Becoming an ethical hacker – Mastering cybersecurity principles

ISBN:978-618-87272-0-5

Pages :517

This book is an extensive guide to ethical hacking and cybersecurity, providing readers with the necessary skills to become proficient ethical hackers. To build a solid technical foundation, the book covers essential computer concepts, operating systems, networking essentials, IP addressing, subnets, and command-line skills. It emphasizes the importance of programming for hackers, offering practical guides on Python, security scripting, Bash scripting, and low-level languages like C and C++.

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to practical hacking techniques. It starts with information gathering and footprinting, explaining various techniques, including the use of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and differentiating between passive and active reconnaissance. The book then moves on to network scanning and enumeration, detailing how to safely exploit vulnerabilities and utilize advanced scanning techniques.

Web application security is thoroughly examined, with chapters focusing on common web vulnerabilities, testing web applications, secure coding practices, and the role of Web Application Firewalls (WAF). The book provides in-depth coverage of wireless network security, highlighting wireless hacking techniques, penetration testing methods, encryption standards, and defense strategies.

Advanced hacking techniques are explored in detail. Topics include exploiting system vulnerabilities, writing exploits, post-exploitation techniques, and reporting and documentation. The book delves into web application penetration testing, covering tools like Burp Suite, SQL injection attacks with SQLMap, cross-site scripting (XSS), cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and remote/local file inclusion vulnerabilities. The book also addresses wireless hacking techniques, including cracking WEP and WPA/WPA2 encryption, evil twin and rogue access point attacks, and client exploitation. It emphasizes the importance of setting up a virtual hacking lab, providing guidance on choosing tools, configuring virtual machines, using Docker, and creating a home network lab. In addition to practical hacking techniques, the book covers social engineering tactics, exploring its psychological aspects, ethical use, phishing techniques, and defense strategies. It provides insights into incident response and digital forensics, guiding readers on preparing for incidents, conducting ethical investigations, response procedures, and forensic tools.

The book introduces popular hacking tools such as Kali Linux, Metasploit, Aircrack-ng, and OWASP ZAP, demonstrating their use in various scenarios. It also covers advanced topics like network exploitation, web application penetration testing, wireless attacks, social engineering tactics, binary exploitation, and continuous learning for professional development.

Practical applications are illustrated through real-world case studies, covering ethical hacking success stories, security breaches, ransomware attacks, and legal cases involving ethical hackers. The book concludes with a look at future trends in cybersecurity, the impact of AI and machine learning, and the challenges posed by emerging technologies like quantum computing.

Overall, this book provides a comprehensive, detailed, and structured approach to ethical hacking, blending theoretical knowledge with practical skills and real-world applications, making it an invaluable resource for aspiring ethical hackers and cybersecurity professionals.

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