Bacard's PGP Book, Kapor's Intro

[David Farber <farber () central cis upenn edu>]

From: murraypk () crl com (Murray Peck)


Andre Bacard's "Computer Privacy Handbook"
A Book Review Written by
Murray Peck


I highly recommend Andre Bacard's new book for anyone who cares
about privacy. Bacard argues that our "Information Age" has a flip
side, namely the "Surveillance Age." With both funny and scary
examples, Bacard illustrates how everyone is at risk because of
"data sharks" (people, corporations, and governments) who trade our
personal secrets for their gain. He devastates the knee jerk
reaction "Whatsamatter, I've got nothing to hide."


Bacard's earlier book, "Hunger for Power: Who Rules the World and
How," prepared him for a fresh view of cyberspace. In "Computer
Privacy Handbook," Bacard tells how his meetings with John Markoff,
John Perry Barlow, Phil Zimmermann, Jim Warren, Mitchell Kapor and
other cyberspace leaders led him to see the connections between
political power and computer privacy. Very interesting story...


The book is divided into four main parts:


* An Overview of Surveillance
* Cryptology
* An Overview of PGP
* A User-friendly Manual for PGP
* Pro-privacy Resources


"Computer Privacy Handbook" covers many topics, including Clipper
Chip, Digital Telephony, Pretty Good Privacy, Anonymous Remailers,
and DigiCash. Two of my favorite sections were Bacard's analysis of
the cash-free society and the psychology of privacy.


The book is clearly written with colorful anecdotes.


Bacard gives much praise to EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation),
EPIC (Electronic Privacy Information Center), and CPSR (Computer
Professionals for Social Responsibility). These groups must be
thrilled by the "Computer Privacy Handbook".


As for my criticism... In the next edition, I hope Bacard will tell
American readers what we can learn from pro-privacy movements in
other countries. I'd also like him to speculate about future
technologies.


Here is Mitchell Kapor's Introduction to "Computer Privacy
Handbook."  Also I'm including a press release that Bacard
<abacard () well com> sent me when I told him I was writing this
review.




           Introduction to "Computer Privacy Handbook"
                               by
                         Mitchell Kapor
           Co-Founder, Electronic Frontier Foundation
                     Creator of Lotus 1-2-3


Issues of privacy are very much on the minds of those migrating to
the wild new regions of the domain we call Cyberspace. What many of
us seek in picking up stakes and heading for the electronic
frontier is greater overall self-determination in life. This is
impossible without being able to control information by and about
us. This is the heart of privacy.


Privacy is both a matter of right and of practice. It is a
fundamental premise of this country's founding that rights of life,
liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable.  The
Electronic Frontier Foundation, of which I am a founder, is deeply
involved in Washington in the fight to make sure rights such as
privacy, as well as freedom of expression, are not abridged in
Cyberspace. I am deeply troubled by the profound resistance of
certain agencies of the U.S. government to see this matter through
to its proper conclusion.


This does not mean we give up the fight to make public policy which
increases our privacy and our freedom. Far from it. It only makes
us redouble our efforts.


At the same time, it does remind us that we have to look beyond
Washington to solve our problems. Mere talk is not enough. When
government is unable to respect the rights of individuals and
stands in the way of those rights, direct action is required.


Fortunately, powerful, readily available new tools like PGP have
been created to put control of privacy much more directly in the
hands of the citizens of Cyberspace themselves. Andre Bacard's
"Computer Privacy Handbook" is an invaluable guide to both the
whole subject of privacy on the net, the politics of privacy, and,
most important, to the practical steps one can take right now.




            ********** Begin Press Release **********


Peachpit Press                Print Media Contact:
2414 Sixth Street             Trish Booth <trish () peachpit com>
Berkeley, CA 94710            Gary-Paul Prince <gary () peachpit com>
Phone (800) 283-9444 or
      (510) 548-4393          Broadcast Media Contact:
Fax   (510) 548-5991          Hannah Onstad <hannah () peachpit com>




             THE SCARIEST COMPUTER BOOK OF THE YEAR


"Andre Bacard's "Computer Privacy Handbook" is an invaluable guide
to both the whole subject of privacy on the net, the politics of
privacy, and, most important, to the practical steps one can take
right now."
     Mitchell Kapor, Creator of Lotus-1-2-3, Co-founder of the
     Electronic Frontier Foundation
"Bacard's ruthlessly realistic but optimistic book explains the
privacy dangers that YOU face and what YOU can do to protect
yourself!"
     Jim Warren, Founder of "InfoWorld", Founder of Computer,
     Freedom and Privacy Conferences




March 1995, Berkeley, CA. Criminals, competitors (anyone, in fact)
can buy a person's IRS forms for $500. An individual's medical
records are available to complete strangers. TV star Rebecca
Schaffer was shot to death by a computer stalker. These are just
some of the horrifying examples of invasions of privacy that author
Andre Bacard points out in his new book, "The Computer Privacy
Handbook: A Practical Guide to E-Mail Encryption, Data Protection,
and PGP Privacy Software."


We live in the Age of Electronic Surveillance, Bacard says, and
snooping happens. Given that millions of e-mail messages are
exchanged daily, and the Internet buzzes with zillions of bites of
online discussions each day, it's easy to see how this could be.
But just as computers are part of the problem, they are also part
of the solution. Bacard details how individuals can safeguard their
electronic privacy using good encryption, proper data protection,
and the right software.


"Computer Privacy Handbook" shows how computers threaten YOUR
personal security, and it gives YOU the practical tools to reassert
YOUR privacy! In this book, find out:


* Who is Selling Your Secrets
* How Computers Help Snoops
* The Dangers of a Cash-Free Society
* How Big Brother Wants to Monitor ALL Telecommunications
* Why E-Mail Can Be Terribly Unsafe
* What to do with Your Social Security Number
* The Advantages of Anonymous Remailers
* How to Protect Yourself with Encryption
* The Best Usenet News Groups for You to Visit
* Where to Find Expert Privacy Activists


"Computer Privacy Handbook" also contains a user-friendly manual
for PGP software. PGP ("Pretty Good Privacy") is a top-rate program
to protect your personal and business data files and e-mail from
snoops! PGP is the de facto world standard for e-mail privacy.


Author Andre Bacard, who also wrote "Hunger for Power: Who Rules
the World and How," has a wide-angle view of society. He has
written about technology and society for numerous publications. A
guest on hundreds of radio talk shows, he was judged one of the
best public speakers in America by the International Platform
Association.
============================
Price $24.95
Size 274 pages; 7"x 9"
ISBN 1-56609-171-3
Software covered. PGP.
Levels: beginner through advanced.
Availability: through bookstores, computer dealers, catalogs, and
     user groups; or directly for Peachpit Press. Satisfaction
     cheerfully guaranteed.


          ************* End Press Release *************