20 Best Cyber Security Books to Read in 2024

Cyber Security or information security is the practice and collection of techniques employed to protect programs, networks, and imperative data from unauthorized intervention. It is vital in preventing identity theft, cyberattacks, and data breaches. With the field expanding rapidly, there are many new employment opportunities in the Cyber Security industry.

Good Cyber Security books can help you learn new concepts and find answers to your Cyber Security-related issues. In this article, I have listed the 20 best Cyber Security books available today.

20 Best Cyber Security Books in the market

Let us now go through my picks for the 20 best Cyber Security books for you to read in 2023.

Also read: 8 Proven Cybersecurity Practices to Protect Your Data

Hacking: The Art of Exploitation

The second edition of Hacking: The Art of Exploitation is one of the best Cyber Security books available today for learning ethical hacking. Unlike other titles on ethical hacking, the book gives you an insight into the world of problem-solving and exploitation, along with a holistic view of programming, network communications, and current hacking techniques.

Moreover, the book comes with a CD to provide a wholesome Linux and debugging environment and help you with programming without compromising your present operating system.

Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking

Penetration testers or “pentesters” simulate cyberattacks to identify security weaknesses in networks, operating systems, and applications. Penetration Testing, authored by security researcher and trainer Georgia Weidman, focuses on every aspiring pentester’s primary skills. It is an ideal choice for aspiring hackers and teaches them the basics of programming and navigating Kali Linux—an operating system—preloaded with computer security tools such as Wireshark and Metasploit.

The book also discusses cracking passwords and wireless network keys using brute force attacks and wordlists, automating social-engineering attacks, testing web applications for vulnerabilities, bypassing antivirus software, etc.

Practical Malware Analysis

Full title: Practical Malware Analysis: The Hands-On Guide to Dissecting Malicious Software

You must act quickly and devise an effective plan when malware attacks breach your defenses. Practical Malware Analysis helps you to do just that by introducing you to tools and techniques that professional analysts use to safely analyze, debug, and disassemble any malicious software that comes your way.

The book teaches you how to use primary analysis, such as IDA Pro, OllyDbg, and WinDbg. You will also learn how to crack open malware, determine the damage it caused, ensure that it never comes back through the hands-on lab, and properly clean your network.

Metasploit: The Penetration Tester’s Guide

Metasploit: The Penetration Tester’s Guide is a top-rated book amongst beginners. The author David Kennedy has written it assuming that the learners have no experience in penetration testing. The book makes it easy to discover, exploit, and share vulnerabilities.

After building your foundation in penetration testing, you will learn advanced penetration techniques such as network reconnaissance and enumeration, client-side attacks, wireless attacks, and targeted social-engineering attacks. The book is ideal for learners with good technical skills in Ruby and Linux.

Cyber Wars: Hacks that Shocked the Business World

Cyber Wars is an easy-to-read yet non-technical book about some of the dangerous cyberattacks in recent years. It is an ideal resource for readers who wish to learn information security concepts and are looking for examples of how to communicate security practices to non-technical management and end-users.

In the book, author Charles Arthur has used his commendable storytelling skills to provide a thrilling account of some of the terrifying cybercrimes that a person with non-technical knowledge can understand.

The Art of Invisibility

Full title: The Art of Invisibility: The World’s Most Famous Hacker Teaches You How to Be Safe in the Age of Big Brother and Big Data

Author Kevin Mitnick is one of the world’s most famous hackers who once gave leading agencies, including the FBI, a run for their money. Through this book, he aims to teach you about online and offline methods of protecting yourself from cyber-attacks.

The book provides easy yet effective cloaking and counter-measures for citizens and consumers. It helps you learn how to protect your identity, private information, health, and money from hackers.  Mitnick also covers some advanced techniques you need to maximize privacy in the modern digital age.

Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking

Social Engineering: The Science of Human Hacking provides an overview of social engineering techniques, explains how they work, and gives the reader several real-world examples to back it all up. It unravels the subject's mysteries by covering all aspects such as elicitation, pretexting, influence and manipulation explained using real-world examples.

Author Christopher Hadnagy shows you how to use a common technique that can even fool one with the most robust security personnel. Also, you might discover techniques that never work in the real world.

Applied Cryptography

The application of cryptography techniques goes much beyond coding and decoding information. For developers interested in learning more about cryptographic techniques, there is no better overview than Applied Cryptography. It covers various essential protocols, procedures, and real-world cryptographic algorithms related to the topic.

Author Bruce Schneier has also provided extensive advice on the practical aspects of cryptography implementation.

The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography

In this captivating book, Simon Singh chronicles the complete history of encryption – going back to ancient Egypt. According to him, we can link the ancient Egyptian espionage techniques and scriptures to the roots of modern cyber security procedures. In addition, the book comprehensively explains how encryption has influenced the world as we know it.

“The Code Book” gives historical context to the term “encryption” and connects it to various prominent historical figures and events.

Black Hat Python: Python Programming for Hackers and Pentesters

Python is the language of choice for most security analysts to create robust and effective hacking tools. In this book, author Justin Seitz introduces you to the darker side of Python's capabilities, such as writing network sniffers, infecting virtual machines, manipulating packets, creating stealthy trojans, and more.

You will discover how to use GitHub to build a trojan command-and-control system, automate typical malware functions, and recognize sandboxing. The book also covers the basics of networking, online applications, and windows privilege escalation techniques.

Threat Modeling: Designing for Security

Threat Modeling: Designing for Security is an excellent resource intended more for Cyber Security professionals like developers and managers than casual readers. It outlines various threat modeling best practices that have been used or shown successfully for well-known corporations like Microsoft in warding off threats.

The book puts forth the interesting notion of incorporating security into systems as they are being designed rather than dealing with them later. Author Adam Shostack’s recommendations are entirely action-oriented and can be used by security professionals to deal with threats regularly.

The Cyber Effect

Dr. Mary Aiken is the world's leading expert in forensic cyberpsychology. In this book, she discusses how the internet shapes our perception of the world, development, behavior, societal norms, children, and security. She covers everything from the impact of screens on the developing child to the acceleration of addictive online behaviors such as gaming, shopping, and pornography.

The book also examines the escalation in cyberchondria (online self-diagnosis), cyberstalking and organized crime on the deep web.

Hacking Exposed 7: Network Security Secrets and Solutions

Authors George Kurtz, Joel Scambray, and Stuart McClure are three Cyber Security specialists who have studied hacking from an academic standpoint. This book covers everything from footprinting to reading the countermeasures manual in depth.

All of us know that Cyber Security is highly unstable, with some ideas becoming less relevant while others gaining more importance. Hacking Exposed is arguably the most accurate Cyber Security book that provides the proper perspective on the topic. Furthermore, it is regularly updated with new versions to keep its readers in touch with contemporary advancements in the subject.

Gray Hat Hacking

Gray Hat Hacking provides a detailed guide to the techniques and tools “gray hat” hackers regularly use. Basically, they are ethical hackers who use the same techniques as malicious hackers to find and exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems. However, they do so aiming to improve security rather than causing harm.

The book covers various topics, including attack techniques, information gathering, and countermeasures. It also offers tips and techniques for conducting ethical hacking. As a result, it is widely considered a valuable resource for security professionals, penetration testers, and anyone interested in ethical hacking.

Mastering Hacking

Mastering Hacking presents a straightforward approach to hacking that is suitable for readers with varying levels of technical expertise. It covers the newest tools and methods used in the penetration testing framework and teaches you how to identify and fix security weaknesses and safeguard assets on a network. It also features several examples of different hacking techniques in real-world scenarios and serves as a guide for taking concrete steps in information security.

The Hacker Playbook 3: Practical Guide To Penetration Testing

Author Peter Kim covers various topics such as reconnaissance, scanning and enumeration, vulnerability assessment, and exploitation. The book also discusses post-exploitation activities such as data exfiltration, maintaining access, and lateral movement. It is intended for both beginners and experienced penetration testers who wish to improve their skills and techniques.

The Hacker and the State

The Hacker and the State is a shockingly perceptive and realistic examination of how cyber warfare and information security influence the geopolitical landscape. It discusses significant nation-state cyberattacks and is filled with various anecdotes and insightful information obtained from declassified data, interviews, and reports.

The Pentester Blueprint

Here, author Philip L. Wylie provides a comprehensive look at the world of white hat hacker operations. Released on November 2020, the book is a helpful resource for people wishing to pursue a career in penetration testing. It explores basic and advanced topics relevant to the job and helps you assess your current knowledge and skills.

How to Measure Anything in Cyber Security Risk?

In this book, author Douglas W. Hubbard examines the shortcomings of popular cyber risk management techniques. He demonstrates how urgently the sector needs to enhance its security processes and provide insights and alternative methods for doing the same.

Cyber Security Essentials

Cyber Security Essentials is a classic book on Cyber Security that introduces you to the “need-to-knows” of the sector. Author Charles J. Brooks provides real-world examples and explanations of key ideas to help prepare readers for certification exams.

Conclusion

With new cyber threats coming up every day, reading good Cyber Security books might give you a different perspective on approaching a problem. They can help you understand the tech world's basics, history, and current scenarios.

Knowledge of Cyber Security makes you attractive to employers in the tech field and shows that you care about protecting your employer’s and client’s data from theft and damage.

I hope this article helps you learn more about Cyber Security for both personal and professional benefit.

Last update on 2024-07-27 using Amazon Product Advertising API.