Web Security, Privacy and Commerce

by Simson Garfinkel

Since the first edition of this classic reference was published, World Wide Web use has exploded and e-commerce has become a daily part of business and personal life. As Web use has grown, so have the threats to our security and privacy--from credit card fraud to routine invasions of privacy by marketers to web site defacements to attacks that shut down popular web sites.Web Security, Privacy & Commerce goes behind the headlines, examines the major security risks facing us today, and explains how we can minimize them. It describes risks for Windows and Unix, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator, and a wide range of current programs and products. In vast detail, the book covers:

Web technology--The technological underpinnings of the modern Internet and the cryptographic foundations of e-commerce are discussed, along with SSL (the Secure Sockets Layer), the significance of the PKI (Public Key Infrastructure), and digital identification, including passwords, digital signatures, and biometrics.Web privacy and security for users--Learn the real risks to user privacy, including cookies, log files, identity theft, spam, web logs, and web bugs, and the most common risk, users' own willingness to provide e-commerce sites with personal information. Hostile mobile code in plug-ins, ActiveX controls, Java applets, and JavaScript, Flash, and Shockwave programs are also covered.Web server security--Administrators and service providers discover how to secure their systems and web services. Topics include CGI, PHP, SSL certificates, law enforcement issues, and more.Web content security--Zero in on web publishing issues for content providers, including intellectual property, copyright and trademark issues, P3P and privacy policies, digital payments, client-side digital signatures, code signing, pornography filtering and PICS, and other controls on web content.Nearly double the size of the first edition, this completely updated volume is destined to be the definitive reference on Web security risks and the techniques and technologies you can use to protect your privacy, your organization, your system, and your network.

Genres: Technology, Computers, Reference

786 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

Reviews

[benebean]

why am I voluntarily reading a reference book?

[Teresa Solar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, reading this in 2026 is like looking at a time capsule that somehow accurately predicted the future. It’s wild how the exact same privacy headaches they warned us about with cookies are still annoying us today.

[Kate Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Honestly, I giggled a bit at the parts about Microsoft Internet Explorer, but the underlying threat categories are spot on. It really helps you understand why our current systems are built the way they are.

[Melva Lyman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A 700+ page book about Netscape-era internet security sounded heavy, but it's actually such a fun tech throwback! Love the clear style of writing.

[Ella Correa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay, seeing the old Windows configurations made me laugh out loud, but the chapters on cryptography and digital identity are pure gold. The foundations haven't changed at all!

[Daniel Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sending a huge thank you to the authors for this. As a woman trying to learn cybersecurity basics, I appreciated that it doesn’t read like a dry, boring textbook.

[Harry Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, identity theft and spam tracking were already massive topics back in 2001! This book completely proves that history always repeats itself in technology.

[Isaiah Concepcion]

hi