The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing: Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Made Easy

Engebretson excels at making ethical hacking concrete and practical. His direct teaching style and careful explanations help beginners understand how security vulnerabilities are discovered and exploited ethically for defensive improvement. While compact, the book finds depth in tool demonstrations and case-style examples. The result is a strong starting point for those wanting hands-on familiarity with penetration testing fundamentals.

Patrick Engebretson is a cybersecurity researcher and educator specializing in penetration testing and network defense. He has taught numerous courses on ethical hacking and authored several respected resources in the field. Engebretson’s background in both academia and real-world testing gives his work credibility and practicality, connecting theory to the realities of cybersecurity practice.