Blockchain Security From the Bottom Up - Securing Preventing Attacks on Cryptocurrencies, Decentralized

The gold standard in up-to-date blockchain cybersecurity handbooks
 
In Blockchain Security from the Bottom Up: Securing and Preventing Attacks on Cryptocurrencies, Decentralized Applications, NFTs, and Smart Contracts, accomplished blockchain and cybersecurity consultant and educator Howard E. Poston delivers an authoritative exploration of blockchain and crypto cybersecurity. In the book, the author shows you exactly how cybersecurity should be baked into the blockchain at every layer of the technology's ecosystem. You'll discover how each layer can be attacked and learn how to prevent and respond to those attacks in an environment of constant technological change and evolution.
 
You'll also find:
* Illuminating case studies of real-world attacks and defenses at various layers in the blockchain ecosystem
* Thorough introductions to blockchain technology, including its implementations in areas like crypto, NFTs, and smart contracts
* Comprehensive explorations of critical blockchain topics, including protocols, consensus, and proof of work
 
A can't-miss resource for blockchain and cybersecurity professionals seeking to stay on the cutting-edge of a rapidly evolving area, Blockchain Security from the Bottom Up will also earn a place on the bookshelves of software developers working with cryptocurrencies and other blockchain implementations.

List of contents

Chapter 1 Introduction to Blockchain Security 1
 
The Goals of Blockchain Technology 2
 
Anonymity 2
 
Decentralization 2
 
Fault Tolerance 2
 
Immutability 3
 
Transparency 3
 
Trustless 3
 
Structure of the Blockchain 3
 
The Blockchain Network 5
 
The Blockchain Node 5
 
A Blockchain Block 6
 
A Blockchain Transaction 7
 
Inside the Blockchain Ecosystem 8
 
Fundamentals 8
 
Primitives 9
 
Data Structures 9
 
Protocols 9
 
Consensus 9
 
Block Creation 10
 
Infrastructure 10
 
Nodes 10
 
Network 11
 
Advanced 11
 
Smart Contracts 11
 
Extensions 11
 
Threat Modeling for the Blockchain 12
 
Threat Modeling with STRIDE 12
 
Spoofing 12
 
Tampering 12
 
Repudiation 13
 
Information Disclosure 13
 
Denial of Service 13
 
Elevation of Privilege 13
 
Applying STRIDE to Blockchain 14
 
Conclusion 14
 
Chapter 2 Fundamentals 15
 
Cryptographic Primitives 15
 
Public Key Cryptography 16
 
Introducing "Hard" Mathematical Problems 16
 
Building Cryptography with "Hard" Problems 18
 
How the Blockchain Uses Public Key Cryptography 19
 
Security Assumptions of Public Key Cryptography 20
 
Attacking Public Key Cryptography 20
 
Hash Functions 25
 
Security Assumptions of Hash Functions 25
 
Additional Security Requirements 27
 
How the Blockchain Uses Hash Functions 28
 
Attacking Hash Functions 31
 
Threat Modeling for Cryptographic Algorithms 32
 
Data Structures 33
 
Transactions 33
 
What's In a Transaction? 33
 
Inside the Life Cycle of a Transaction 34
 
Attacking Transactions 34
 
Blocks 37
 
Inside a Block 37
 
Attacking Blockchain Blocks 38
 
Threat Modeling for Data Structures 39
 
Conclusion 39
 
Chapter 3 Protocols 43
 
Consensus 43
 
Key Concepts in Blockchain Consensus 44
 
Byzantine Generals Problem 44
 
Security via Scarcity 45
 
The Longest Chain Rule 46
 
Proof of Work 46
 
Introduction to Proof of Work 47
 
Security of Proof of Work 48
 
Proof of Stake 53
 
Introduction to Proof of Stake 53
 
Variants of Proof of Stake 54
 
Security of Proof of Stake 54
 
Threat Modeling for Consensus 59
 
Block Creation 59
 
Stages of Block Creation 60
 
Transaction Transmission 60
 
Block Creator Selection (Consensus) 60
 
Block Building 61
 
Block Transmission 61
 
Block Validation 61
 
Attacking Block Creation 62
 
Denial of Service 62
 
Frontrunning 63
 
SPV Mining 65
 
Threat Modeling for Block Creation 65
 
Conclusion 65
 
Chapter 4 Infrastructure 67
 
Nodes 67
 
Inside a Blockchain Node 68
 
Attacking Blockchain Nodes 68
 
Blockchain- Specific Malware 69
 
Denial-of-Service Attacks 70
 
Failure to Update 71
 
Malicious Inputs 72
 
Software Misconfigurations 73
 
Threat Modeling for Blockchain Nodes 74
 
Networks 74
 
Attacking the Blockchain Network 75
 
Denial-of-service Attacks 75
 
Eclipse/Routing Attacks 76
 
Sybil Attacks 78
 
Threat Modeling for Blockchain Networks 80
 
Conclusion 80
 
Chapter 5 Advanc

About the author

HOWARD E. POSTON III is an independent blockchain consultant, educator, and content creator who has developed and taught over a dozen courses covering cybersecurity topics. He holds a master's degree in Cybersecurity from the Air Force Institute of Technology and is a Certified Ethical Hacker. He has developed and facilitated blockchain security courses for major companies.

Summary

The gold standard in up-to-date blockchain cybersecurity handbooks

In Blockchain Security from the Bottom Up: Securing and Preventing Attacks on Cryptocurrencies, Decentralized Applications, NFTs, and Smart Contracts, accomplished blockchain and cybersecurity consultant and educator Howard E. Poston delivers an authoritative exploration of blockchain and crypto cybersecurity. In the book, the author shows you exactly how cybersecurity should be baked into the blockchain at every layer of the technology's ecosystem. You'll discover how each layer can be attacked and learn how to prevent and respond to those attacks in an environment of constant technological change and evolution.

You'll also find:
* Illuminating case studies of real-world attacks and defenses at various layers in the blockchain ecosystem
* Thorough introductions to blockchain technology, including its implementations in areas like crypto, NFTs, and smart contracts
* Comprehensive explorations of critical blockchain topics, including protocols, consensus, and proof of work

A can't-miss resource for blockchain and cybersecurity professionals seeking to stay on the cutting-edge of a rapidly evolving area, Blockchain Security from the Bottom Up will also earn a place on the bookshelves of software developers working with cryptocurrencies and other blockchain implementations.

Product details

• Authors: Poston, He Poston, Howard E Poston, Howard E. Poston
• Publisher: Wiley, John and Sons Ltd
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 30.06.2022
• EAN: 9781119896296
• ISBN: 978-1-119-89629-6
• No. of pages: 176
• Subjects: Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > IT, data processing > IT; Informatik, Blockchain, computer science, Networking / Security, Netzwerke / Sicherheit