Finished chewing through the Syngress Book

Discussion in 'Security+' started by GSteer, Dec 2, 2010.

  1. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    To be honest, I'm surpised at how much I had overview knowledge off, lots of little details filled in though and a few lightbulb moments about how things link together, all in all a good read, it only really got heavy going in the Cryptography chapter I found.

    Onwards to two weeks of practice questions and revision before the exam on the 18th.

    Think I'll have a beer and relax for the remainder of the even, the questions can wait until tomorrow :)
     
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
    WIP: CCNA Routing & Switching
  2. nXPLOSi

    nXPLOSi Terabyte Poster

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    We're in the same boat!

    I finished the book at the weekend, and like yourself found that alot of it I was already aware of so it was more enforcing what I knew. There are a few areas that I need to spend some time on like the strenghts and weaknesses of each encryption method and bit lengths etc.

    How did you find the Syngress book? Although I felt the content of the text was very good and easy to read, I found the questions at the end of the chapters pretty rough. There was more then 3-4 occasions where im sure the answer they state is wrong. Theres even one question I noticed that has the answer options as A, C, C or D.

    Anyway, onwards and upwards. Im half way through the CBTNugget series and have to say im impressed once again with the quality of them. If your looking for something to bolt down the information, thats the way to go.

    What question series are you using? I've purchased the Transcender but not looked at them as yet.
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 (270, 290, 291), MCTS (640, 642), MCSA 2008
    WIP: MCSA 2012
  3. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    Currently intending to use the end of chapter questions (have been saving them up) and the exams on the disc, although by the sounds of it I'll need to treat them with care.

    I've got access to some Sec+ books through Books24x7, the Sybex one catches by eye so I'll be pulling questions from that pool as well, I'm also seeing the Meyers Sec+ Passport there as well, that should give a few more.

    As for purchased exam tests, non as yet.

    Going to hit the syngress questions this weekend then identify the revision areas.
     
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
    WIP: CCNA Routing & Switching
  4. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    Crikey nXPLOSi - I've just found out what you mean.

    Went through the first 5 chapter question sets and it's almost as if they had someone else write the questions compared to the chapter authors. What a difference, quite dissapointed with the duplication of questions, missing sections of questions and lack of clarity in some of them, oh and don't forget the "incorrect" answers stating a reason that contradicts the "correct" answer stated.

    Here's hoping the next 10 sets and the CD exams are better.

    EDIT: Now finished up to the Chapter 10 questions and I've lost faith in them, the English is failing further and the technical errors are glaring, will post specifics in a different post to confirm it's not me actually getting them wrong. I've emailed Syngress to see if they have any errata lists for this book, nothing shown on their site though.
     
    Last edited: Dec 6, 2010
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
    WIP: CCNA Routing & Switching
  5. nXPLOSi

    nXPLOSi Terabyte Poster

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    Yeah I had to give up on them as well, gets to the stage where you really can't trust the answers so if I wasn't sure on a question I couldn't be sure the answer was correct.

    Thankfully the Transcender questions have been at their usually high quality so far so fingers crossed. The CD questions seem ok, I've only done 30 or so from the first one but found them correct etc.

    It will be interesting to see what Syngress say, I imagine they must of had a good few emails on the subject! :P
     
    Certifications: A+, Network+, Security+, MCSA 2003 (270, 290, 291), MCTS (640, 642), MCSA 2008
    WIP: MCSA 2012
  6. GSteer

    GSteer Megabyte Poster

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    Their answer:

    "Hi Greg,

    Right now we do not have any published errata for this book. However if you’d like to submit the corrections you found, I’m happy to forward them along to the editors for update in a future printing.

    Best regards, Melissa (Marketing Manager)"


    Might send some over to them post exam.

    Hows the revision going at your end, I've been putting of the second Crypto/PKI session until this afternoon, re-covered most the of the other stuff I got wrong in the books practice questions, was surfing far too close to the 82% mark.

    Think I'll do one of the exams this evening and see what the outcome is, line up the last revision for this week,
     
    Certifications: BSc. (Comp. Sci.), MBCS, MCP [70-290], Specialist [74-324], Security+, Network+, A+, Tea Lord: Beverage Brewmaster | Courses: LFS101x Introduction to Linux (edX)
    WIP: CCNA Routing & Switching

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