Defense against the Black Arts

For anyone interested in improving their cyber security skills, whether you are just starting out or have  been in the field for several years, Defense against the Black Arts by Jesse Varsalone and Matthew McFadden is a must have!!!  This easy to follow book is written by professionals with excellent instruction.  It is presented in a logically structured and easily comprehend-able format.  This book covers a wide variety of topics such as hacking Windows, obtaining passwords, steganography, using SQL injections, wireless hacking, social engineering, hacking the Macs, and much more.   The programs and tools used in this book are open source and readily available to download.  Aside from learning how to exploit a system, there are a lot of great tips on how to harden a system as well.  
 For those of you that share a passion in learning about digital forensics, there is a similar book called The Best Damn Cybercrime and Digital Forensics Book Period that I would highly recommend.  
 Both of these books are outstanding and a great way to start or add to your arsenal of payloads.  “Knowledge is power” ~Sir Francis Bacon.