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Essential Cybersecurity Books: What's on Your Shelf?

  • March 20, 2025
  • 10 replies
  • 302 views

Cybersecurity is a rapidly evolving field and staying updated is essential.

Books remain (at least for me) one of the best ways to build a sold foundation and stay ahead of threats.

What are some of the best cybersecurity books you’ve read?

10 replies

  • Author
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 7 replies
  • March 20, 2025

Here are some books I found valuable:

Cyber War by Richard A. Clarke and Robert K. Knake, 2010.

This was the first book that drew me into the depths of cybersecurity.


  • Author
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 7 replies
  • March 20, 2025

A few other classics are from Kevin Mittnick:

The Art of Deception: Controlling the Human Element of Security (2002)

The Art of Intrusion: The Real Stories Behind the Exploits of Hackers, Intruders & Deceivers (2005)

Ghost in the Wires: My Adventures as the World’s Most Wanted Hacker (2011)

The Art of Invisibility (2017)


  • Author
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 7 replies
  • March 20, 2025

The most recent ones:

If It's Smart, It's Vulnerable by Mikko Hyppönen (2022)

Hacked - The Secrets Behind Cyber Attacks by Jessica Barker (2024)


  • Author
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 7 replies
  • March 20, 2025

Books centered around cyber crime:

SPAM NATION: The Inside Story of Organized Cybercrime-From Global Epidemic to Your Front Door by Brian Krebs (2014)

Future Crimes: Everything Is Connected, Everyone Is Vulnerable and What We Can Do About It by Marc Goodman (2015)

American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt for the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road by Nick Bilton (2017)

The Lazarus Heist: From Hollywood to High Finance: Inside North Korea's Global Cyber War by Geoff White (2022)

 


  • Author
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 7 replies
  • March 20, 2025

Books about sophisticated attacks:

Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World's First Digital Weapon by Kim Zetter. (2014)

Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin's Most Dangerous Hackers by Andy Greenberg 2019


  • Author
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 7 replies
  • March 20, 2025

Books about Hacking culture:

Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution by Steven Levy (1984)

Cult of the Dead Cow by Joseph Menn (2019)

 


tclowater
BeyondTrust Employee
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 78 replies
  • March 20, 2025

One that I find still very relevant today and adore:
The Cuckoo’s Egg by Cliff Stoll

 

Good with explaining where we’ve already been as a hint that where we’re at now is already more advanced:

Sandworm by Andy Greenberg

Countdown to Zero Day by Kim Zetter

 

A less-technical description of what goes into reporting and validation:

Pegasus by Lauren Richard, Sandrine Rigaud

 

More biographical approaches:

How I Rob Banks by FC

Ghost In The Wire by Kevin Mittnick


  • Author
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 7 replies
  • March 20, 2025

Thanks for your suggestions! I’ve added “Pegasus,” “Cuckoo’s Egg,” and “How I Rob Banks” to my wishlist!


Jlom
BeyondTrust Employee
  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 1 reply
  • March 24, 2025

One book that gives a really good background on how it all began is:

This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends: The Cyberweapons Arms Race by Nicole Perlroth

goes back to even before internet was born and modern day.


  • BeyondTrust Employee
  • 1 reply
  • April 11, 2025

Not sure if these have been mentioned, but here are some good reads i’ve come across: