Hacking For Dummies

A new edition of the bestselling guide-now updated to cover the latest hacks and how to prevent them! It's bad enough when a hack occurs-stealing identities, bank accounts, and personal information. But when the hack could have been prevented by taking basic security measures-like the ones described in this book-somehow that makes a bad situation even worse. This beginner guide to hacking examines some of the best security measures that exist and has been updated to cover the latest hacks for Windows 7 and the newest version of Linux. Offering increased coverage of Web application hacks, database hacks, VoIP hacks, and mobile computing hacks, this guide addresses a wide range of vulnerabilities and how to identify and prevent them. Plus, you'll examine why ethical hacking is oftentimes the only way to find security flaws, which can then prevent any future malicious attacks. * Explores the malicious hackers's mindset so that you can counteract or avoid attacks completely * Covers developing strategies for reporting vulnerabilities, managing security changes, and putting anti-hacking policies and procedures in place * Completely updated to examine the latest hacks to Windows 7 and the newest version of Linux * Explains ethical hacking and why it is essential Hacking For Dummies, 3rd Edition shows you how to put all the necessary security measures in place so that you avoid becoming a victim of malicious hacking. While you're reading this, a hacker could be prying and spying his way into your company's IT systems, sabotaging your operations, stealing confidential information, shutting down your Web site, or wreaking havoc in other diabolical ways. Hackers For Dummies helps you hack into a hacker's mindset and take security precautions to help you avoid a hack attack. It outlines computer hacker tricks and techniques you can use to assess the security of your own information systems, find security vulnerabilities, and fix them before malicious and criminal hackers can exploit them. It covers: Hacking methodology and researching public information to see what a hacker can quickly learn about your operations Social engineering (how hackers manipulate employees to gain information and access), physical security, and password vulnerabilities Network infrastructure, including port scanners, SNMP scanning, banner grabbing, scanning, and wireless LAN vulnerabilities Operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and Novell NetWare Application hacking, including malware (Trojan horses, viruses, worms, rootkits, logic bombs, and more), e-mail and instant messaging, and Web applications Tests, tools (commercial, shareware, and freeware), and techniques that offer the most bang for your ethical hacking buck With this guide you can develop and implement a comprehensive security assessment plan, get essential support from management, test your system for vulnerabilities, take countermeasures, and protect your network infrastructure. You discover how to beat hackers at their own game, with: A hacking toolkit, including War dialing software, password cracking software, network scanning software, network vulnerability assessment software, a network analyzer, a Web application assessment tool, and more All kinds of countermeasures and ways to plug security holes A list of more than 100 security sites, tools, and resources Ethical hacking helps you fight hacking with hacking, pinpoint security flaws within your systems, and implement countermeasures. Complete with tons of screen shots, step-by-step instructions for some countermeasures, and actual case studies from IT security professionals, this is an invaluable guide, whether you're an Internet security professional, part of a penetration-testing team, or in charge of IT security for a large or small business. This Beginner Guide To Hacking Examines Some Of The Best Security Measures That Exist And Has Been Updated To Cover The Latest Hacks For Windows 7 And The Newest Version Of Linux. Offering Increased Coverage Of Web Application Hacks, Database Hacks, Voip Hacks, And Mobile Computing Hacks, This Guide Addresses A Wide Range Of Vulnerabilities And How To Identify And Prevent Them. Plus, You'll Examine Why Ethical Hacking Is Oftentimes The Only Way To Find Security Flaws, Which Can Then Prevent Any Future Malicious Attacks. Hacking For Dummies, 3rd Edition Shows You How To Put All The Necessary Security Measures In Place So That You Avoid Becoming A Victim Of Malicious Hacking--resource Description Page. By Kevin Beaver ; Foreword By Stuart Mcclure. Description Based On Print Version Record. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. This book was a quick read and has lots of annotations for further reading. Specifically, I enjoyed the sections on Metasploit which made an under-documented tool seem straightforward. One interesting feature is that this book has a rare section on Novell Netware. While this book is well worth the price for an introduction to penetration testing, I would like to see some new materiel on MacOS (hopefully in the fourth edition!). Great read & value for the money. A guide to computer hacking covers such topics as hacking methodology, social engineering, computer security, passwords, war dialing, wireless LANs, and messaging systems.