Fact checked by It's not every day you meet a hacker who's willing to share an inside look at the trade. So when “P4x,” Alejandro Caceres, gave an in-depth interview earlier this year, it made waves.
But this hacker didn't just stop with journalists. He continued the conversation with an AMA on Reddit. There, he shared some of his favorite hacking books along with several more resources for novice hackers. In that interview, he shared several notable books for hackers. Here's what he recommends (including a summary for each and where to find them).
Book Recommendations for Hackers
There are dozens of recommendations in total. We're going to focus only on his top six.
Linux Basics for Hackers
The full title is Linux Basics for Hackers: Getting Started with Networking, Scripting, and Security in Kali. The book relies on the Kali Linux distribution to teach a bunch of essentials.
That includes command line basics, filesystems, networking, BASH scripting, and security measures. It also features practical exercises where readers learn skills in manipulating network configurations, ensuring online anonymity, writing bash scripts, and using various hacking tools to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge.
Main Benefit: Teaches essentials.
Hacker Comment: No comment.
Metasploit: The Penetration Tester's Guide
In the Metasploit hacking book, readers learn the Metasploit Framework for penetration testing. The book introduces basics, then dives into more detailed examples with step-by-step instructions on attacks and post-exploitation techniques. It's hands on and practical, two absolutely vital traits for the best book for hackers.
Main Benefit: Hands-on examples with instructions.
Hacker Comment: No comment.
Hacking: The Art of Exploitation
Here's one that, despite its title, isn't just a book for hackers. It's a technical guide with a bunch of practical skills in the cybersecurity world. That includes programming in C, assembly language, exploiting vulnerabilities, network communications, shellcode, countermeasures, and cryptography. These are all skills that could come up in cybersecurity interview questions.
Unlike Metasploit, this hacking book gives a technical foundation without practical or step-by-step guides on attacks.
Main Benefit: Teaches theory with wider cybersec applications.
Hacker Comment: "Challenging and dated but an absolute must read."
Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction for Hackers
If the art of exploration provided theoretical advice for hackers, this penetration testing book provides hands-on exercies. It dives into Wireshark, Nmap, and Burp Suite within a virtual machine-based lab environment.
That includes Kali Linux, which is one of the best Linux distros for programming. Readers also learn to crack passwords, test web applications for vulnerabilities, use the Metasploit Framework, automate social-engineering attacks, bypass antivirus software, and conduct post-exploitation activities. Neat, right?
Main Benefit: Focuses on Kali Linux and teaches fundamentals.
Hacker Comment: Author is a nice lady, and so is her mom.
The Web Application Hacker's Handbook
This hacking book focuses on web application security. It covers practical techniques, like Metasploit or the hands-on Penetration Testing book. Hackers use it to learn how to discover and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications. It includes detailed explanations for multiple attack vectors and step-by-step guides for Burp Suite and others.
Main Benefit: Practical focus on web app hacking.
Hacker Comment: "The Bible Web of application hacking."
Black Hat Python
Already a Pythonista? If you've take a Python course and already feel comfortable in your skills with the language, you may want to consider how to use the language for offensive cybersecurity. This book teaches network sniffing, credential stealing, and trojans. It also covers more advanced hacking skills like Burp Suite and automating malware attacks.
Main Benefit: Full of python exercises.
Hacker Comment: "Well explained"
Conclusion
Want to learn more about the hacker who made these recommendations? He did a famous interview for Wired back in April.
These guides helped instruct at least one world-famous hacker in 2024. It looks like it's time to update our list of this year's best hacking books.
