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Offensive Security with Kali Linux

A Comprehensive Guide to Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

Offensive Security with Kali Linux
This book is 100% completeLast updated on 2026-07-30
Steve Publications

Offensive Security with Kali Linux is a practical guide to ethical hacking and penetration testing, taking you from foundational Linux and networking concepts to advanced exploitation techniques. With a strong emphasis on ethical practice and real-world methodology, you'll learn to identify vulnerabilities, assess systems responsibly, and strengthen security using Kali Linux.

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About

About

About the Book

This book takes you on a structured journey through the complete offensive security lifecycle, from foundational Linux and networking concepts to advanced exploitation techniques and professional reporting. Using Kali Linux as your primary platform, you will learn the theory behind every attack vector, the methodology for systematic assessment, and the practical skills needed to conduct authorized penetration tests. Every chapter builds upon previous material, ensuring that complex topics are grounded in solid fundamentals. The emphasis throughout is on ethical practice, defensive understanding, and responsible disclosure within legal, controlled environments.

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Cyber SecurityComputer SecurityNetworkingRed TeamingOffensive SecurityPenetration Testing

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Author

About the Author

Steve Publications

Steve is a technology professional with over 20 years of experience in software development, server infrastructure, cybersecurity, vulnerability research and reverse engineering. He specializes in analyzing complex systems, identifying weaknesses and improving security.

Beyond his professional work, Steve collaborates with researchers and industry experts to create practical technical books covering software development, cybersecurity, cloud computing, DevOps, AI and enterprise technologies. His goal is to help IT professionals, students and enthusiasts develop practical skills through clear explanations, real-world examples and hands-on exercises.

At Steve Publications, we use AI to assist with translation, proofreading and editing but not to replace the research, technical expertise or hands-on experience behind our books. Some authors publish under pseudonyms for privacy or professional reasons.

Every book is written, reviewed and maintained by experienced professionals, supported by a private community of over 420 engineers and researchers. We prioritize technical accuracy, practical value and regularly updated content over mass-produced AI-generated text.

We welcome experienced professionals interested in writing or reviewing books, especially in specialized and emerging technology fields. If you'd like to contribute, contact us with your area of expertise.

We stand behind our work. If a book doesn't meet your expectations, Leanpub offers a 60-day money-back guarantee.

Contents

Table of Contents

A Comprehensive Guide to Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

Introduction

  1. What This Book Is
  2. What This Book Is Not
  3. Who Should Read This Book
  4. How This Book Is Structured
  5. The Ethical Foundation
  6. Setting Up Your Lab
  7. A Note on Tool Evolution
  8. What Comes Next

Chapter 1: Foundations of Offensive Security

  1. What Is Offensive Security
  2. Historical Context: The Evolution of Offensive Security
  3. Common Pitfalls: Starting Your Offensive Security Journey
  4. The Penetration Testing Methodology
  5. Legal and Ethical Frameworks
  6. Rules of Engagement and Scoping
  7. Building Your Lab Environment
  8. Chapter Summary

Chapter 2: Kali Linux Fundamentals

  1. What Is Kali Linux
  2. Historical Context: From WHAX to Kali
  3. Installation and Deployment Options
  4. Essential Command Line Skills
  5. File System and Permissions
  6. Package Management and Updates
  7. Networking Configuration
  8. Chapter Summary

Chapter 3: Networking Fundamentals for Security Professionals

  1. The OSI Model and Packet Flow
  2. Historical Context: How Network Protocols Evolved
  3. TCP/IP Protocol Suite
  4. Essential Network Protocols
  5. Subnetting and Addressing
  6. Network Architecture and Security Zones
  7. Common Network Services and Ports
  8. Chapter Summary

Chapter 4: Information Gathering and Reconnaissance

  1. Passive vs Active Reconnaissance
  2. Historical Context: The Reconnaissance Evolution
  3. Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) Methodology
  4. Domain and DNS Enumeration
  5. Network Mapping Techniques
  6. Building the Target Profile
  7. Tool Spotlight: Maltego, theHarvester, and Recon-ng
  8. Chapter Summary

Chapter 5: Scanning and Enumeration

  1. Port Scanning Techniques
  2. Nmap: The Scanner’s Swiss Army Knife
  3. Historical Context: Nmap’s Development Journey
  4. Service Enumeration Strategies
  5. OS Fingerprinting Methods
  6. Extracting Intelligence from Scan Results
  7. Tool Spotlight: Masscan, Zmap, and RustScan
  8. Chapter Summary

Chapter 6: Vulnerability Analysis

  1. Understanding Vulnerabilities and CVEs
  2. Historical Context: How Vulnerability Management Evolved
  3. Automated Vulnerability Scanning
  4. Manual Vulnerability Verification
  5. Risk Prioritization Frameworks
  6. Tool Spotlight: OpenVAS, Nessus, and Vulners
  7. From Vulnerability to Exploit Path
  8. Chapter Summary

Chapter 7: Web Application Security

  1. Web Application Architecture
  2. Historical Context: The Evolution of Web Application Security
  3. The OWASP Top Ten Threats
  4. Injection Attacks
  5. Authentication and Session Vulnerabilities
  6. Server-Side Vulnerabilities
  7. Tool Spotlight: Burp Suite, SQLmap, and Nikto
  8. Chapter Summary

Chapter 8: Wireless Security Assessment

  1. Wireless Network Fundamentals
  2. Wi-Fi Protocols and Encryption Standards
  3. Historical Context: The Evolution of Wi-Fi Security
  4. Common Wireless Attack Vectors
  5. Wireless Assessment Methodology
  6. Tool Spotlight: Aircrack-ng Suite and Wifite
  7. Common Pitfalls: Wireless Assessment Mistakes
  8. Troubleshooting: Wireless Assessment Issues
  9. Securing Wireless Networks
  10. Chapter Summary

Chapter 9: Active Directory Security Concepts

  1. Active Directory Architecture
  2. Historical Context: Active Directory and Its Attack Surface
  3. Common Pitfalls: Active Directory Assessment Mistakes
  4. Common Attack Paths in Active Directory
  5. Kerberos Protocol and Attacks
  6. Lateral Movement Concepts
  7. Privilege Escalation in Active Directory
  8. Tool Spotlight: BloodHound, CrackMapExec, and Impacket
  9. Chapter Summary

Chapter 10: Exploitation Fundamentals

  1. The Exploitation Lifecycle
  2. Vulnerability Research Methodology
  3. Payload Development Concepts
  4. Meterpreter and Post-Exploitation Frameworks
  5. Tool Spotlight: Metasploit Framework
  6. Historical Context: Metasploit’s Journey
  7. Common Pitfalls: Exploitation Assessment Mistakes
  8. Troubleshooting: Exploitation Issues
  9. From Exploit to Reportable Finding
  10. Chapter Summary

Chapter 11: Password Security Assessment

  1. Hashing Algorithms and Password Storage
  2. Historical Context: The Evolution of Password Hashing
  3. Offline Cracking Methodologies
  4. Online Attack Techniques
  5. Rainbow Tables and Precomputation
  6. Tool Spotlight: John the Ripper and Hashcat
  7. Evaluating Password Policies
  8. Chapter Summary

Chapter 12: Privilege Escalation Concepts

  1. Understanding Privilege Levels
  2. Historical Context: The Privilege Escalation Landscape
  3. Linux Privilege Escalation Techniques
  4. Windows Privilege Escalation Techniques
  5. Common Misconfiguration Patterns
  6. Tool Spotlight: LinPEAS, WinPEAS, and PowerUp
  7. Common Pitfalls: Privilege Escalation Assessment Mistakes
  8. Defending Against Privilege Escalation
  9. Chapter Summary

Chapter 13: Scripting and Automation for Security Professionals

  1. Why Scripting Matters in Security
  2. Historical Context: The Evolution of Security Automation
  3. Bash Scripting for Security Tasks
  4. Python for Security Automation
  5. Building Custom Enumeration Scripts
  6. Automating the Assessment Workflow
  7. Integrating Tools into Pipelines
  8. Common Pitfalls: Scripting and Automation Mistakes
  9. Troubleshooting: Common Scripting Issues
  10. Chapter Summary

Chapter 14: Reporting and Operational Best Practices

  1. The Importance of Professional Reporting
  2. Historical Context: The Evolution of Security Reporting
  3. Evidence Collection and Documentation
  4. Executive and Technical Report Structure
  5. Operational Security During Engagements
  6. Tool Management and Maintenance
  7. Common Pitfalls: Reporting and Engagement Mistakes
  8. Case Study: From Technical Finding to Business Impact
  9. Chapter Summary

Conclusion

Glossary

References

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