What is Penetration Testing? A Penetration Test, also colloquially called a black hat test or white hat test, is a supervised, authorized simulated cyber attack on a specific computer network, performed in order to assess the level of security of that system. Unlike a vulnerability scan. In a vulnerability scan, you are looking for the truth (that is, if the software did indeed access the target computer). However, a Penetration Test seeks to reveal whether or not the intended attack happened.
When performing penetration testing, computer security teams must work with an experienced and knowledgeable consultant. Computer security companies perform Penetration Tests on their client’s systems at various times to find and document security vulnerabilities before a system is compromised. Once compromised, penetration tests allow security teams to determine whether or not the targeted system can be rendered secure. For businesses that perform penetration testing on their clients’ systems, the primary goal is to discover security vulnerabilities that may have the potential to compromise the confidentiality, availability, and functionality of a system. If an unclassified vulnerability is disclosed to the public, this information can provide data for criminal activity.
Pen Testing refers to a process by which testers uncover security weaknesses before the general public. The primary goal of a penetration test is to detect vulnerabilities on your system before hackers can use them for unethical behavior. These tests typically rely on clever coding and cleverly crafted attacks. They can take months to complete and are often performed by a small number of testers.
While it may sound mysterious or complicated, Penetration Testing is actually quite simple. Computer security companies create a series of attacks, or “penalties” that are used against the target system. These violations are performed without the knowledge of the developers who programmed the system or any other testers. Once these “penalties” have been identified, they are then manually tested for their effectiveness against the target system. Each of these “penalties” is assigned a score, which is used to calculate the number of security vulnerabilities that the system has.
What Is Penetration Testing??
As stated above, penetration tests are typically conducted by a small number of testers. Many companies only hire a handful of testers to gain access to sensitive system files. Some companies may even hire a small team of testers only to allow outside testing firm to perform “black box” penetration tests. A black-box penetration test involves the development of an attack that allows a hacker to gain access to the internal workings of a computer program while bypassing typically found protections.
While there are a number of scanning tools available for penetration testing, most penetration testers use automated scanning tools. These tools are typically used as part of a coordinated or joint attack against a system. Common scanning tools used include: fuzzers, penetration testers, and IDS/IDS scanners. Fuzzers are designed to generate false-positive results so as to simulate a successful hacking attempt. The purpose of this type of tool is to draw false attention from an infected computer to make it seem like the infection has been caught in time.
Another popular technique is the blind test. A blind test is conducted without knowledge of the infection or any potential attack method. A tester works without any knowledge of attack techniques or removal tools. In this case, security personnel can view infected files, execute code, and collect data without any knowledge of the actual infection. While this technique is rarely successful, it has proven effective for some companies.
Manual pen testing also exists. In manual pen testing, a qualified security officer verifies the existence and nature of threats presented by a network or a specific software application. Security officers often conduct manual tests during an on-site scan or when manually diagnosing a system’s vulnerabilities. However, automated tools have proven to be much more effective in terms of detection and removal.
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Raymond Dunn is the founder and driving force behind Hackateer.com, a premier source for cybersecurity news and tutorials since 2009. With a mission to empower both novices and experts in the ever-evolving world of cybersecurity, Raymond has built Hackateer into a trusted platform renowned for its comprehensive industry insights, hands-on tutorials, and expert analysis.
