Hacking: The Next Generation

Preface

Attack vectors that seemed fantastical in the past are now a reality. The reasons for this are twofold. First, the need for mobility and agility in technology has made the traditional perimeter-based defense model invalid and ineffective. The consumption of services in the cloud, the use of wireless access points and mobile devices, and the access granted to contingent workers have made the concept of the perimeter irrelevant and meaningless. This issue is further amplified by the increased complexity of and trust placed on web browsers, which when successfully exploited can turn the perimeter inside out. Second, the emergence of Generation Y culture in the workforce is facilitating the use of social media and communication platforms to the point where citizens are sharing critical data about themselves that has been nearly impossible to capture remotely in the past.

The new generation of attackers is aware of risks in emerging technologies and knows how to exploit the latest platforms to the fullest extent. This book will expose the skill set and mindset that today’s sophisticated attackers employ to abuse technology and people so that you can learn how to protect yourself from them.

Audience

This book is for anyone interested in learning the techniques that the more sophisticated attackers are using today. Other books on the topic have the habit of rehashing legacy attack and penetration methodologies that are no longer of any use to criminals. If you want to learn how the techniques criminals use today have evolved to contain crafty tools and procedures that can compromise a targeted individual or an enterprise, this book is for you.