Isolate IoT apps from sensitive data.
• Ensure medical devices are locked to only critical services.
• Consider a separate home network or VLAN for IoT devices.

Not Just Phoning It In
Enable screen lock. Use password instead of PIN, if possible. Set screen to lock after a short amount of time (2 minutes or less).

Disable communication (Wi-Fi, hotspot, Bluetooth, NFC, etc.) and only enable when necessary.

Don't use phone on public Wi-Fi without a VPN. Or, use mobile data.

In US, government can use your fingerprints to unlock, but they can't force you to give your password.

To totally secure phone, turn it completely off and remove battery if possible.

Takeaways
• Set good password (7+ characters or numbers, or good pattern).
• Encrypt phone.
• Enable phone locator in case phone is stolen.
• Limit number of days of email stored on phone.
• Use two-factor authentication (2FA) whenever possible.
• Disable location services and only enable when necessary.

Cyber Security and Small Business
When selling online (e.g., Craigslist), limit the info you reveal. Consider a burner app (for a temporary phone number) and meet in public. Ensure a friend knows where you are.

Cloud backup: Dropbox, SpiderOak, Backblaze

The Deep Dark Net
• Surface Web: public websites, indexed by search engines.
• Deep Web: websites not indexed by search engines, but can be visited using a standard browser if you know the address.
• Darknet: websites that can't be visited using a standard browser, and typically require a Tor browser to view. Also includes other protocols and environments (IRC, I2P, etc.).

International Cybersecurity
Burner apps for creating anonymous phone numbers: Burner One, Hushed, CoverMe.

If you travel out of country, consider renting a phone or computer in the country you travel to, to avoid searching of devices when you return home.

Takeaways
• Encrypt all products and communications.
• Use separate devices when outside your country.

Summary
Takeaways
• Password-protect and disable remote management on modem, router, any other Internet-connected devices.
• Never give private email over email or text. Always call bank, utility, service that's claiming to request info.
• When shopping online, consider using guest checkout and one-time credit cards.

[Ben]

Survival Time

This book is an essential read for anyone looking to protect themselves in the digital age. The book is packed with invaluable information and practical tools to help you stay safe online.

Selby does an excellent job of breaking down complex cybersecurity concepts into easy-to-understand language. Whether you're a cybersecurity professional or someone who's new to the topic, this book has something to offer.

One of the standout features of this book is the high-quality infographics that clearly illustrate different cybersecurity threats and how to avoid them. The author also provides step-by-step instructions on how to secure your digital life, from creating strong passwords to setting up two-factor authentication.

Another great aspect of this book is its focus on everyday scenarios that anyone can relate to. The author provides real-world examples of cyber attacks that have affected individuals and businesses alike, and offers practical advice on how to avoid similar situations.

Overall, this book is a comprehensive guide to staying safe online. Its practical advice, clear language, and engaging infographics make it a must-read for anyone looking to protect themselves in the digital age.

I highly recommend it, especially for those who are not technically savvy or have youth in their lives who they want to keep safe.

4.7/5

[Daniel]

Computer security is on subject I want to know a lot more about so its why I got this book. It shocked me to read that people get fake degrees. Somehow I never thought that people would want to get fake degrees. Why would anyone want to get a fake medical degree? It does not make sense to me. If they don't know what they are doing people can get hurt of die.
Its depressing to me to read about trolling. Why would anyone want to make people miserable or feel bad? People getting harassed online makes me want to quit the internet for good. It makes me want to move to the woods and spend my days in the wilderness with nature. It makes me want to do something better with my life than use a computer. At least not everyone on the internet is mean. I am glad for that.
I think this book was well worth the time it took me to read. I can't think of anything else to write in this review so I will stop writing.

[Sarah]

While the authors admit the book is immediately out of date at the time of publication, there is a wealth of information present in this text. I found it informative, terrifying, interesting, and enlightening. If nothing else, I feel I have a better understanding of the Internet and security online.

However, this book was FULL of typos, which greatly reduces its credibility. I mean, the authors clearly know what they are talking about (and sometimes they talked over my head), but it's harder to read when there are grammatical errors and typos on most pages. That's a full star deduction for me. Content gets a 4, but the terrible editing brings it to a 3.

[Hannah]

This is a book everyone should read to learn how to be safe themselves.