Penetration testing, or ethical hacking, is a process in which a trained security professional attempts to break into an organization's computer system, network or application from an attacker's perspective, with the goal of identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities. The purpose of penetration tes…Penetration testing, or ethical hacking, is a process in which a trained security professional attempts to break into an organization's computer system, network or application from an attacker's perspective, with the goal of identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities. The purpose of penetration testing is to simulate a real-world attack scenario and evaluate the effectiveness of an organization's security measures. Penetration testing can be performed manually or through the use of automated tools, and often involves the use of social engineering techniques to gather information and gain access to the targeted system. Findings from the penetration test are documented in a report, which provides recommendations for remediation and improvements to the organization's security posture.
Complete Guide to Penetration Testing
What is Penetration Testing? Penetration testing (often called pen testing) is a type of security testing used to uncover vulnerabilities, threats, risks in a software application, network or web application, and offensive (rather than defensive) in nature.
Why is it Important? Penetration testing is crucial because it helps to identify and fix vulnerabilities that could otherwise be exploited by hackers. This enables businesses to protect sensitive data and maintain users' trust.
How it Works? Penetration testing works by simulating real-world attack scenarios to understand how system and data breaches could occur. It starts from outlining the scope and goals, followed by a discovery phase where information is gathered about the system. Then the data is analyzed, attacks are carried out, the results are reported, and finally, the vulnerabilities are fixed.
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Penetration Testing
Understand not just what pen testing is but also why it’s done and what its advantages are.
Review common pen testing tools and techniques.
Remember that preventative measures are also equally important – pen testing isn’t just about finding and exploiting vulnerabilities, but also about preventing them.
Know that pen testing isn’t a one-time operation but should be an ongoing part of your security strategy.
It's important to ensure one understands key terminologies, practical applications, and the core concept of penetration testing when expecting related questions in the exam.
When conducting a penetration test, the tester notices an open port on an external firewall. Which of the following steps would be the best choice to confirm if this is a false positive?
Question 2
An organization has received a report from a penetration tester stating that their web application is vulnerable to XSS attacks. What would be the best approach to remediate this vulnerability?
Question 3
During a penetration test, the tester finds that the internal network uses an outdated network protocol, which allows for authentication traffic to be transmitted in cleartext. Which of the following would be the best way to exploit this vulnerability?
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