There are two types of people on the Internet today: the ones that have knowledge and the ones that e-mail me, whining, "But how do I find the hacker sites..." or "How do I learn new methods of sending anonymous e-mail?" That's why I wrote The Ultimate Internet Terrorist. I wanted to give the knowledge -- and hence the power -- to you.
When someone once told me in person that he wasn't worried about using his credit card on the Internet because of Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) technology I nearly screamed. Why? Is the technology flawed? Do I know some microcosmic secret about SSL software? Some erudite loophole?
First, do you even know the company you're doing business with? I go over this in the book. I don't care what SSL crap you put your faith in; if the people on the other end are crooked, you're gonna get burned! Crooks can use SSL just as easily as legit e-businesses. There are no laws out here in the Great Beyond. You'd be surprised at the number of intelligent folks who think a flashy Web site equals legitimacy. Oh, my Blessed Lord! It's so easy to write a quasi-professional Web site using "Front Page" that it can be done -- by anyone -- within a day. One day. And remember, there is no licensing on the 'net: anyone willing to pay for a site can get one and start collecting credit card numbers within the business week. Anyone. Second, even if the business is legit, are you sure you're not using a cloned Web site? Are you really, really sure? Probably not. My book shows how easy it is to use View - Document Source to "steal" someone's HTML source code. Why, a cyber-terrorist (or a squad of them) could use this method to "steal" your Web site and then start collecting credit card numbers! Does an arm of the BBB look after every one of 9,121,433,123 sites in existence today? Do monkeys come flying out of my butt every day to play The Blue Danube Waltz?
Third, even if the above two cases don't apply, are you certain someone isn't using a bit of ultra-black cyber-technology like a packet-sniffer? This is a high-tech way of tapping the Internet's phone lines. Or, if you use a public terminal, is someone "shoulder surfing" your innocent little ass?
Biography from the archived Paladin Press catalog.
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