Leanpub Header

Skip to main content

Breaking into Information Security: Learning the Ropes 101

Teaching You The Core Fundamentals For Getting Your Career Started in Penetration Testing.

All of the basic topics to get you from zero to junior pentester level - covering off everything you need to know to start breaking into web application penetration testing industry or looking for flaws on bug bounties. (LTR101)

Minimum price

$9.99

$19.99

You pay

$19.99

Author earns

$15.99
$

...Or Buy With Credits!

You can get credits monthly with a Reader Membership
PDF
EPUB
WEB
12,895
Readers
181
Pages
36,300Words
About

About

About the Book

This book will cover off all of the basic topics to get you from zero to junior penetration tester/offensive security consultant level. It aims to cover off all of the basic topic areas that anyone hoping to break into security should understand & web app testing/hacking

Chapter Descriptions:

  1. Introduction - Outlining who the book is aimed at, why it exists and what to expect in the
  2. other sections.
  3. Core Fundamentals - Explains the basics of how networking and the internet works.
  4. Operating Systems - A sub-section for each operating system and the benefits/tools for each.
  5. Virtualization - Explanation on what it is and why it is useful to know about.
  6. Programming - Some fundamentals on logic and scripting.
  7. Infrastructure - Building on the basic networking, explaining the role of infrastructure in
  8. penetration testing.
  9. Web Application Testing - breaking down web application testing and what is involved, some
  10. methodologies and tips too.
  11. Importance of Reporting - Explaining how to compile your evidence in a professional way,
  12. also expanding on how to write a good report.
  13. People Skills - How to build your connections and get your foot in the door.
  14. Penetration Testing - Explaining what is involved in the job, what to expect and how to keep
  15. learning.
  16. Hacking Your Career Path - Some tips on preparing a CV & applying a more creative approach.
  17. Further Reading & Resources - Links and books to checkout to further your learning.

Author

About the Author

Andy Gill

Andy began his career in IT by fixing other people’s computers and rescuing data from the brink, before transitioning into the world of offensive security. These days, he’s a seasoned red teamer and penetration tester by trade, with a passion for research, tooling, and blogging after hours.

With a decade-plus of hands-on experience, Andy has worked across a broad spectrum of offensive security domains, including penetration testing, threat-led red teaming (both regulatory and bespoke), purple teaming, adversary emulation, and security capability development. He’s played a key role in delivering intelligence-led engagements aligned to frameworks and has helped organisations build resilience through realistic threat simulation and collaborative defence testing.

Beyond the day job, Andy has a strong track record in community involvement and education. He was the organiser of a local DEF CON group (DC44141), regularly presents at global security conferences, and runs training sessions focused on red teaming tradecraft, malwareless access, and adversary simulation. He’s also the author of numerous technical articles and walkthroughs published on his blog, often mixing clarity, humour, and depth to demystify complex topics in offensive security.

Andy enjoys photography and long drives outside of tech, finding creative and reflective space away from the screen. Whether you catch him speaking on stage or in the pub at a con, he’s always keen to talk shop, swap stories, or help others level up.

You can read more on his blog at https://blog.zsec.uk or his handle on the internet is @ZephrFish.

Leanpub Podcast

Episode 66

An Interview with Andy Gill

Contents

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

  1. What this Book is
  2. Why Does This Book Exist?
  3. Who Is This Book for?
  4. A Word of Warning
  5. Disclaimer
  6. Prerequisites
  7. About The Author

2. Core Fundamentals

  1. Numbers in Security
  2. Fundamental Networking
  3. Facilitating Attacks with DNS

3. Operating Systems

  1. Linux
  2. Windows
  3. MacOS

4. Virtualisation

  1. What is Virtualisation?
  2. What it is Used For
  3. Setting Up Your First Virtual Machine
  4. Other Platforms

5. Programming

  1. Logic
  2. The Basics - Functions, Variables, Learning
  3. Language Types

6. Infrastructure

  1. Reconnaissance
  2. Scanning
  3. Exploitation
  4. Pivoting/Further Recon/Post-Exploitation
  5. Other Types of Infrastructure Testing

7. Web Application Testing

  1. Introduction
  2. Tooling
  3. Methodologies
  4. Note Taking and Session Tracking

8. Importance of Reporting

  1. Reporting in Pentesting
  2. Making Things Beautiful
  3. Technical Findings
  4. Bug Bounty Reporting

9. Social & People Skills

  1. Meetups
  2. Conferences

10. Penetration Testing, Bug Bounty Hunting & <Insert Colour Teaming>

  1. Penetration Testing
  2. Bug Bounty Hunting
  3. Coloured Teams

11. Hacking Your Career Path

  1. Things to Consider
  2. Advertising Skillset
  3. Selling Yourself

12. Further Reading & Resources

  1. Books to Read
  2. Network Pentesting
  3. Programming
  4. Web Application Testing
  5. Quick Reference for Bag
  6. Web Applications for Learning on
  7. People to Follow on Twitter
  8. Links to Checkout
  9. Thank You

The Leanpub 60 Day 100% Happiness Guarantee

Within 60 days of purchase you can get a 100% refund on any Leanpub purchase, in two clicks.

Now, this is technically risky for us, since you'll have the book or course files either way. But we're so confident in our products and services, and in our authors and readers, that we're happy to offer a full money back guarantee for everything we sell.

You can only find out how good something is by trying it, and because of our 100% money back guarantee there's literally no risk to do so!

So, there's no reason not to click the Add to Cart button, is there?

See full terms...

Earn $8 on a $10 Purchase, and $16 on a $20 Purchase

We pay 80% royalties on purchases of $7.99 or more, and 80% royalties minus a 50 cent flat fee on purchases between $0.99 and $7.98. You earn $8 on a $10 sale, and $16 on a $20 sale. So, if we sell 5000 non-refunded copies of your book for $20, you'll earn $80,000.

(Yes, some authors have already earned much more than that on Leanpub.)

In fact, authors have earned over $14 million writing, publishing and selling on Leanpub.

Learn more about writing on Leanpub

Free Updates. DRM Free.

If you buy a Leanpub book, you get free updates for as long as the author updates the book! Many authors use Leanpub to publish their books in-progress, while they are writing them. All readers get free updates, regardless of when they bought the book or how much they paid (including free).

Most Leanpub books are available in PDF (for computers) and EPUB (for phones, tablets and Kindle). The formats that a book includes are shown at the top right corner of this page.

Finally, Leanpub books don't have any DRM copy-protection nonsense, so you can easily read them on any supported device.

Learn more about Leanpub's ebook formats and where to read them

Write and Publish on Leanpub

You can use Leanpub to easily write, publish and sell in-progress and completed ebooks and online courses!

Leanpub is a powerful platform for serious authors, combining a simple, elegant writing and publishing workflow with a store focused on selling in-progress ebooks.

Leanpub is a magical typewriter for authors: just write in plain text, and to publish your ebook, just click a button. (Or, if you are producing your ebook your own way, you can even upload your own PDF and/or EPUB files and then publish with one click!) It really is that easy.

Learn more about writing on Leanpub