Chapter 1. Software Vulnerability Fundamentals

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Arthur C. Clarke

Introduction

The average person tends to think of software as a form of technological wizardry simply beyond understanding. A piece of software might have complexity that rivals any physical hardware, but most people never see its wheels spin, hear the hum of its engine, or take apart the nuts and bolts to see what makes it tick. Yet computer software has become such an integral part of society that it affects almost every aspect of people’s daily lives. This wide-reaching effect inevitably raises questions about the security of systems that people have become so dependent on. You can’t help but wonder whether ...

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