Top 15 Cybersecurity Books to Read in 2024- 2025

Cybersecurity is the protection of sensitive information and critical systems from digital attacks. It involves implementing measures to protect network systems and applications, whether the threats are from within the organization or from outside.

With the increase in the number of users, devices, and programs in businesses today, and the abundance of sensitive data, cybersecurity has become an important and pressing concern. The challenges have become more complex as cyberattacks and attack techniques have become increasingly sophisticated and diverse.

The integration of modern technologies has brought about significant changes in workplaces. To be future-ready, you should learn these skills from industry experts at PW IOI.

If you want to learn in-depth about cybersecurity and ethical hacking, we have some great books for beginners and professionals. These books will help you better understand the art of cybersecurity and ethical hacking. Also, don’t miss out on the best courses available for ethical hacking and cybersecurity to start your career in this exciting field.

Cyber security books.

1. Cybersecurity for beginners by Raf Meeuwisse :

This book covers various aspects of cyber security in each chapter. The best thing is that you can read them in any order, because they are free. Meeuwisse ensures that it defines all the important terms you need to know, making it easy for beginners to follow. Published by Lulu Publishing Services on May 14, 2015.

2. The social engineering:

The Science of Human Hacking by Christopher Hednegy: Hednegy explores various social engineering techniques in this riveting book. They have backed up their explanations with real-world examples, making it easier for readers to understand the concepts. If you’re fascinated by cyber warfare, read this book. Published by Wiley on June 25, 2018.

3. The Art of Invisibility by Kevin Mitnick:

Mitnick provides practical online and real-life tips in this book, presenting them step-by-step. You will learn about various privacy protection tips and ways to avoid leaving a digital footprint. Published by Little, Brown and Company on February 14, 2017.

4. Hacking for beginners:

A step-by-step guide for you to learn the basics of cybersecurity and hacking, by Ramon Nastase: Designed for those interested in penetration testing, this book dives into the minds of hackers, their motivations, and the various hacking techniques they use. Published by Independent on August 6, 2018.

5. The Blue Team Handbook:

Incident Response Edition by Don Murdoch: If you want to explore Blue Team, SOC or Incident Response, this book is a great starting point. Murdoch provides insights into responding to cybersecurity incidents and explains in detail the tools used. Being part of the Blue Team means understanding your organization from the inside out. Published by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform on August 3, 2014.

6. Hacking:

The Art of Exploitation by John Ericsson: This cybersecurity textbook not only explains hacking but also studies it in depth from a hacker’s perspective. The book covers current programming and hacking techniques and its second edition also includes a live CD with the entire Linux environment. Published by No Starch Press on October 8, 2004.

7. The cult of the dead cow:

How the Original Hacking Supergroup Might Just Save the World by Joseph Main: This book unravels the story of one of the earliest and most respected hacking groups formed in the United States. It discusses the development of TOR and its efforts to force U.S. corporations to enhance their security protocols. Published by PublicAffairs on June 4, 2019.

8. Ghosts in the Stars

My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker, by Kevin Mitnick and William L. Simon: This mind-boggling true story is like a thrilling fantasy novel. Kevin Mitnick takes you on an exciting journey through his experiences hacking into iconic companies like Motorola, Pacific Bell and Sun Microsystems. Starting out as a novice IT employee, he eventually becomes the FBI’s most wanted hacker. Published by Little, Brown and Company on August 15, 2011.

9. The code book:

The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography by Simon Singh: In this fascinating book, Simon Singh uncovers the history of encryption, taking it all the way back to ancient Egypt. He provides detailed accounts of how encryption has shaped our world, from enabling e-commerce to contributing to the fall of the Nazi regime. The book links encryption to many famous historical events and individuals. Published by Anker on August 29, 2000.

10. Practical malware analysis:

In today’s modern world, malware and viruses pose real threats. Security experts and IT professionals are constantly looking for ways to deal with new malware that is lurking around the corner. This book provides readers with valuable insights on how to deal with these threats and provides the necessary cybersecurity tools to help companies fight and eliminate virus attacks. Published by No Starch Press on February 29, 2012.

11. Metasploit:

The Penetration Tester’s Guide, by David Kennedy, Jim O’Gorman, Devon Kearns, and Mati Aharoni: This comprehensive book dives into the Metasploit framework, covering its interfaces, module systems, and advanced penetration testing techniques. You’ll learn everything from network reconnaissance and client-side attacks to wireless attacks and targeted social engineering. Learn how to integrate Nexpos, Nmap, and Nessus with Metasploit for automated search – published by No Starch Press on July 22, 201

12. Hacker Playbook

Practical Guide to Penetration Testing by Peter Kim: Packed with new strategies, attacks, and tips, this book simulates real-world, advanced attacks to challenge your organization’s defensive teams. Improve your offensive hacking skills, explore attack paths, and delve into real-world attacks, exploits, custom malware, and persistence. Published by Secure Planet on May 1, 2018.

13. Applied Cryptography:

Protocols, Algorithms, and Source Code in C: This cybersecurity book presents an overview of modern cryptography, explaining how professionals use cryptography to encrypt messages, while solving security problems with different algorithms. Published by Wiley on November 2, 1995.

14. The entrance test:

Practical Introduction to Hacking by Georgia Weidman: Gain valuable information in penetration testing while detecting security vulnerabilities in operating systems, networks, and applications. Learn the essential skills and techniques required for a successful penetration tester. Published by No Starch Press on May 22, 2014.

15. Social engineering:

The Science of Human Hacking: Christopher Hednegy explains various social engineering techniques in a simple way using real-world examples to make them easier to understand. Published by Wiley on June 25, 2018.

16. Web Application Hackers Handbook:

Finding and exploiting security vulnerabilities by Dafydd Stutterd and Marcus Pinto: This book provides valuable information on how to protect and expose constantly evolving web applications to attacks. It includes new remoting frameworks, HTML5, UI troubleshooting, and hybrid file attacks, among other topics.

17. Hackers and Painters:

Big Ideas from the Computer Age by Paul Graham: Through thoughtful prose and historical examples, the author elaborates on the tech world and the motivations of hackers. Learn why hackers hack, what motivates them, and why it matters – published by O’Reilly Media on May 25, 2004.

18. Backtrack 5 wireless penetration test

This beginner-friendly book covers wireless attacks, providing lab exercises with rich illustrations and detailed steps. It assumes a basic understanding of wireless concepts and backtracks. Published by Packt Publishing on September 9, 2011.

Recommended courses

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Should I learn cybersecurity in 2023?

Answer: Yes, it is advisable to study cybersecurity in 2023 and beyond due to the ongoing demand in this field.

Q2: What is the trend of cybersecurity for 2023?

Answer: In 2023, there will be an increased focus on targeting users in cyber attacks using strategies such as phishing and social engineering to gain unauthorized access to an organization’s user base.

Question 3: What is the future of cybersecurity in 2025?

Answer: In 2025, more than half of major cyber incidents will occur due to human error or lack of skilled personnel as hackers target individuals through social engineering tactics, exploiting people’s vulnerabilities as the weakest link in security measures.

Q. What are the three most important trends in cybersecurity?

Multi-factor authentication
International state-sponsored attackers
Identification and access management
Real-time monitoring of data
Automotive hacking
AI capabilities

Question 5: What is the future of cybersecurity?

Answer: It is important to prepare for security incidents and data breaches. Incident response playbooks will likely become more common. Employee training at all levels can help reduce the impact of human error.

Top 15 Cybersecurity Books to Read in 2024- 2025