Red Team Manual: Linux Systems is a comprehensive guide to conducting offensive security operations against Linux environments. Written by cybersecurity veteran Johnny Watts (known professionally as Kaotick Jay), this manual establishes a standardized and methodical framework for red teamers, penetration testers, and security professionals seeking to sharpen their craft.

This book covers the full lifecycle of red team engagements, from reconnaissance and vulnerability discovery to privilege escalation, persistence, defense evasion, and post-exploitation. Each chapter provides detailed methodologies, tool usage, and real-world scenarios—complete with commands, walkthroughs, pitfalls, and operational notes—to ensure practical applicability in the field.

More than just a technical playbook, this manual emphasizes ethical discipline and rules of engagement, ensuring that all operations are carried out lawfully and professionally. It balances tactical depth with strategic context, empowering red teamers to think like adversaries while maintaining integrity.

Key topics include:

• Reconnaissance, OSINT, and network enumeration

• Vulnerability validation and exploitation

• Privilege escalation and credential access

• Lateral movement and persistence techniques

• Defense evasion and log tampering

• Post-exploitation strategies and data exfiltration

• Operational security (OpSec) for red teamers

• Legal, ethical, and strategic considerations

Designed for both new inductees and seasoned operators, this manual also serves as a valuable reference for blue team defenders, system administrators, and developers seeking to understand adversarial tactics and harden Linux systems against attack.

Whether used as a structured training asset, a tactical field reference, or a foundation for lab-based practice, Red Team Manual: Linux Systems delivers the clarity, rigor, and depth needed to operate effectively against real-world threats.