Cybersecurity has been a paramount concern in an ever more interconnected world. Cyber Attackers constantly evolve new methods and tactics as technology advances. Given the danger, the cybersecurity domains came into visibility along with ethical hacking in the later years. White-hat hackers – also called “ethical hackers” or “penetration testers” – use their skills to seek out and patch up weaknesses in computer systems, networks, and applications before criminals or spies can use them to inflict damage. In recent years, certified ethical hacking has become a widely accepted way to evaluate and strengthen security measures against would-be cybercriminals. In this article, we will stroll down memory lane of ethical hacking and look at the top 5 certified ethical hacking books in PDF format, which provide some of the best resources to learn this fundamental part of cybersecurity.
Ethical Hacking Background
The idea behind ethical hacking is old and dates back to the 1960s and 70s when computer systems were being born. Computer enthusiasts and hobbyists also tried to figure out how these new systems could be used in spaghetti code fashion and stretch the acceptable behaviours the systems could perform. Although the Internet brought technological advancements, it also opened a worldwide door to potential abuse, so technology progressed hand in hand with its gray hat. As a result, individuals and organizations alike began to realize the importance of being proactive regarding cybersecurity.
The concept of ethical hacking has been around since the late ’80s, and the term “ethical hacker” began gaining popularity in the early ’90s, when organizations, to separate malicious hackers from those who used their powers for good, used it to designate those hackers who helpfully use their powers. 2003 the whole subfield was formalized when the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) introduced the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification program to train and certify selected individuals in ethical hacking. From that point, the certified ethical hacking area persisted in increasing, with experts improving their skills to outpace subsequent maturity threats.
Top 5 Certified Ethical Hacking Books in PDF
1. CEH Certified Ethical Hacker All-in-One Exam Guide by Matt Walker
Matt Walker explains everything you need to know about Ethical hacking and penetration testing methodologies, tools, and techniques in this guide—a good resource for aspirants of the CEH certification exam.
Source: flipkart
Source: flipkart
2. The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook: Finding and Exploiting Security Flaws by Dafydd Stuttard and Marcus Pinto
You would learn a lot about web application security following a book like this, with a significant focus on Web Application hacking that involves practical exploitation of vulnerabilities in web applications. This is a must-read for web application security testing professionals.
3. Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking by Georgia Weidman
It is practical and filled with clear, concise information with a straightforward and no-nonsense approach to penetration testing. This includes everything from surveillance and scanning to exploitation and post-exploitation techniques.
Source: rokomari
Source: eboighar
4. Hacking: The Art of Exploitation by Jon Erickson
This classic book covers some of the basics of hacking, including stack overflow attacks, shellcodes, and cryptography. It is an invaluable resource for learning how computer systems work and offensive security skills.
5. Metasploit: The Penetration Tester’s Guide by David Kennedy, Jim O’Gorman, Devon Kearns, and Mati Aharoni
Metasploit is a powerful framework for ethical hacking and, as often is the case, is the tool of choice for those conducting penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. This detailed guide explains the powerful features and functionalities of Metasploit for penetration testing, helping readers understand how to use Metasploit and how it puts the power in their hands to exploit the systems!
Source: goodreads
Conclusion
Certified ethical hacking has a storied history that has evolved due to technological advancements and the ongoing arms race against cyber threats. Ethical hackers are in high demand because organizations constantly try to protect their digital assets and information. In this article, we highlighted the top 5 certified ethical hacking books that provide the necessary insights and practical knowledge to master this critical sphere of cybersecurity. If they make/lure them into the business, free education and training make them vital, non-expensive resources to help secure a digital environment and reduce cyber risk.