"Linux Essentials for Hackers & Pentesters" is a hands-on tutorial-style book that teaches you the fundamentals of Linux, emphasising ethical hacking and penetration testing. This book employs the Kali Linux distribution to teach readers how to use Linux commands and packages to perform security testing on systems and networks.

Text manipulation, network administration, ownership and permissions, BASH scripting, proxy servers, VPNs, and wireless networks are covered. The book prepares you to perform web application hacking and build your own hacking Linux toolkit by teaching you how to use Linux commands and begin to think like a hacker. Hands-on exercises and practical examples are included in each chapter to reinforce the concepts covered.

This book is a must-have for anyone interested in a career in ethical hacking and penetration testing. Emphasizing ethical hacking practices, you'll learn not only how to hack but also how to do so responsibly and legally. This book will provide you with the skills and knowledge you need to make a positive impact in the field of cybersecurity while also acting ethically and professionally. This book will help you hone your skills and become a skilled and ethical Linux hacker, whether you're a beginner or an experienced hacker.

Key Learnings

• Learning linux binaries, complex text patterns, and combining commands
• Modifying and cloning IP addresses, phishing MAC ID, accessing and troubleshooting DNS
• Manipulating ownership and permissions, exploring sensitive files and writing BASH scripts
• Working around disk partitioning, filesystem errors and logical volume management
• Accessing proxy server policies, intercepting server performance and manipulating proxy servers
• Setting up APs, firewalls, VLAN, managing access, WPA encryption, and network analysis using Wireshark

Table of Content

1. Up and Running with Linux Basics
2. How to Manipulate Text?
3. Administering Networks
4. Add and Delete Applications
5. Administering Ownership and Permissions
6. Exploring Shells: BASH, ZSH and FISH
7. Storage Management
8. Working around Proxy Servers
9. Administering VPNs
10. Working on Wireless Networks

As a security pro or beginner, if you want to get up and running with ParrotOS for ethical hacking and penetration testing, this book is a must-have. It starts with an intro to ParrotOS, its unique security-oriented environment, and key components, and then moves step-by-step into hands-on exercises. You'll learn how to install and customize ParrotOS, manage user accounts, and set up critical network configurations. It's all hands-on, with each chapter focusing on real-world tasks and popular tools like Metasploit, Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP, John the Ripper, and Aircrack-ng. You'll learn the essential pentesting techniques for assessing vulnerabilities, exploiting weaknesses, and maintaining access within hacked networks.

You'll even learn to intercept and manipulate web traffic, automate scans, and execute controlled exploits to retrieve sensitive data and escalate privileges. The steps are clearly laid out so that you can build your confidence and skills on your own. The focus here is on giving you a solid hands-on experience with the essential tools needed for penetration testing tasks, and it's all done on ParrotOS. No matter what your interests are, whether it's network reconnaissance, automating scripts, or monitoring systems, this book has got you covered when it comes to tackling the latest security challenges.

Key Learnings

• Install, configure and customize ParrrotOS for ethical hacking and pentesting tasks.
• Use bash scripting to automate and streamline penetration testing workflows.
• Manage files and directories using command-line tools like rsync, grep, and awk.
• Utilize network scanning techniques with nmap to identify active hosts and vulnerabilities.
• Analyze network traffic in real-time using tcpdump, revealing hidden threats and suspicious patterns.
• Exploit web vulnerabilities by intercepting and modifying traffic with Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP.
• Perform robust password audits and recover weak credentials using John the Ripper.
• Test wireless networks using Aircrack-ng in WEP and WPA protocols.
• Leverage pivoting techniques across compromised networks.
• Integrate automated recon and scanning for continuous network monitoring.

Table of Content

1. Getting Started with Parrot OS
2. Up and Running with Parrot OS
3. System Configuration and Customization
4. Mastering Command-Line Utilities
5. Leveraging Parrot OS Security Tools
6. Conducting Network Reconnaissance
7. Exploiting Vulnerabilities with Metasploit
8. Advanced Web Application Testing
9. Implementing Sniffing and Tunneling