Hacking is a term that describes acts aimed at compromising digital devices such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and even entire networks.
While hacking may not always be for harmful objectives, most references to hacking, and hackers
Currently describe it as illegal cybercriminal action motivated by monetary gain, protest, information gathering, spying, or even just for the joy of the task.
Hacking is the use of technologies such as computers, smartphones, tablets, and networks to harm or destroy systems, collect information on users, steal data and documents, or disrupt data-related activity.
Hacker is a contentious phrase that is sometimes used as a complement to people who address technological challenges with a high level of competence and ingenuity.
Individuals that utilise this talent for unlawful or unethical objectives are often commonly referred to as "hackers."
Many people assume that a hacker is a self-taught genius or rogue programmer who can change computer hardware or software to allow it to be used in ways that the creators never intended.
This is, however, a restricted viewpoint that does not begin to address the wide range of reasons why people turn to hack. To breach cybersecurity defences, hackers employ technical expertise.
Ethical hackers look for cybersecurity flaws and may work as penetration testers (pen testers) or do it as a hobby. Obtaining illegal access to computers, networks, computing systems, mobile devices, or internet of things systems is frequently the final goal.
Many professional hackers use their abilities to find security flaws in enterprise systems and then advise businesses on how to strengthen their security defences to keep threat actors out.
Hackers are becoming more sophisticated, employing stealthy attack techniques that go unreported by cybersecurity software and IT professionals.
They are also adept at concocting attack vectors that persuade users to open malicious attachments or links, thereby revealing sensitive personal information.
There are certain books in the market, written by experts in the field of hacking that will help you get an idea of what exactly hacking is and how it is done.
These books work like a guide that will give you step by step instructions on how to hack and do penetration testing. Below are some books.
12 Best Hacking Books (2022)
1. The basics of hacking and penetration testing
This book is a primer on how to run a penetration test or an ethical hack from start to finish.
Readers will learn how to use and analyse the results of modern hacking tools in order to execute a penetration test.
It teaches the readers how to efficiently use these tools, as well as a four-step process for conducting a penetration test or hack, assisting them in launching their careers and gaining a better grasp of offensive security.
Each chapter includes activities and practical examples that teach the readers how to analyse data and apply it in subsequent phases.
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2. Hands-on ethical hacking and network defense
This book explains how ethical hackers and security testers employ penetration-testing tools and techniques to secure computer networks.
This book provides a systematic knowledge base for security experts to uncover vulnerabilities and provide solutions for securing networks and protecting data from prospective attackers.
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3. Hacking: The art of exploitation
A detailed introduction to the exploitation tactics and innovative problem-solving strategies known as "hacking."
Instead, then just showing how to execute other people's vulnerabilities, it demonstrates how hackers exploit programmes and build attacks.
The technical components of hacking are covered in this book, including stack-based overflows, heap-based overflows, string exploits, return-into-libc, shellcode
And cryptographic assaults on 802.11b.
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4. The hacker Playbook 2: Practical Guide to Penetrating Testing
This updated edition of The Hacker Playbook includes all of the best "plays" from the first edition as well as the most recent attacks, tools, and lessons gained.
This guide has twice the material of its predecessor and goes over how to set up a lab, walk through attack test cases, and provide more customised code.
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5. Real-World Bug Hunting: A Field Guide to Web Hacking Kindle
Cross-site scripting, unsecured direct object references, and server-side request forgery are among the most common types of problems covered in this book.
You'll discover how hackers utilise race conditions to transfer money, use URL parameters to compel users to like unwanted tweets
And more using real-life case studies of incentivized vulnerabilities from apps like Twitter, Facebook, Google, and Uber.
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6. Rtfm: Red Team Field Manual
This book is a comprehensive reference guide for serious Red Team members who frequently find themselves on a mission without access to Google or the time to read a man page.
The RTFM includes the basic syntax for regularly used Linux and Windows command-line tools, as well as special use cases for powerful programmes like Python and Windows PowerShell.
The RTFM will save you time seeking up difficult-to-remember Windows details
like the wmic and dsquery command line tools, key registry values, scheduled task syntax, start-up locations, and Windows scripting.
It also teaches you new red team tactics.
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7. Penetration Testing: A Hands-on Introduction to Hacking
This book starts with the fundamentals of programming and guides you through Kali Linux, an operating system that comes preinstalled with helpful computer security tools like Wireshark and Metasploit.
You'll learn how to obtain information on a target, use social engineering, capture network data, analyse vulnerabilities, create exploits, and more.
Even more sophisticated issues, such as mobile device security and anti-virus software bypassing, are covered through practical examples.
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8. The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook
This book provides a step-by-step guide on identifying and exploiting web application security issues.
The writers use real-world examples, screen pictures, and code excerpts to explain each vulnerability area.
The book is quite practical in nature, and it walks you through the processes for finding and exploiting each type of security flaw present in applications like online banking, e-commerce, and other web services.
Bypassing login methods, injecting code, exploiting logic errors, and compromising other users are only a few of the subjects covered.
This manual explains a tried-and-true system for combining human intelligence and digital brute power, with often disastrous outcomes.
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11. Computer Hacking Beginners Guide
This book will show you how to defend yourself against the most frequent hacking assaults by understanding how they work.
After all, being one step ahead of any criminal hacker is essential to prevent your system from being compromised. Learn to hack and counter-hack.
This book contains strategies and tools used by both criminal and ethical hackers - everything you'll learn will teach you how information security may be compromised and how to spot an assault in a system you're trying to safeguard.
At the same time, you'll discover ways to minimize any system or system-related damage.
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12. The Hacker Playbook 3
This book will help you improve your offensive hacking skills, mental processes, and attack paths.
This book focuses on real-world campaigns and attacks, exposing you to various initial entry points, exploitation, bespoke malware, persistence, and lateral movement while avoiding detection.
Multiple Virtual Machines, testing environments, and bespoke THP tools will be included in this primarily lab-based book.
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Conclusion
In the above list, the books that can help you get an idea and guide you in the field of hacking are mentioned. The books are considered to be the best books for hacking for a reason and they are the perfect guide that will help you in your hacking journey.
They are easy to read and describe, they include step by step guidelines and instructions that teaches you how to actually hack. If you have an interest in hacking and aspire to be a hacker these books will definitely help you in the long run.
However, it should be noted that hacking into organizations and websites for personal gain is not legally right. Many bad hackers are present who hack into websites for their own personal gain which results in havoc and loss for companies and many individuals.
You should know that certain rules and laws are set for unsupervised hacking and for personal gain. These laws come with punishments and even imprisonment.
If you learn hacking and use it in the right way, you can be employed in organisations that need hackers for various security works and will be appreciated and paid heavily for your work.
Study and choose wisely. If you do so, you can get into the right field or organisation that uses hackers and their hacking skills in a rightful manner, earn a very good living, gain respect and make good use of the knowledge you gained.
If you turn to the bad ways and use your hacking knowledge for your personal benefit and gain you could end up in trouble.
To sum up, this was all about best books to learn hacking. I hope the information was worth reading and all your queries got cleared with the relevant information provided in the article.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. What books do hackers read?
Ethical Hacking is a versatile and demanding job in computer science. This field requires a lot of knowledge and inspiration in terms of computer technology.
Likewise, people aspiring to be hackers or hackers read books that give them knowledge and guidance regarding the ways and steps to do so.
Much like an educational book that gives information and knowledge to the readers about the different hackings hacks and guides are read and should be read by hackers.
Some books for hackers are: Red Team Field Manual, The Art of Exploitation, The Penetration Tester’s Guide, The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing, The Code Book etc.
Q2. Which study is best for hacking?
Edureka Cyber Security is the best study for hacking. From the ground up, Edureka's Cyber Security course will teach you about ethical hacking, cryptography, computer networks
And security, application security, idAM (identity and access management), vulnerability analysis, malware threats, sniffing, SQL injection, DoS, session hijacking, and other business security practices.
Enrol in this cyber security certification training programme to learn from industry professionals, work on real-world projects, and get certified. This course covers the fundamentals of hacking and its study in some detail.
Q3 Who is the No 1 hacker in the world?
Kevin Mitnick is the world's most skilled hacker, social engineer, and security awareness trainer. His name appears on the most widely used computer-based end-user security awareness training suite in the world.
Kevin's keynote talks combine magic, knowledge, and pure entertainment in equal measure. Kevin will entertain and educate your audience
By doing live or remote demonstrations of the newest hacking techniques to help raise security awareness among individuals and organisations throughout the world while keeping attendees on the edge of their seats.
Kevin is a best-selling novelist whose books have been translated into more than 50 languages. He is the world's greatest authority on social engineering and security awareness training.
Q4 Which book is used for hacking?
Some of the books that are easy to read and are best for hacking are: Hands-on Ethical Hacking and Network Defense, The Tangled Web by Michal Zalewski, The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing - Patrick Engebretson,
Penetration Testing- A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking, Gray Hat Hacking: The Ethical Hacker's Handbook, Fifth Edition 5th Edition, Exploiting Software: How to Break Code by Greg Hoglund and Gary R. McGraw,
Hacking: The Art of Exploitation by Jon Erickson, Advanced Penetration Testing: Hacking the world’s most Secure Networks, The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook: Finding and Exploiting Security Flaws, etc.
Q5 Who hacked NASA in 1999?
When Florida teenager Jonathan James was 15 years old, he hacked NASA computers, resulting in a three-week system shutdown and a $41,000 recovery cost.
He also broke into the systems of a Defense Department office and seized 3,300 emails with the passwords of 19 employees. He was eventually apprehended and sentenced to six months in prison.
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