Closing Words

I want to leave you with a few thoughts of vital importance. These are a few tools available in abundance. The result of a broken site is known worldwide in minutes and is posted on any number of cracker sites. This means you must remain vigilant, and take full responsibility for your security. It is not the host's fault if you do not patch your site.

Learn about these tools and their operations before you attempt their use. Clean up all security problems in your OWN configuration before you accuse your host. Be watchful and keep a strong vigil on security issues.

Spend time on "hacker" websites (yes it is dangerous, but at least the members of the world's media won't water it down or alter the truth) to learn what is going on. DO NOT taunt them; they are better at this game than you. What you have in your favor is a defense in depth. In other words, make it difficult for them to do their part.

As I close this chapter, I would like to relate an anecdote. I worked for several...