In "Beyond Fear," Bruce Schneier invites us to take a critical look at not just the threats to our security, but the ways in which we're encouraged...
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Aug 09, 2007
Decassid
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I actually had to stop reading this book, because the author apparently didn't care to do the research. The first chapter has a bunch of tables and graphs, depicting data he decided to pull from all sorts of different sources, and without normalizing the data in any way, decided to mash all the data together and call it "research".
I'm not really a statistician/mathematician/numerologist/whatever, but I'm pretty sure you can't just pick pieces of data from various different More...
I'm not really a statistician/mathematician/numerologist/whatever, but I'm pretty sure you can't just pick pieces of data from various different More...
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Jan 20, 2012
Timo
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I enjoy reading Schneiers books because he has the ability to write about complex and abstract issues and then bring them down into practice by giving easy to understand examples from real life scenarios and throwing even few jokes here and there to underline the absurdity of some security measures currently used.
Schneiers analytical view is systematic and inexhaustible and while reading the book I noticed how my own ideas and concepts about what security is and how one can achieve i More...
Schneiers analytical view is systematic and inexhaustible and while reading the book I noticed how my own ideas and concepts about what security is and how one can achieve i More...
Apr 25, 2009
Sueij
rated it:
Definitely not "fluffy" reading, but an excellent book.
Bruce talks about *how* to assess security threats and solutions, leaving the theory current and highly applicable, even if the content is a couple of years old. He does a good job alternating between theory and examples, which both clarifies what he's talking about and keeps the text from being too dry. And he uses his theory to discuss examples from as small as whether you should lock your house door to as large as w More...
Bruce talks about *how* to assess security threats and solutions, leaving the theory current and highly applicable, even if the content is a couple of years old. He does a good job alternating between theory and examples, which both clarifies what he's talking about and keeps the text from being too dry. And he uses his theory to discuss examples from as small as whether you should lock your house door to as large as w More...
Jan 28, 2012
Rachel
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Another review of this book called it a "good non-technical book on understanding security in general" and that's how I'd summarize it. He talks about nothing is truly secure, so we make tradeoffs to get the best odds we can while still being able to function. It's a lot more common sense than you might think.
Also, since it was written in 2003 much of the book talks about 9/11, of course. The author praises the conception of TSA and how much that will improve security, whic More...
Also, since it was written in 2003 much of the book talks about 9/11, of course. The author praises the conception of TSA and how much that will improve security, whic More...
Dec 29, 2011
Steve
rated it:
My review, written and posted in the VICS Newsletter (VICS is the Voluntary Inter-Industry Commerce Solutions Association)
The bottom line: Bruce makes it clear that we should respond to real risks, and not perceived risks. Through this he challenges our responses to perceived risks, including our response post 9-11.
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Never has security seemed more important. We almost long for the hackers of yester-year that really just wanted to see where they could go, and a More...
The bottom line: Bruce makes it clear that we should respond to real risks, and not perceived risks. Through this he challenges our responses to perceived risks, including our response post 9-11.
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Never has security seemed more important. We almost long for the hackers of yester-year that really just wanted to see where they could go, and a More...
Apr 06, 2008
Andrew
rated it: 
Bruce Schneier in an author well worth knowing. I strongly recommend reading what he has posted on his website. (http://www.schneier.com/) It's fantastic stuff. However I found this book very disappointing, for quite a few different reasons. Three of them are:
1) The introduction is in the 2nd person. Thankfully it stopped, but it was extremely annoying. Seriously. Don't do that.
2) No footnotes. This results in some odd statements that I would have really liked to be able to ve More...
1) The introduction is in the 2nd person. Thankfully it stopped, but it was extremely annoying. Seriously. Don't do that.
2) No footnotes. This results in some odd statements that I would have really liked to be able to ve More...
Jul 19, 2009
Leslie
rated it: 
I read Beyond Fear for a security class, but it holds a lot of common sense advice for anyone concerned about the safety of themselves, their families and the nation. 100% safety is not a possibility, but Mr. Schneier provides practical advice and logical steps to achieve a more secure life and a better understanding of how national and personal security really works.
Jan 05, 2012
Shankar
rated it:
Well explained without resorting to gimmicks. Bruce Schneier knows what he is talking about and explains 'security theater' which is prevalent today and will be there tomorrow as well.
Jul 16, 2009
Vaughn
rated it:
Excellent walk-through of security. Analyzes and gets beyond the (often irrational) natural human response to terrorism.
Aug 17, 2009
Lee
rated it:
Great non-technical book on understanding security in general. Presented a good method for analyzing security risks and whether or not certain trade-offs are worth it. Some people have complained about the lack of references, but I think the underlying methodology he uses in the numerous cases through the book (e.g., are home alarm systems worth it? is it safe to pay with credit cards online? does arming pilots make flying safer?, etc.). This definitely wasn't a fast read, as I've been readin
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Oct 10, 2008
Mark
rated it:
A corporate security pseudo-text that discusses how the security industry makes none of us safer by utilizing 'noise'. Nice companion to the Black Swan.
Jul 16, 2008
Kathy
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This book can help one understand and stop fearing all the REAL things one fears. Not so much the UNREAL things!
Nov 12, 2007
Benjamin
rated it:
A must read for anybody interested in security issues. ANY security issues; personal, national, computer, etc.
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