Gifting people can be an extremely confusing task. But when it comes to giving someone who works in cyber security, then an additional dilemma is inevitable. Especially since the field of cybersecurity is not that popular among ordinary people. Well, to reduce this stress of yours, we’ve made a list of the best gifts for hackers and cyber security professionals to buy in 2022. Do read about the comprehensive description of what is mentioned in the article and choose the best gifts for your loved ones, working as Cyber Security Professionals.
Best Gifts for Hackers and Cyber Security Professionals
Within each category mentioned below, we bet you’ll find some great gifts! If not, don’t worry; we’ll be saying the specifics in everything category that your hacker friend will fall for. Choose among the plethora of options given below.
Laptop or Computer
Having a smoothly processing laptop or a computer with no lags is a significant necessity for hackers. It is easy to perform multiple tasks simultaneously with a laptop with smooth performance, which are essential in red teaming. Various attacks require thousands of payloads running in parallel and slow-down due to devices can cause significant loss in a hacker’s project.
Device Accessories
Many times, having a high-performance laptop is not enough if no accessories are supporting it. It can be a backlit keyboard or a high-bandwidth dongle. It is also necessary for hackers and cybersecurity professionals to have a comfortable chair to save them from painful backaches. What you can give your loved ones in device accessories is:
- Keyboard, mouse, earphones, and headphones.
- Chairs with armrests.
- Broadband connection subscription for a year.
Hardware devices such as Raspberry Pi
Raspberry Pi is in itself like a small computer. It can perform various functions required in ethical hacking and penetration testing. Apart from it, different hardware can be required for your hacker friends to implement and practice IoT security and network security.
The latest Raspberry hardware used in hacking is Raspberry Pi 400, but we suggest you ask them precisely what they want.
Other gifts that your hacker friends might need are:
- Smart devices
- WiFi Pineapple
- Pentest Gears by Hak5
Educational Courses
A hacker or a cybersecurity professional has to be constantly updated with technology. Without it, there’s no chance to survive in the field called Cyber Security. Various educational courses offer training along with an industry-recognized certification that keeps your friends and loved ones ahead in the competition. Maybe buying a course isn’t a bad idea after all! Here are all the industries offering educational training in cyber security:
- eLearn Security
- Simplilearn
- EC-Council
- The Cyber Mentor
- Cybrary
- CompTIA
- ISACA
- Sans
Practice Lab Subscriptions
Specific platforms such as Try Hack Me, Hack The Box, and Offensive Security provides practice labs for our cybersecurity friends to carry out simulations of a real-world attack. This not just improvises the necessary skill sets but also makes the learner think out of the box. Gifting them these practice lab subscriptions is more like giving them opportunities to grow. These are the labs that you can provide your friends:
- Hack The Box
- Try Hack Me
- PortSwigger Labs
- Pentester Lab
- Offensive Security
- Virtual Hacking Labs
Paid Software License
Many times, specific tools used for hacking are not that costly. These tools can help detect flaws and vulnerabilities in various assets. If you want, consider gifting your friends a lifetime license of such software. Not like it is incredibly affordable, but a group of friends can contribute to it and see the smile on your hacker friends! Here are the tools that you can gift them:
- BurpSuite Professional
- Nessus
- QRadar
- NetSparker
- Logarithm
- Splunk
- Appknox
Cyber Security Books and Magazines
Another gift of joy for your friends as cybersecurity professionals can get the books that teach hacking essentials in an old-school way. Also, magazines are the insight into the changing landscape of threats, attacks, ransomware, industries, and many more. This kind of gift will enlighten the taste buds of bookworms and hackers combinedly.
What are the books and magazines to gift:
- The Web Application Hacker’s HandBook
- Red Team Field Manual
- Ghost in the Wires
- Real-World Bug Hunting
- EC-Council Magazines such as ET-CISO, ET-CIO
Merchandise and Cool Gifts
Sometimes, support is all that one needs since cybersecurity is still perceived negatively among ordinary people. Showing a hand of support and telling your friends that you love them is more important than they might not ask but still require it somewhere. So here’s a list of customized merchandise that you can give your hacker friends:
- Custom Enamel Pin: In real life, hackers tend to look cool. They possess superb technique and enjoy expressing their individuality. A custom enamel pin is sure to surprise him. Pins can not only be worn as a decoration on outfits, but also they stand for the identity of a professional person sometimes.
- Customized Mugs
- Motivational Posters
- Cool T-shirts mentioning hacking quotes
- Security stickers that are provided in community conferences
Towards the conclusion
As we conclude on the topic of the best gifts for hackers and cyber security professionals in the year 2022, we bet your hacker friends will love it. These gifts are gems and will mean the most for them.
Some of the gifts can seem to be on the pricey end, but it’s sure to shower the intensity of your love on them. Hope you liked the list and have already planned some. Let us know what you think about these!
Author Bio:
This article has been written by Rishika Desai, B.Tech Computer Engineering graduate with 9.57 CGPA from Vishwakarma Institute of Information Technology (VIIT), Pune. Currently works as Threat Intelligence Researcher in CloudSEK. She is a good dancer, poet and a writer. Animal love engulfs her heart and content writing comprises her present. You can follow Rishika on Twitter at @ich_rish99.