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Cybersecurity: The Beginner's Guide
Cybersecurity: The Beginner's Guide

Cybersecurity: The Beginner's Guide: A comprehensive guide to getting started in cybersecurity

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Profile Icon Deepayan Chanda Profile Icon Dr. Erdal Ozkaya
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$19.99 per month
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.3 (12 Ratings)
Paperback May 2019 396 pages 1st Edition
eBook
$9.99 $24.99
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$30.99
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Renews at $19.99p/m
Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Deepayan Chanda Profile Icon Dr. Erdal Ozkaya
Arrow right icon
$19.99 per month
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.3 (12 Ratings)
Paperback May 2019 396 pages 1st Edition
eBook
$9.99 $24.99
Paperback
$30.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m
eBook
$9.99 $24.99
Paperback
$30.99
Subscription
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Renews at $19.99p/m

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Cybersecurity: The Beginner's Guide

Security Evolution — From Legacy to Advanced, to ML and AI

Security has evolved over the last few decades. It started off with antivirus systems that were for a long time referred to as the ultimate cybersecurity tools. These were then joined by an array of other tools.

Before 1971, cybersecurity was unheard of. That is unsurprising, since computers were still being developed, were too pricey for hackers, and only a few people knew how to write code to do basic input/output functions. A researcher called Bob Thomas then discovered that it was possible to create a malicious program that could propagate from one computer to another and leave an annoying message. Following this discovery, another researcher modified the program so that it could become self-replicating. Essentially, he created the first computer worm. He then decided to build another program that could catch...

Legacy cybersecurity systems

As noted in our discussion of the creation of the first worm and the first antivirus, cybersecurity was initially designed as a response to a cyber threat. Legacy systems were built to secure organizations from known threats. After the discovery of a cyber threat, security experts would learn its unique execution or coding patterns. This information would be used to enable security systems to detect and stop the identified cyber threat. This tradition still continues up to the present day. There is a famed database known as Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE), where all the discovered threats are explained and a unique identification number is given to them.

Signature-based security systems

...

Transformations in cybersecurity

Hackers in the early 2000s began experimenting with many security evasion tactics to beat the existing security tools. They had already come up with techniques to evade security tools on networks. They had also come up with a new attack method called a buffer overflow. A buffer overflow is conducted mostly on client/server apps, where payloads are delivered with data specifically aimed to fill and write outside memory buffers. For instance, hackers would supply scripts to log in input fields in a client app, which would cause the server to import files. Since the server would be expecting just a few characters in the input field, the excess data would cause a buffer overflow, causing it to fail or function erroneously. Exploit toolkits were also being modified to include security evasion tactics.

...

Advancements in security technology to security 2.0

The cybersecurity industry was under immense pressure to move from signature-based detection techniques to other, more efficient alternatives. The old ways of hardening the security infrastructures in organizations increasingly failed. Despite having many layers of security, organizations were still being breached. Zero-day vulnerabilities and social engineering were major contributors to these attacks. The cost of cyber attacks also increased. In 2018, IBM published that the global average cost of a cyber attack was $3,860,000 USD. This cost factored in expenses such as lawsuits and loss of customers.

Anomaly-based security systems

Finally, cybersecurity tools got a major...

How ML and AI will play a larger role in cybersecurity

AI and ML present a new dawn in the cybersecurity industry. AI is not a new concept to computing. It was defined in 1956 as the ability of computers to perform tasks that were characteristic of human intelligence. Such tasks included learning, making decisions, solving problems, and understanding and recognizing speech. ML is a broad term referring to the ability of computers to acquire new knowledge without human intervention. ML is a subset of AI and can take many forms, such as deep learning, reinforcement learning, and Bayesian networks. AI is poised to disrupt the cybersecurity space in many ways in what might be the ultimate win for the cybersecurity industry against cyber criminals.

AI/ML in cybersecurity involves deploying self-sufficient tools that can detect, stop, or prevent threats without any human intervention...

Summary

This chapter has looked at the evolution of cybersecurity from legacy to advanced and then on to futuristic technologies such as AI and ML. It has been explained that the first cybersecurity system was an antivirus system that was created to stop the first worm. Cybersecurity then followed this example, where security tools were created as responses to threats. Legacy security systems started the approach of using signature-based detection. This is where security tools would be loaded with signatures of common malware and use this knowledge base to detect and stop any program that matched the signature. However, the security systems were focused on malware, and thus, hackers focused on breaching organizations through the network. In 1970, an OS company was breached via its network and a copy of an OS was stolen. In 1990, the US military suffered a similar attack where...

Further reading

The following are resources that can be used to gain more knowledge of the subjects covered in this chapter:

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Key benefits

  • Align your security knowledge with industry leading concepts and tools
  • Acquire required skills and certifications to survive the ever changing market needs
  • Learn from industry experts to analyse, implement, and maintain a robust environment

Description

It's not a secret that there is a huge talent gap in the cybersecurity industry. Everyone is talking about it including the prestigious Forbes Magazine, Tech Republic, CSO Online, DarkReading, and SC Magazine, among many others. Additionally, Fortune CEO's like Satya Nadella, McAfee's CEO Chris Young, Cisco's CIO Colin Seward along with organizations like ISSA, research firms like Gartner too shine light on it from time to time. This book put together all the possible information with regards to cybersecurity, why you should choose it, the need for cyber security and how can you be part of it and fill the cybersecurity talent gap bit by bit. Starting with the essential understanding of security and its needs, we will move to security domain changes and how artificial intelligence and machine learning are helping to secure systems. Later, this book will walk you through all the skills and tools that everyone who wants to work as security personal need to be aware of. Then, this book will teach readers how to think like an attacker and explore some advanced security methodologies. Lastly, this book will deep dive into how to build practice labs, explore real-world use cases and get acquainted with various cybersecurity certifications. By the end of this book, readers will be well-versed with the security domain and will be capable of making the right choices in the cybersecurity field.

Who is this book for?

This book is targeted to any IT professional who is looking to venture in to the world cyber attacks and threats. Anyone with some understanding or IT infrastructure workflow will benefit from this book. Cybersecurity experts interested in enhancing their skill set will also find this book useful.

What you will learn

  • Get an overview of what cybersecurity is and learn about the various faces of cybersecurity as well as identify domain that suits you best
  • Plan your transition into cybersecurity in an efficient and effective way
  • Learn how to build upon your existing skills and experience in order to prepare for your career in cybersecurity

Product Details

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Publication date, Length, Edition, Language, ISBN-13
Publication date : May 27, 2019
Length: 396 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781789616194
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Product Details

Publication date : May 27, 2019
Length: 396 pages
Edition : 1st
Language : English
ISBN-13 : 9781789616194
Category :
Languages :
Concepts :
Tools :

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Table of Contents

13 Chapters
Importance of Cybersecurity Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Security Evolution — From Legacy to Advanced, to ML and AI Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Learning Cybersecurity Technologies Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Skills We Need for a Cybersecurity Career Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Attacker Mindset Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Understanding Reactive, Proactive, and Operational Security Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Networking, Mentoring, and Shadowing Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Cybersecurity Labs Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Knowledge Check and Certifications Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Security Intelligence Resources Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Expert Opinions on Getting Started with Cybersecurity Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
How to Get Hired in Cybersecurity, Regardless of Your Background Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

Top Reviews
Rating distribution
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.3
(12 Ratings)
5 star 66.7%
4 star 0%
3 star 25%
2 star 8.3%
1 star 0%
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N/A Feb 21, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Pubblicazioni interessanti scritti con il giusto livello tecnico ma soprattutto in modo chiaro.
Feefo Verified review Feefo
N/A Feb 19, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Feefo Verified review Feefo
Lifelong Student Jun 30, 2020
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Some reviewers seem to think this book will teach you cyber security but it's more about cybersecurity careers and in that area it really shines. (Though the author did have a really good tip about dns) I want to thank the author (and all the other people who contributed) for this great resource.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Darren Rockwell Jan 06, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This book is a must-have if you're considering the job in cyber security. It covered much more than my online classes and got me ready for the actual skills I need for a job in the real world.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Shadows Mar 08, 2024
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
Great book for beginners getting a grasp on cybersecurity concepts. I'd recommend this for just about anyone who uses the internet.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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