The Ethical Hacker Network - Best Book for my Skill Level?

lespommes

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Best Book for my Skill Level?

« on: August 18, 2012, 01:47:16 PM »

Hey everyone,

I am looking for a book that would help me start learning to hack. Here is my experience in programming:
*I can already program in C, C++, and Java and have had a pretty decent college-level experience with them.
*My java is slightly stronger than the others due to my experience with Android applications.
*I have also learned some assembly and can read/write basic assembly code.
*I do NOT know bash linux and know nothing about it, but I do know basic linux terminal commands (the very basics).
*I am currently slowly picking up Python as well in order to learn a scripting language.
*Also, I am just doing this as a hobby in order to become a better programmer

With that in mind, what would be the best book for me in order to start hacking? It's okay if the book reviews languages I already know. I just want a book that, if I read and do the exercises front to back, I will know the basics of hacking and would be able continue with more advanced hacking topics later.

Thanks!


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ajohnson

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2012, 02:38:14 PM »

Welcome to EH!

I'd typically recommend someone with your background to go through a general Linux book (i.e.http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Guide-Commands-Editors-Programming/dp/0131367366/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345318586&sr=1-2&keywords=linux+shell+scripting - note: the third edition is due in about five weeks)

However, since you want to focus on the programming side of things, this would probably be the best book to start with: http://www.amazon.com/Hacking-The-Art-Exploitation-Edition/dp/1593271441/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345318213&sr=8-1&keywords=hacking+art+of+exploitation

While I didn't like it as much, there is also: http://www.amazon.com/Shellcoders-Handbook-Discovering-Exploiting-Security/dp/047008023X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345318496&sr=1-1&keywords=shellcoders+handbook

I haven't had the opportunity to read this myself yet, but this book has received a lot of positive feedback and may be something you find interesting, given your background: http://www.amazon.com/Bug-Hunters-Diary-Software-Security/dp/1593273851/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345318527&sr=1-1&keywords=bug+hunters+diary


« Last Edit: August 19, 2012, 12:25:03 PM by ajohnson »	Logged

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m0wgli

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2012, 03:50:31 PM »

Quote from: lespommes on August 18, 2012, 01:47:16 PM

*I do NOT know bash linux and know nothing about it, but I do know basic linux terminal commands (the very basics).

I found the Linux Command Line and Shell Scripting Bible to be a very useful book.

I bought it because of a recommendation on the BackTrack forums by purehate and am glad I did:

http://www.backtrack-linux.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-2240.html


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Jamie.R

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #3 on: August 19, 2012, 04:34:16 AM »

The book recommended are all good but it really does depend what you mean by hacking if you looking at writing exploit then the book recommended would be good it your talking about a more rounded knowledge of hacking like attacking website or MITM attacks then I would say

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gray-Hacking-Ethical-Hackers-Handbook/dp/0071742557/ref=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345368677&sr=1-6

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Social-Engineering-Art-Human-Hacking/dp/0470639539/ref=sr_1_7?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345368677&sr=1-7

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Ninja-Hacking-Unconventional-Penetration-Techniques/dp/1597495883/ref=sr_1_12?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345368677&sr=1-12

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hacking-Next-Generation-Nitesh-Dhanjani/dp/0596154577/ref=sr_1_14?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345368692&sr=1-14

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Web-Application-Hackers-Handbook-Discovering/dp/1118026470/ref=sr_1_24?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345368692&sr=1-24

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Professional-Penetration-Testing-Thomas-Wilhelm/dp/1597494259/ref=sr_1_45?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1345368713&sr=1-45

There are all really good books but as said depend on what you want to learn


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lespommes

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #4 on: August 19, 2012, 02:07:41 PM »

Wow thanks for all the recommendations. They were all really helpful. I think I'll choose a few of these to go through.


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SecurityMonkey

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #5 on: August 19, 2012, 09:55:53 PM »

It looks like you have great development skills but might advantage from reading up on networking…

I know that this isn’t the most 1337 book in the world but it’s a good quick start to networking and will give you a solid base:

http://www.amazon.com/Networking-All---One-For-Dummies/dp/0470625872/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1345431169&sr=8-3&keywords=networking

If you think that is a little too basic maybe one of the CISCO press books, a CCNA study guide...


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Jamie.R

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #6 on: August 20, 2012, 03:28:44 AM »

I would really recommened going over ccna even if you dont take the exam it will teach you loads about networks.


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SecurityMonkey

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2012, 05:00:00 PM »

I agree with Jamie.R, even if you have no intentions of doing the CCNA it is worth looking at the books or some of the training vid's on the net. While it might be VERY CISCO heavy it is a great foundation.


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ZeroOne

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2012, 05:13:17 PM »

Your skills are very similar to mine when I first started to learn hacking, I would strongly suggest these two books for a starter:

-Counter Hack Reloaded
-Hacking The Art of Exploitation


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Cyber.spirit

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Re: Best Book for my Skill Level?

« Reply #9 on: August 23, 2012, 06:15:05 PM »

wow u have good background to start man firstly i think its better for u to get some background about networking :
Sybex network + fast pass is good book

Then learn virtualization here is the example:
m.lifehacker.com/5204434/the-beginners-guide-to-creating-virtual-machines-with-virtualbox

Its better to learn linux much better to learn ubuntu first then backtrack so here is the book:
The official ubuntu book

As i mentioned before this book is great for hack
Hacker's underground handbook

If u need any help ask us as long as my info allows me i'll help u good luck


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