With cyber-terrorism and corporate espionage threatening the fiber of our world, the need for trained network security professionals continues to grow. This book describes the tools and penetration testing methodologies used by ethical hackers to better understand how to protect computer networks.

Cyber-terrorism and corporate espionage are increasingly common and devastating threats, making trained network security professionals more important than ever. This timely text helps you gain the knowledge and skills to protect networks using the tools and techniques of an ethical hacker. The authors begin by exploring the concept of ethical hacking and its practitioners, explaining their importance in protecting corporate and government data from cyber attacks. The text then provides an in-depth guide to performing security testing against computer networks, covering current tools and penetration testing methodologies. Updated for today’s cyber security environment, the Third Edition of this trusted text features new computer security resources, coverage of emerging vulnerabilities and innovative methods to protect networks, a new discussion of mobile security, and information on current federal and state computer crime laws, including penalties for illegal computer hacking. Important Notice: Media content referenced within the product description or the product text may not be available in the ebook version.

Penetration testers simulate cyber attacks to find security weaknesses in networks, operating systems, and applications. Information security experts worldwide use penetration techniques to evaluate enterprise defenses. In Penetration Testing, security expert, researcher, and trainer Georgia Weidman introduces you to the core skills and techniques that every pentester needs. Using a virtual machine–based lab that includes Kali Linux and vulnerable operating systems, you’ll run through a series of practical lessons with tools like Wireshark, Nmap, and Burp Suite. As you follow along with the labs and launch attacks, you’ll experience the key stages of an actual assessment—including information gathering, finding exploitable vulnerabilities, gaining access to systems, post exploitation, and more. Learn how to: –Crack passwords and wireless network keys with brute-forcing and wordlists –Test web applications for vulnerabilities –Use the Metasploit Framework to launch exploits and write your own Metasploit modules –Automate social-engineering attacks –Bypass antivirus software –Turn access to one machine into total control of the enterprise in the post exploitation phase You’ll even explore writing your own exploits. Then it’s on to mobile hacking—Weidman’s particular area of research—with her tool, the Smartphone Pentest Framework. With its collection of hands-on lessons that cover key tools and strategies, Penetration Testing is the introduction that every aspiring hacker needs.

The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing, Second Edition, serves as an introduction to the steps required to complete a penetration test or perform an ethical hack from beginning to end. The book teaches students how to properly utilize and interpret the results of the modern-day hacking tools required to complete a penetration test. It provides a simple and clean explanation of how to effectively utilize these tools, along with a four-step methodology for conducting a penetration test or hack, thus equipping students with the know-how required to jump start their careers and gain a better understanding of offensive security. Each chapter contains hands-on examples and exercises that are designed to teach learners how to interpret results and utilize those results in later phases. Tool coverage includes: Backtrack Linux, Google reconnaissance, MetaGooFil, dig, Nmap, Nessus, Metasploit, Fast Track Autopwn, Netcat, and Hacker Defender rootkit. This is complemented by PowerPoint slides for use in class. This book is an ideal resource for security consultants, beginning InfoSec professionals, and students. Each chapter contains hands-on examples and exercises that are designed to teach you how to interpret the results and utilize those results in later phases Written by an author who works in the field as a Penetration Tester and who teaches Offensive Security, Penetration Testing, and Ethical Hacking, and Exploitation classes at Dakota State University Utilizes the Kali Linux distribution and focuses on the seminal tools required to complete a penetration test