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The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing

by Patrick Engebretson · Syngress (Elsevier)

Short Syngress introduction to penetration testing, organized around a four-phase methodology: reconnaissance, scanning, exploitation, and maintaining access. Walks through Kali tools (Nmap, Nessus, Metasploit, Netcat) on a lab you build yourself. Second edition (2013) is dated on tool versions but a clear first book.

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