Setting Up for Hacking (Python for Hackers Part-7)

At this point, you have a basic idea of how Python works and how programs were created using this programming language. Now, you are ready to learn how you can use Python scripts to compromise websites, networks, and more.

Learning how to hack entails being able to setup the right environment that you can work in in order to develop your own exploitation tools. Since you have already installed Python and the standard library that comes with it, you are pretty much set up for hacking. All you need to do now is to install other tools and libraries that you can use for the exploits that will be detailed in this series.

The Python Standard Library

Python’ library is pretty much the collection of almost every element there is in this programming language. This extensive collection contains several built-in modules that allow you to access different functionalities in the system. The Pythons standard library is also responsible for providing you access to modules, which are designed to enhance Python’s inherent portability. This means that you are able to deal away with platforms when it comes to creating your codes. 

If you are running Python from a Windows machine, you are likely to have the entire standard library included in your installation. If you are operating using UNIX or any similar operating system, you may need to use the packaging tools available in your operating system if you want to get some of the optional components.

At this point, you already know the essentials in Python. As you create your own codes for hacking or import modules from libraries, you will be able to discover more functionalities and learn what they are for. 

Since you are learning how to code in order to hack, the best way for you to pick up your pace is to learn as you create tools that you can use for hacking. This means that it is time for you to do the exciting stuff!

Installing Third Party Libraries

Third party libraries are essentially libraries that do not come native with your installation of Python. All you need to do to get them is to download them from a targeted source, perform uncompressing on the package that you just downloaded, and then change into the target directory.

As you might have already guessed, third party libraries are extremely useful when it comes to developing your own tools out of the resources that are already created by someone else. Since Python is a highly collaborative programming language, you can use libraries that you may find from website sources such as GitHub or the Python website and incorporate them into your code. There

Once you are inside the directory, you can install the downloaded package using the command python setup.py install. Take a look at this example to see how it is done:

What just happened here is that you were able to install a package that will allow you to parse nmap results by downloading the python-nmap package.

Tip: If you want to establish your development environment faster, you may want to get a copy of the BackTrack Linux Penetration Distribuion, which essentially allows you to get access to tools that are used for forensics, network analysis, penetration testing, and wireless attacks.

That's it for today, in next post you will make your first hacking program, A Password Cracker.