About Internet Cryptography

[Cover]
Internet Cryptography: Reviews and Author Biography

by Richard E. Smith
ISBN 0-201-92480-3, Addison Wesley, 1997

Reviews

"This is a must-have book for anyone considering the deployment of an important system relying on modern cryptography."

Marcus J. Ranum, Chief Scientist, V-One Corporation

"Smith's Internet Cryptography provides an excellent overview of the strengths, weaknesses, and uses of cryptography."

Peter H. Salus, ;login:, October 1997

"In Internet Cryptography, network security consultant Richard Smith explains the basics of online security. He avoids getting technical with too much cryptographic theory or the mathematics behind the magic. Instead he focuses on providing just enough information to enable information systems managers and administrators to make wise decisions."

"Smith devotes most of his discussion of various cryptographic options to products that are presently on the market. Therefore, the techniques he describes are generally within the reach of most businesses and organizations. He progresses from the simplest to most complex approach, examining the strengths and weaknesses of each. As a result, readers wind up with a solid understanding of cryptographic security as well as a good feel for the level of security they require."

Internet Books Editor's Recommended Book, amazon.com, November 1997

"... a good introductory text on Internet cryptography."

"I particularly like the fact that the technology sections include prioritized lists of security requirements for each techology."

Anthony Donald Vanker, ACM Computing Reviews, February 1998

"Another key business concept, practicality, is stressed throughout the book -- Internet Cryptography does not pretend that mathematical techniques will will provide complete security..."

Kye Valongo, Telecommunications Electronic Reviews, April 1998

"Internet Cryptography meets one of my hardest criteria for a technical book: it reads like a real book, not a manual."

"...the illustrations are exceptional, possibly the best collection of graphics I have ever seen to support a technical discussion."

Howard C. Berkowitz, Cisco World, May 1998

About the Author

Richard E. Smith, Ph.D., CISSP, is a writer, educator, and consultant in information security. He is currently on the faculty of the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, and he operates the Cryptosmith consultancy.

When Internet Cryptography was written, Dr. Smith was a computer scientist working at Secure Computing Corporation where he provided consulting services in network security to commercial and government organizations. His activities included work on security products such as the Sidewinder Internet Firewall and the Standard Mail Guard.

Past activities include protocol software development for the ARPANET, the forerunner of the modern Internet, the development of pioneering speech recognition products, and research in fault tolerant robotics for industrial and space applications.

Dr. Smith holds a B.S. in engineering from Boston University, and an M.S. and Ph.D. in computer science from the University of Minnesota. He frequently lectures, writes, and conducts seminars on cryptography and computer security.

He may be contacted via e-mail at smith@smat.us.