This definitive work on computer viruses discusses the techniques modern viruses use to propagate, evade anti-virus software, cause damage, & compromise system security. Unlike most works on the subject, THE GIANT BLACK BOOK doesn't stop short of giving the reader what he needs to fully understand the subject. It is a technical work which contains complete, fully-functional commented code & explanations of more than 37 computer viruses & 3 anti-virus programs, alone with detailed discussions of stealth technology, polymorphism, evolutionary viruses & good viruses. The book discusses viruses for DOS, Windows, OS/2, Unix systems, & more. Also see related listings: Mark Ludwig, COMPUTER VIRUSES, ARTIFICIAL LIFE & EVOLUTION (ISBN 0-929408-07-1), an in depth discussion of whether computer viruses are alive, & the implications of evolutionary reproduction in the world of viruses. Mark Ludwig, THE MILITARY USE OF COMPUTER VIRUSES (ISBN 0-929408-11-X). George Smith, THE VIRUS CREATION LABS (ISBN 0-929408-09-8) a popular inside account of the computer virus subculture. Call American Eagle Publications at (800) 719-4957 for a catalog of books & software related to computer viruses, computer security & cryptography, or write P.O. Box 1507, Show Low, AZ 85901.

In this book you'll learn everything you wanted to know about computer viruses, ranging from the simplest 44-byte virus right on up to viruses for 32-bit Windows, Unix and the Internet. You'll learn how anti-virus programs stalk viruses and what viruses do to evade these digital policemen, including stealth techniques and poly-morphism. Next, you'll take a fascinating trip to the frontiers of science and learn about genetic viruses. Will such viruses take over the world, or will they become the tools of choice for the information warriors of the 21st century? Finally, you'll learn about payloads for viruses, not just destructive code, but also how to use a virus to compromise the security of a computer, and the possibility of beneficial viruses.

Volume 2.

For computer scientist Rob Clarke, the days are becoming increasingly uneasy at the Embudo Population Institute as its recently hired director pushes forward on a new contraceptive virus designed to limit human reproduction. But with the hiring of Melinda Lanier, a beautiful new researcher who seems able to manipulate both his body and his mind, his troubles suddenly turn physical as well. As they work together, Melinda steers Rob’s attention toward the thin dividing line between science and magic, and urges him to embrace the godlike powers that come from crossing it. With their relationship growing closer, he becomes increasingly isolated—first gradually, and then suddenly—from everything in his world but work and Melinda. Her control over him continues to grow, her power undeniable, culminating in a magical flight through the night sky to a strange and terrifying ritual in a mysterious mountain cavern. Afterward, the scientist in Rob seeks out answers, slowly uncovering the reality of his experience and realizing the age-old sexual powers that have made him a victim of Melinda and her world. But then. . . . The Embudo Institute remains. Its dark work of reducing population for the good of humanity goes on. Just keep doing your job, Rob is told. But knowing what he does now, what future can he choose?

Computer viruses are no longer just written by teenage techno-graffiti artists and disgruntled programmers. They're fast becoming the province of terrorists and warring governments. A computer virus can spread through the internet and wipe out millions of computers in just hours-faster than an antivirus company can analyze it and faster than the news networks can warn people. The solution? You cannot afford to rely solely on the canned technology of an antivirus program to protect yourself against viruses any more. The only sure protection is knowledge. In this brand new book, Dr. Ludwig explores the fascinating world of email viruses in a way nobody else dares! Here you will learn about how these viruses work and what they can and cannot do from a veteran hacker and virus researcher. Why settle for the vague generalities of other books when you can have page after page of carefully explained code and a fascinating variety of live viruses to experiment with you on your own computer or check your antivirus software with? In this book you'll learn the basics of viruses that reproduce through email, and then go on to explore how antivirus programs catch them and how wiley viruses evade the antivirus programs. You'll learn about polymorphic and evolving viruses. You'll learn how virus writers use exploits - bugs in programs like Overlook Express - to get their code to execute without your consent. You'll learn about logic bombs and the social engineering side of viruses - not the social engineering of old time hackers, but the tried and true scientific method behind turning a replicating program into a virus that infects millions of computers. Yet Dr. Ludwig doesn't stop here. He faces the sobering possibilities of email viruses that lie just around the corner ... viruses that could literally change the history of the human race, for better or worse. Admittedly this would be a dangerous book in the wrong hands. Yet it would be more dangerous if it didn't get into the right hands. The next major virus attack could see millions of computers wiped clean in a matter of hours. With this book have a fighting chance to spot the trouble coming and avoid it, while the multitudes that depend on a canned program to keep them out of trouble will get taken out. In short, this is an utterly fascinating book. You'll never look at computer viruses the same way again after reading it.

From the bestselling author of Black Hawk Down, the gripping story of the Conficker worm—the cyberattack that nearly toppled the world. The Conficker worm infected its first computer in November 2008, and within a month had infiltrated 1.5 million computers in 195 countries. Banks, telecommunications companies, and critical government networks—including British Parliament and the French and German military—became infected almost instantaneously. No one had ever seen anything like it. By January 2009, the worm lay hidden in at least eight million computers, and the botnet of linked computers it had created was big enough that an attack might crash the world. In this “masterpiece” (The Philadelphia Inquirer), Mark Bowden expertly lays out a spellbinding tale of how hackers, researchers, millionaire Internet entrepreneurs, and computer security experts found themselves drawn into a battle between those determined to exploit the Internet and those committed to protecting it.