Hack : How to Complete a Penetration Test ?
The first topic we will discuss is how to complete a penetration test. This is going
to be the process of testing out an application, network, or some type of cyber
system in order to detect some of the weaknesses that a hacker may be able to
exploit. This process is going to make it easy for you to get into the system without
having to use the passwords and usernames that the other users need. As an ethical
hacker, you would use this process to check out how easy it is to get into the
system and reach the confidential information that is there.
So how do we know the difference between an attack and a penetration test?
Usually, it’s the amount of permission that you have to be on the system. A hacker
who is going through one of these penetration tests is given permission to do this
hack by the owners of the system. When they are done, the hacker will hand over a
report about what they found. As the test, it is possible that you will be given
access to gain entry inside the system. And then when you get on, you will be able
to see whether or not it is possible to get more confidential information as the
ordinary user, even information that these users should not have.
While it is sometimes easier to go in as a current user and see what is available
for them to get. But in some cases, it is better to go through the blind. You would
go through like a black hat hacker, trying to get on the system without having any
authorization in the first place. You will be given the name of the company you are
working with and that is it. It does take a bit more time, but since this is the way
that most hackers will get into a system, it is a good place to get started.
The steps that you take as a penetration tester will be similar to the ones that a
malicious hacker will use. Most hackers are going to slowly go through the systemso that they don’t set off some alarms and get someone to notice them. You should
go through the system slowly as well because this helps you to see if the system is
really able to detect your attacks.
In the first step of penetration testing, you are going to work on getting as much
information as you can. This process is considered passive because you are not
launching an attack. You are simply looking around and trying to learn as much
about the company as you can. For example, you can figure out the server names,
the IP addresses, the web servers, the versions of software that are being used,
and even the operating system in place.
Once you have gotten all of this information, it is time for you to go through the
second step and verify the information. You can check this against the information
that you gathered with the known vulnerabilities. And then check the
vulnerabilities as well to make sure the information is right.
to be the process of testing out an application, network, or some type of cyber
system in order to detect some of the weaknesses that a hacker may be able to
exploit. This process is going to make it easy for you to get into the system without
having to use the passwords and usernames that the other users need. As an ethical
hacker, you would use this process to check out how easy it is to get into the
system and reach the confidential information that is there.
So how do we know the difference between an attack and a penetration test?
Usually, it’s the amount of permission that you have to be on the system. A hacker
who is going through one of these penetration tests is given permission to do this
hack by the owners of the system. When they are done, the hacker will hand over a
report about what they found. As the test, it is possible that you will be given
access to gain entry inside the system. And then when you get on, you will be able
to see whether or not it is possible to get more confidential information as the
ordinary user, even information that these users should not have.
While it is sometimes easier to go in as a current user and see what is available
for them to get. But in some cases, it is better to go through the blind. You would
go through like a black hat hacker, trying to get on the system without having any
authorization in the first place. You will be given the name of the company you are
working with and that is it. It does take a bit more time, but since this is the way
that most hackers will get into a system, it is a good place to get started.
The steps that you take as a penetration tester will be similar to the ones that a
malicious hacker will use. Most hackers are going to slowly go through the systemso that they don’t set off some alarms and get someone to notice them. You should
go through the system slowly as well because this helps you to see if the system is
really able to detect your attacks.
In the first step of penetration testing, you are going to work on getting as much
information as you can. This process is considered passive because you are not
launching an attack. You are simply looking around and trying to learn as much
about the company as you can. For example, you can figure out the server names,
the IP addresses, the web servers, the versions of software that are being used,
and even the operating system in place.
Once you have gotten all of this information, it is time for you to go through the
second step and verify the information. You can check this against the information
that you gathered with the known vulnerabilities. And then check the
vulnerabilities as well to make sure the information is right.
