The Hacker Playbook: Practical Guide To Penetration Testing

by Peter Kim

The Hacker Playbook provides a practical, step-by-step guide to penetration testing methodology. Peter Kim draws on his experience as a security consultant to walk readers through the phases of a real engagement, from setting up a penetration testing lab and performing reconnaissance, to gaining access, maintaining persistence, and writing the final report. The book follows a sports analogy structure with plays and game plans, making complex attack chains accessible to intermediate practitioners. It covers network attacks, web application testing, social engineering, password cracking, and post-exploitation techniques using tools like Metasploit, Burp Suite, and Cobalt Strike. Each chapter builds on the previous one, creating a cohesive methodology that readers can apply directly to their own assessments.