EH-Net and Syngress publishing are working together to make the final book in the amazing Stealing the Network Series the best yet. Answer the questions below and don't be shy, because...

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Dear Stealing the Network Reader:

We are currently writing the final book in the “Stealing” series, “Stealing the Network: How to Own a Shadow” by Johnny Long, Tim Mullen, and Ryan Russell. As a reader of one or more previous books in the series, we value your opinion and would greatly appreciate you providing our authors and editors with constructive criticism and commentary on the series as we develop the climactic finale.

1. How many books in the series have you read?

2. Which book is your favorite and why?

3. Are there books in the series you do not like (please explain)?

4. Do you prefer completely unrelated stories (How to Own the Box) or stories that are connected to the same plot (Hot to Own a Continent and How to Own an Identity)? Please explain why.

5. Do you think the level of technical detail is too low, too high, or just right for:

How to Own the Box?

How to Own a Continent?

How to Own an Identity?

6. After reading any book in the series, did you find yourself looking forward to another book? Why or why not?

7. Which chapter of all the books was your favorite and why?

8. Which chapter of all the books was your least favorite and why?

9. Are you more drawn to the characters, the plot, or are you just along for the tech?

10. What tech would you like to see covered?

11. Would you be interested in other tech fiction books or short stories?

12. Feel free to provide any other comment, suggestions, criticisms, etc.



Good luck,
EH-Net Editor-In-Chief

I tried to reply once and my logon timed out...silly me.  Here are my answers again:

1. How many books in the series have you read?

I have read Own the Box and Own a Continent.

2. Which book is your favorite and why?
I prefer Own a Continent a little bit more.  Slightly better content in some chapters and more integrated story line.

3. Are there books in the series you do not like (please explain)?
No.  I haven't had a chance to read Own an Identity.

4. Do you prefer completely unrelated stories (How to Own the Box) or stories that are connected to the same plot (Hot to Own a Continent and How to Own an Identity)? Please explain why.
I liked the way the characters were developed in Own a Continent.  It made it easier to continue reading instead of starting over each chapter.  That being said, individual short stories/chapters can also be interesting.  So, the difference in preference is slight.

5. Do you think the level of technical detail is too low, too high, or just right for:

How to Own the Box? just right -- I enjoyed reading the story and relating to the technology without getting lost in the details.

How to Own a Continent?  similar comments -- seemed to be more detailed in some chapters; overall, I like the level of techicals details.

How to Own an Identity?

6. After reading any book in the series, did you find yourself looking forward to another book? Why or why not?
Definately, it can read these and enjoy the story while also learning more about security.

7. Which chapter of all the books was your favorite and why?
I liked chapter 3 of Own a Continent.  I liked the walk-through of the wireless exploitation.  I enjoy wireless security books/stories.

8. Which chapter of all the books was your least favorite and why?
No chapters stands out as being horrible.

9. Are you more drawn to the characters, the plot, or are you just along for the tech?
The plot seems to make the difference.  There needs to be a stong plot built for the tech to  fit into the story.  Overall, I was impressed with the plot in both books.

10. What tech would you like to see covered?
More wireless.  The content sofar has been good.  I like it.

11. Would you be interested in other tech fiction books or short stories?
Yes, I think these tech fiction works break up the normal geek-tech reading that I do.  Makes for an interesting read.

12. Feel free to provide any other comment, suggestions, criticisms, etc.
Continue the great work.  I look forward to seeing how the new book turns out.

Would this get more of a response if your answers were not available for the world to see? We could create an email account specifically for entries, so no one but EH-Net staff and Syngress Reps see your responses.

Thoughts?

Don

Come on people, a free book!  A good one a that too I am sure.  Just take the time and reap the benefits.   

At least you took the time to try.  Now contribute more on this forum and you can win a kick a$$ prize!  Tel your friends too because the more the better! 

1. How many books in the series have you read?

I have read: How to Own the Box, How to Own a Continent, and How to Own an Identity.

2. Which book is your favorite and why?

How to Own a Continent is my favorite at this point - it seemed to me to be the right mix of plot and technical information.

3. Are there books in the series you do not like (please explain)?

NO!  They were all excellent books!

4. Do you prefer completely unrelated stories (How to Own the Box) or stories that are connected to the same plot (How to Own a Continent and How to Own an Identity)? Please explain why.

I enjoyed stories loosely connected by the same plot more than the totally separate stories.

5. Do you think the level of technical detail is too low, too high, or just right for:

How to Own the Box?
See below.
How to Own a Continent?
See below.
How to Own an Identity?

My take on all three is that I want tidbits that I can take and use on my network (wow - the 'find' command does THAT?), architecture tips that I can use as a lesson in general (hmm - 'ssh' from home *isn't* a good idea), and 1337 hax0r tech that makes for an entertaining plot while remaining in the realm of reality (manually hacking ssh).

6. After reading any book in the series, did you find yourself looking forward to another book? Why or why not?

Yes, after reading How to Own a Continent (the first book I read), I looked forward to How to Own an Identity and How to Own the Box, which I devoured as soon as I could get my eyes on them.

7. Which chapter of all the books was your favorite and why?

Chapter 8 of Identity was my favorite - the actions fit the character very well and the resolution was not only technical, but interpersonal as well (polluting the trust relationship between the identity collector and the identity distributor).

8. Which chapter of all the books was your least favorite and why?

All the chapters covered brilliant technical detail - loved them all (in all three books that I have read so far).  One chapter had a difficult plot moment: Chapter 9 of Continent.  In the "A Worm by Any Other Name" section, Knuth receives a call from an anonymous female voice which initiates Matthew's demise.  It was not evident why this took place - what plans of Knuth's were being interrupted.  It seems like a plug to kill off Matthew.

9. Are you more drawn to the characters, the plot, or are you just along for the tech?

I'm drawn to the tech and I am intrigued in the vehicle (a plot) to deliver this.  This seems like a step toward American Manga - I like it.

10. What tech would you like to see covered?

Phone systems (anything); system insecurities, detection, and defense; stealth and stealth tracking; DDoS attack types, remediation; general (and specific) infrastructure attacks, analysis, and defense; and always - tools.

11. Would you be interested in other tech fiction books or short stories?

Yes, I would be and am.

12. Feel free to provide any other comment, suggestions, criticisms, etc.

Please continue the genre.  Please continue to highlight, underscore, make bold the directions that Security (in general) is taking, the human aspect of this, and the implications this has for our society.

Thank you.

The new book is slightly behind schedule. Syngress is looking to have printed copies in August to coincide with the Black Hat Conference with copies for the general public in mid to late August.

The answers by our members have been reviewed and will continue to be as the new book is being written. So there is plenty of time to add one of the Stealing Books to your summer reading list and answer the questionnaire.

Don

We haven't stopped taking entries and probably won't for another couple months...

So keep 'em coming!

Don