Books on hacking pdf

These books are the best ones and are very helpful to you. Thanks fire taking the time to compile this list. I will definitely be using it as a reference source. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Sign in. Forgot your password? Get help. Privacy Policy. Password recovery. Tech Viral. Home Books. Contents show. The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing. Hacking Revealed. Ethical Hacking for Beginners. Confirm that the internal security team is doing its job The penetration test report will show whether the cyber security department is efficient in its work.

It may identify whether there is a gap between knowledge of system vulnerabilities and implementation of security measures. By performing a penetration test, it is possible to discover just how vigilant your security is and whether the staff needs extra training. It also highlights the effectiveness of the countermeasures that have been put in place in case of a cyber attack. Testing of new technology Before launching a new piece of technology, for example, a new wireless infrastructure, it is critical that the system is tested for vulnerabilities.

This will definitely save more money than performing the test while customers are already using it. The Penetration Testing Report Once you have completed the test, you have to compile all the data in a proper format and submit a report. Keep in mind that the majority of the management staff may not be technically oriented, so the has to be split into appropriate sections for easy reading.

You should have an Executive Summary, a Technical Summary containing all the specific IT jargon, and a Management Summary that explains what needs to be done to fix the flaws detected.

They are full of confidence and know for certain that they are going to win. However, when the fighting starts, the soldier discovers that he walked into an ambush. He may take down most of the enemy troops, but because he was never prepared for the battle, he ends up losing. This is where a hacking methodology comes in handy. A hacking methodology is what a hacker uses to guide them from the first step to the last.

To effectively exploit any vulnerability in a system, you need to identify some key things that will help you achieve your objectives.

Without a proper methodology, you are likely to end up wasting time and energy fighting a losing battle. Target Mapping Finding the perfect target for your attack is not as simple as it sounds. You have to be strategic in the way you conduct your research and search out the target with the most potential. You have to analyze their habits and then use the information collected to come up with the most appropriate strategy.

The objective of mapping your target is to determine what and who you are attacking before penetrating the system. Hackers usually go after one or several targets at once. Depending on the kind of information that you are looking for, you can decide to attack web servers storing personal information.

You could also decide to go big and hack into a financial institution. Your target could be a specific website that you want to take down using DoS attacks, or you could deface its web page.

You may be interested in a specific individual in an organization. When you are searching for potential targets to attack, you have to consider the level of security that you will be trying to overcome. Most hackers only go after targets that they know are easy to beat, so the level of vulnerability is often a key factor in mapping your target.

Another factor to consider is whether the information gained from the attack is worth it. This will help determine how long you are willing to take trying to access the system. So how do you go about gathering information about your intended target? This may bring up their contact information.

If your target is an organization, then you can search for job openings that the company has advertised for, specifically in the IT department. You may be surprised to learn just how much useful information is given out in a job advert, for example, the software that potential recruits need to be familiar with. As a hacker, you need to know which keywords will bring up the most information. Whois is a great way to perform a social engineering attack or scan a network.

You can find the DNS servers of the target domain as well as the names and addresses of the people who registered the target domain.

Google Groups tends to store a lot of sensitive data about its users, for example, usernames, domain names, and IP addresses. Once you have done this, every file within the site that is publicly accessible will be downloaded onto your local hard drive.

This will allow you to scan the mirror copy and find names and email addresses of employees, files, directories, the source code for its web pages, and much more information. Websites By now you should be aware that there are certain websites that are a treasure trove of key information about individuals and organizations.

Good examples include www. Scanning the Target Network So far you have been collecting information that will allow you to see the entire target network as a whole. The hostnames, open ports, IP addresses and running applications should now be visible to you.

Remember that if you are to perform an effective exploit, you must learn to think like a malicious hacker. You can begin to use scanning software to find and record any hosts that are accessible online. Your own operating system should have its own standard ping tool.

However, there are third party tools like SuperScan and NetScan Tools Pro that are able to ping the hostname of the domain or multiple IP addresses simultaneously. Analyzing Open Ports As a beginner, there are tools that you can use to check for the presence of open ports to penetrate the target network.

You can either go the manual route or use an automatic evaluation tool. The manual method will require you to link to any of the open ports you uncovered earlier. Test these ports until you find a way in. The automated method involves the use of tools such as QualysGuard, which is a cloud-based tool that is designed to scan open ports.

Another tool that is available is Nexpose, which can scan a total of 32 hosts simultaneously. Chapter 4: Gaining Physical Access Picture this: A multi-million dollar corporation invests millions of dollars on technology-oriented cyber security countermeasures to protect its data.

They have totally locked down their networks and system, and have conducted multiple penetration tests using elite hackers to keep out any malicious hackers who may have been hired by their competitors. Now imagine that this company goes on to hire a security company that has lazy security guards.

They never do any physical checks around the facility and even leave some doors open. Visitors are rarely scanned or asked to sign in. Even the computer rooms are normally left open. Would you say this is a smart company that cares about protecting its data from hackers? Yes, they have plugged the electronic holes, but they have literally left the door wide open for hackers to physically breach their security!

You do not have to hack into a network remotely to gain access to data. You can gain physical access to a facility and perform your exploit from within. Over the last couple of decades, most companies have found it extremely difficult to maintain physical security.

Thanks to advancements in technology, there are now more physical vulnerabilities that a hacker can take advantage of. It is not that hard to get your hands on such devices, especially considering the fact that most employees take data with them when they leave work at the end of the day. Once you identify your target, you may not even have to enter the building; they will bring the data to you. In this chapter, you are going to learn about how to take advantage of some of the physical security vulnerabilities in buildings that you have targeted.

Once you have breached the on-site security and gained physical access, be prepared to penetrate the system from the inside. Types of Physical Vulnerabilities Failure to establish a front desk to monitor visitors who enter and exit the building.

Failure to enforce mandatory signing-in of all employees and visitors. Tossing sensitive corporate and personal documents into the trash instead of shredding them. Failure to lock doors leading to computer rooms.

Leaving digital devices lying around the offices. Creating your Plan One of the first things you will have to do is to come up with a way of breaching physical security. This will require some extensive reconnaissance work on your part. You must identify the kind of security measures that the facility has put in place, the weaknesses and vulnerabilities present, and how to take advantage of them.

This may seem simple on paper but it is not that easy once you get on the ground. The assumption here is that you are working without an inside man to feed you the vital security information. It may be a couple of weeks before you are able to collect all the information you need to launch your attack. A physical security breach means you must have the right skills and knowledge to not only enter the building, but also to maneuver your way inside, and then exit without being detected.

If you lack the patience, physical fitness, and mental agility necessary for such a task, then do not attempt a physical breach. Stick to performing your attacks from a remote location. There are a number of physical security factors you will have to consider when planning how to gain access to your target. These are categorized into two distinct classes: Physical Controls and Technical Controls.

Physical controls You will have to consider how the security team controls, monitors, and manages access into and out of the facility. In some cases, the building may be divided into public, private, and restricted sections.

You will have to determine the best technique to enter the section that contains the target. Perimeter Security How do you plan on circumventing the perimeter security? You will need to know whether the facility has a wall, fence, dogs, surveillance cameras, turnstiles, mantraps, and other types of perimeter security. These are just the deterrents that you may have to deal with on the outside.

At this point, you should know where the weaknesses are in the design of the facility. If there is a high wall that has big trees all around it, you can climb up the branches and jump into the compound. Of course, you will have to be physically agile and fit enough to do this. Learn the location of the security lights and where the dark spots or shadows fall. These can provide great hiding spots if you plan on gaining access at night.

You should also consider dumpster diving as a way to gain access to sensitive data. Check the location of the dumpsters and whether they are easily accessible. It would be a good idea to know when the garbage is collected so that you can fake being part of the garbage crew. They are also used to track the files and directories that an employee creates or modifies.

Getting your hands on an ID badge may require you to steal one from a legitimate employee, or making your own fake badge. Befriend an employee in the smoking area and follow them in as you continue your conversation. Get a fake uniform and impersonate a contractor, salesperson, or repairman. If you want to go all-in, then consider acquiring a service truck and equipment to make you appear more legit.

Intrusion Detection Systems These generally include motion detectors and intrusion alarms. You will have to know the types of motion detectors you are dealing with.

Are they infrared, heat-based, wave pattern, capacitance, photoelectric, or passive audio motion detectors? Each of these works differently and understanding its strengths and weaknesses will help you in your mission. You will also need to know the type of alarms inside the building. The facility may have sensors on the doors and windows, glass break detectors, water sensors, and so on.

While some alarms are meant to silently notify security of a potential breach, others are designed to deter or repel the attacker. A deterrent alarm will close doors and activate locks to seal everything and everyone in. A repellant alarm will make loud noises and emit bright lights to try and force an attacker out of the building.

Technical controls This is usually focused on controlling access because it is the most vulnerable area of physical security. Technical controls include smart cards and CCTV cameras. Smart Cards These have microchips and integrated circuits that process data and enable a two-factor authentication. Having the card alone will not get you access to a facility. However, smart cards have certain vulnerabilities.

One method of bypassing smart cards is through fault generation. This is where you reverse-engineer the encryption in order to find the encryption key and access the stored data. This involves inputting computational errors by altering the clock rate and input voltage or changing the temperature fluctuations. You could also use a side-channel attack to figure out how the card works without damaging it. This involves exposing the card to different conditions through electromagnetic analysis, differential power analysis, and timing.

Another way is to use software to perform a noninvasive attack. This involves hacking the software and loading commands that enable you to extract account data. Finally, there is a method known as micro-probing. This is an intrusive attack that involves connecting probes directly to the chip. The goal here is to take the chip out and reset it. They are located at strategic places and are monitored by security guards sitting in a control room.

However, there are always blind spots to be exploited, so you need to know where these are. The cameras can be wireless or web-based, which means you can either hack the camera feed and manipulate the images being shown on screen or jam the signal. Physical security is a critical part of cyber security.

Hackers will always look for any weakness that they can find, whether online or offline. Chapter 5: Social Engineering Did you know that in the year , the top three cyber-threat concerns were social engineering, insider threats, and advanced persistent threats?

This shows you just how rampant social engineering attacks have become in cyber security. Why do you think social engineering is number one on that list? The answer lies in the people. The biggest weakness of every element of security is the people involved. We saw in the last chapter how the most advanced technology cannot protect you against cyber attacks if the people guarding the building are sleeping on the job.

Through social engineering, you can hack the people by gaining their trust and exploiting them for the information you need. However, you will require a certain degree of boldness and skill to get people to trust you, considering that you are a total stranger. One aspect of social engineering is that it is usually done together with a physical security hack.

The aim is to make contact with someone who has specific information that can help you gain access to the files or resources of your intended target. For example: Send the target an email that contains links. When they click the link, malware or a virus is downloaded onto their computer, thus allowing you to control the system and acquire data. If you are an employee in a company and want to gain unauthorized access to confidential data, you could inform the security department that you have lost your access badge.

They will give you the keys to enter the room thus allowing you to get to the physical and digital files you want. You could then request to be given the administrator password. These examples may seem too simple or easy, but remember that social engineering is the most used tactic by hackers to breach cyber security. By learning how malicious hackers commit their exploits, you are better placed to prevent your own system, or others, from getting hacked.

Gaining Trust One of the best ways to build trust for a social engineering hack is through words and actions. You have to be articulate, sharp, and be a good conversationalist. There are instances when a social engineer fails in their mission because they were careless in their talk or acted nervously.

This often happens when the hacker displays the following signs: Talking too much or showing too much enthusiasm Acting nervously in response to questions Asking odd questions Appearing to be in a hurry Having information only reserved for insiders Talking about people in upper management within the organization Pretending like they have authority within the company As long as you practice good social engineering skills and techniques, you will be able to conceal these signs.

You set someone up by creating a particular problem for them. When the victim cries out for help, you dash to the scene and save them.

This works to create a bond between you and the potential target. A fake work ID and uniform can sometimes help you impersonate an employee in a company, thus allowing you to enter the facility undetected. People will even give you passwords and other sensitive information as long as you appear to be one of them. It is simply amazing how trusting people are in this day and age of increasing cyber attacks. Phishing involves sending the target emails that appear to be from a legitimate or trusted source.

The aim is to get them to share sensitive or personal information either by sending it directly or clicking on links.

The email will look like the real deal to the intended target but that is because you will have spoofed the IP address to display an email address that appears genuine. You can pretend to be a close friend, relative, or colleague and request them to send you their personal information. You can also pretend to be a financial institution and ask them to click the link in order to update their account information.

When they do so, they will be directed to a fake website that mirrors the real one. As they log in, you can gain access to their usernames, user IDs, passwords, bank account number, or social security number. Spamming is another tactic you can perform. You just send them a ton of emails and wait for them to become curious and open at least one of them.

The email will contain a request to download a free gift ebook, video, coupon, etc. One of the most common tricks is to claim to be a verified software vendor. All you have to do is send the target a software patch via email and ask them to download it for free.

Phishing scams work so well because they are very difficult to trace back to the hacker. The tools that social engineers use, for example, remailers and proxy servers, provide adequate anonymity to keep them from being found out. How to Prevent a Social Engineering Hack As a budding hacker, you are probably more interested in learning how to perform an attack rather than preventing it. However, as we said in the beginning, hacking can work both for good and for bad.

It is important, therefore, that you understand how an attack can be prevented so that you can advise a client accordingly. This information will also help you perform more effective exploits. Organizations will generally use two techniques to prevent social engineers from exploiting their vulnerabilities: 1. Developing and enforcing strict policies — The organization can create hierarchies of information, where users are permitted to access some but not all data.

There should also be strict enforcement of wearing ID badges by all employees and consultants, and every guest must be escorted by security. When fired employees, contractors, or suppliers leave the premises, they should be stripped of their IDs. The same password should also not be used for more than a set duration. Finally, in the event that a breach or suspicious behavior is detected, there must be a quick response by the security personnel.

The most important aspect of any organizational policy is observance. The people involved must understand the requirements and follow them at all times. Training the users in security awareness — Most employees simply do not know what to do when they are faced with a social engineering attack. There has to be some kind of user awareness and training in order to teach people how to identify and respond to hackers.

This training should be continuous rather than a one-time event. The training program should be easy enough for those who are not technically-minded to understand. It is also important for upper managers to lead by example and undertake the training too. Avoid giving out passwords to random people. Avoid sending your personal information via email or social media without verifying the identity of the receiver. Make sure that you know who is sending you a friend or connection request on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

Avoid downloading attachments from unidentified IP addresses, or clicking on links in spam mail. Avoid the tendency to hover your cursor over an email link. Hackers are able to embed malware in a link and trigger a download the moment the mouse moves over it. Anti-malware is a good way to prevent this type of hack. The truth is that while social engineering can be a bit complicated to pull off, preventing it is also very difficult.

An organization cannot control all the people linked to it at all times, and as individuals, everyone has their own unique weakness. It is your job to find it and exploit it. Modern Web Penetration Testing From Hacking to Report Writing. Python Web Penetration Testing Cookbook. CompTIA Cybersecurit Wireshark for Security Professionals Cyber-Physical Attack Recover.

Practical Information Security Management Phishing Dark Waters. Network Attacks and Exploitation. A Hacker. Hacker School. Automated Credit Card Fraud. Cracking Passwords Guide. Metasploit Toolkit — Presentation. Metasploit Toolkit — Syngress. Oracle Rootkits 2. Practical Malware Analysis. Return Oriented Programming. Web App Hacking Hackers Handbook. Stack Smashing.