Joel McNamara

Books I've written...

Netbooks for Dummies
They're small, they're hip, they're cheap, they're outselling traditional laptops and PCs left and right. They're netbooks and they're taking the consumer market by storm. Following up the popular ASUS Eee PC for Dummies, I just finished Netbooks for Dummies. This title covers netbooks in general with a focus on models running Windows. Amazon is taking pre-orders and is currently saying a November 23, 2009 release - but since I finished writing ahead of schedule look for it in October or hopefully sooner.

ASUS Eee PC for Dummies
Published in December, 2008 - This book is devoted to ASUS's groundbreaking Eee PC and covers everything you need to know to use and maximize the little Netbook. I primarily focus on Linux models, but there's also a lot of Windows-related content. More on any of my Dummies titles at www.dummies.com.

GPS for Dummies - Second Edition
Published in October 2008 - Four years after the first edition came out, I've significantly updated this book. In addition to handheld outdoor units, you'll now find lots of information on automotive GPS receivers, cell phone GPS, marine GPS, and the latest mapping software and Web sites.

Geocaching for Dummies
Published in September 2004 - a manual for the then new sport of geocaching. Some things have changed over the years, but the content is still solid. Check out the table of contents and a sample chapter.

GPS for Dummies
Published in June 2004 - everything you always wanted to know about GPS and digital maps but were afraid to ask. Here's the table of contents and some excerpts. My editor says this has been one of the best selling GPS titles on the market, which is a nice compliment. The second edition, with lots of new content, is now out (see above).

Secrets of Computer Espionage: Tactics & Countermeasures
My first book came out in July 2003 and is all about computer spying - here are some reviews, a sample chapter and links that go with it. Also see "The Mystery of Damien Casablanca." The book was a bestseller for a bit. A bit dated on some of the technical details now, but a number of the general concepts and ideas are pretty timeless.

Secrets of Computer Espionage was translated into Polish (Arkana szpiegostwa komputerowego) and Russian (Секреты компьютерного шпионажа: Тактика и контрмеры), which is cool in a Cold War, spy kind of way. Respective covers are to the left.

These days I'm not doing as much "pure" computer security consulting as I used to, but I still get inquiries about two security-related projects mentioned in the book that I previously worked on. For the record, if a search engine brought you here because of TEMPEST , remailers, or Private Idaho:

- The Complete Unofficial TEMPEST Information Page, was all about electromagnetic radiation eavesdropping and how to prevent it. Much of the mystery that originally surrounded TEMPEST has been revealed thanks to a variety of public disclosures. The TEMPEST page was last updated in March 2004 and is archived here.

- Private Idaho, was a popular Windows front-end for PGP and anonymous remailers that I wrote ages ago during my Cypherpunk days. I stopped working on the utility in 1997, and released the Visual Basic source code to the public. A few developers released enhanced versions of the program over the years. If for some reason you're interested in ancient history, everything relating to PI is archived here.

Other stuff...
Inside Passage Registry/Information Source for Paddlers & Rowers
Vintage Sea Kayaker magazine cover scans

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Joel McNamara - last updated June 30, 2009
Primary contact - joelm at eskimo_dot_com (if you're not a spam harvester, you'll figure it out)
FYI - I'm happy to give email interviews (no phone interviews though, please). Any Joel McNamaras you find on social networking sites (linkedin, facebook, myspace, twitter, etc.) aren't me...

	Netbooks for Dummies They're small, they're hip, they're cheap, they're outselling traditional laptops and PCs left and right. They're netbooks and they're taking the consumer market by storm. Following up the popular ASUS Eee PC for Dummies, I just finished Netbooks for Dummies. This title covers netbooks in general with a focus on models running Windows. Amazon is taking pre-orders and is currently saying a November 23, 2009 release - but since I finished writing ahead of schedule look for it in October or hopefully sooner.
	ASUS Eee PC for Dummies Published in December, 2008 - This book is devoted to ASUS's groundbreaking Eee PC and covers everything you need to know to use and maximize the little Netbook. I primarily focus on Linux models, but there's also a lot of Windows-related content. More on any of my Dummies titles at www.dummies.com.
	GPS for Dummies - Second Edition Published in October 2008 - Four years after the first edition came out, I've significantly updated this book. In addition to handheld outdoor units, you'll now find lots of information on automotive GPS receivers, cell phone GPS, marine GPS, and the latest mapping software and Web sites.
	Geocaching for Dummies Published in September 2004 - a manual for the then new sport of geocaching. Some things have changed over the years, but the content is still solid. Check out the table of contents and a sample chapter.
	GPS for Dummies Published in June 2004 - everything you always wanted to know about GPS and digital maps but were afraid to ask. Here's the table of contents and some excerpts. My editor says this has been one of the best selling GPS titles on the market, which is a nice compliment. The second edition, with lots of new content, is now out (see above).
	Secrets of Computer Espionage: Tactics & Countermeasures My first book came out in July 2003 and is all about computer spying - here are some reviews, a sample chapter and links that go with it. Also see "The Mystery of Damien Casablanca." The book was a bestseller for a bit. A bit dated on some of the technical details now, but a number of the general concepts and ideas are pretty timeless. Secrets of Computer Espionage was translated into Polish (Arkana szpiegostwa komputerowego) and Russian (Секреты компьютерного шпионажа: Тактика и контрмеры), which is cool in a Cold War, spy kind of way. Respective covers are to the left. These days I'm not doing as much "pure" computer security consulting as I used to, but I still get inquiries about two security-related projects mentioned in the book that I previously worked on. For the record, if a search engine brought you here because of TEMPEST , remailers, or Private Idaho: - The Complete Unofficial TEMPEST Information Page, was all about electromagnetic radiation eavesdropping and how to prevent it. Much of the mystery that originally surrounded TEMPEST has been revealed thanks to a variety of public disclosures. The TEMPEST page was last updated in March 2004 and is archived here. - Private Idaho, was a popular Windows front-end for PGP and anonymous remailers that I wrote ages ago during my Cypherpunk days. I stopped working on the utility in 1997, and released the Visual Basic source code to the public. A few developers released enhanced versions of the program over the years. If for some reason you're interested in ancient history, everything relating to PI is archived here.