As organizations are increasingly understanding the need to keep their clients’ information safe, the need for cybersecurity professionals is rising. This is because in order to be able to stop hackers and cyber criminals you need to have their mindset. How to keep your organization safe from rising threats? How can you reduce the risk liability from a breach? This can be done by employing a white-hat hacker (ethical hacker) that performs activities in an attempt to penetrate the network and test the organization’s network security system in order to protect the infrastructure. These activities are performed after getting permission from the organization.
Even though ethical hacking is a practical process and requires hands-on activities, reading these books it will be a great start. Show your commitment to security by pursuing a career in Ethical Hacking, as there are plenty opportunities ahead. Want to have a proactive approach and see beyond the existing network’s security system? Start here by reading these top recommended books.
1. The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook: Finding and Exploiting Security Flaws by Marcus Pinto and Dafydd Stuttard
Web applications are the front door to most organizations, exposing them to attacks that may reveal valuable information. Considering today’s significant cybersecurity exposures, it is important for organizations to take the necessary actions to prevent and mitigate malicious attacks. This book is intended to teach you how to overcome these attacks and the steps required to prevent them. Moreover, it covers discussions on remote frameworks, Hybrid File attacks, UI redress, Frame busting, HTTP Parameter Pollution, and much more.
2. The Hacker Playbook 2: Practical Guide to Penetration Testing by Peter Kim
This is a great book which not only consists of a step by step guide of penetration hacking but also it provides practical examples and valuable advice. In the book, Peter Kim includes the latest attacks, tools, and lessons learned from these attacks. It definitely is a good baseline to start with hacking/penetration testing if you are just getting started in the field. It has simple explanations and a good approach to use with Kali Linux.
3. Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking by Georgia Weidman
Are you new to penetration testing? This book is an excellent book if you are at a beginner level because it provides you with the required skills and techniques that you need for pen testing. By using a virtual machine-based lab that includes Kali Linux and vulnerable operating systems, the author introduces users on how to run practical lessons with tools like Nmap, Wireshark, etc. The hands-on lessons introduce you to the techniques and strategies that you can utilize for Penetration Testing.
4. The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing: Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Made Easy by Patrick Engebretson
In this book, Patrick Engebretson with simple explanations shows how to perform penetration testing, and how to effectively use ethical hacking tools. With practical examples and exercises, you will obtain the required knowledge to start your ethical hacking career. The book covers different tools like Nmap, Metasploit, Backtrack Linux, Netcat, Nessus, etc. If you are new to the field and you want to get a basic understanding of penetration testing and hacking, this will be a great read.
5. The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnick
A practical book by the world’s most famous hacker which shows what is happening through real-life stories. Kevin gives step-by-step instructions on how to minimize your online footprint and protect yourself and keep data safe. This book is a must-read considering today’s security issues we are continuously facing. Nothing we do online is private anymore. Are we really all being tracked? Even though becoming invisible is a very challenging task, in this book you can find valuable information on how to strengthen personal security.
