Cyberattacks can be extremely costly for individuals and businesses, therefore knowledge of how to protect digital systems is essential. In case you’re working towards improving the security for your IT department, we have listed five must-read books on cybersecurity to help protect your devices against cybercrime.
1. Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking by Georgia Weidman
Penetration testers identify security vulnerabilities in digital applications, networks, and systems, and this book explores the key skills and methods involved in penetration testing. Cybersecurity expert Georgia Weidman explains the core skills needed to protect corporate networks and systems from cyberattacks via a virtual lab. She demonstrates how cybercriminals find and exploit vulnerable spots in digital systems and explains how to use penetration methods to identify issues, test digital applications for weaknesses, and boost protective defences.
2. Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker by Kevin Mitnick and William L Simon
This book might be controversial, but many cybersecurity experts would say that it is a must-read for anyone looking to stay one step ahead of hackers. Who better to tell you about cybersecurity than a reformed hacker? Kevin Mitnick was on the FBI’s Most Wanted List until his arrest in 1995. The former hacker turned cybersecurity expert spent almost two decades bringing down systems at some of the world’s largest corporate giants. In this thrilling memoir, Mitnick tells his side of the story, giving a fascinating insight into the mind of a hacker.
3. Cybersecurity: The Beginner’s Guide: A Comprehensive Guide to Getting Started in Cybersecurity by Erdal Ozkaya
This comprehensive beginner’s book is definitely worth a read, whether you’re looking to follow a career in cybersecurity, or you just want to improve your skills in digital protection. It packs in all the essential information to help you understand cybersecurity and explores how modern systems are protected with help from artificial intelligence. Using real-world situations, it will equip you with the knowledge of more advanced cybersecurity methodologies. To work through some of the applications in the book, you might want to install a VPN from a trusted source. The Surfshark VPN features, for instance, are part of an award-winning service that ensures a safe and secure connection.
4. Practical Malware Analysis: The Hands-On Guide to Dissecting Malicious Software by Michael Sikorski and Andrew Honig
Malware is malicious software used by cybercriminals to take advantage of any weaknesses in digital systems. This hands-on book explores malware analysis in a practical sense, informing you of the methods and tools used by professional cybersecurity analysts. You will learn how to safely analyse malicious software, as well as debug and disassemble any malware that you encounter. Practical labs throughout this book will enable you to hone your new skills while you dissect real-life examples of malware. You will also learn how to dissect malicious software, identify any damage, deep clean your computer network, and ensure strong protective measures against the malware returning.
5. The Cuckoo’s Egg: Tracking a Spy Through the Maze of Computer Espionage by Clifford Stoll and Will Damron This real-life story of digital espionage sees Clifford Stoll pursuing a cybercriminal who hacked the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to steal top secret military information. Although written in 1989, many consider this groundbreaking book an essential read for anyone interested in the world of cybersecurity. Whilst the technology referred to in the story might be outdated, the investigative methods applied by Stoll to catch the hacker are just as relevant today. It also provides a fascinating insight into the early origins of cybersecurity.