Become a penetration tester
PENETRATION TESTING ETHICAL HACKINGCYBERSECURITY
A penetration tester, also known as an ethical hacker or cybersecurity analyst, must have a mix of technical skills, certifications, and hands-on experience. Here's a road map to get you started on your adventure:
Basic Knowledge of Networking
Familiarize yourself with networking fundamentals like TCP/IP, OSI model, routing, subnetting, network protocols, etc.
Understand basic security concepts (firewalls, encryption, authentication, etc.).
Operating Systems and Scripting
Learn how to use operating systems such as Linux and Windows.
To automate tasks, learn scripting languages such as Python, Bash, or PowerShell.
Web Application Security
Learn about web application architecture like front-end technologies HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc. Backend technologies like PHP, python, java, etc.
Understand common web vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, etc.
Get hands-on experience with web application penetration testing.
Wireless Security
Discover the security of wireless networks as well as common vulnerabilities.
Practice cracking WPA/WPA2 encryption and carrying out wireless attacks.
Network Penetration Testing
Understand network scanning, enumeration, and vulnerability assessment.
Learn how to exploit and gain unauthorized access to target systems.
Familiarize yourself with post-exploitation techniques.
Reverse Engineering and Exploit Development
Gain knowledge of reverse engineering techniques and tools.
Study exploit development to understand the techniques to find and create software vulnerabilities.
Privilege Escalation and Lateral Movement
Learn techniques to escalate privileges on compromised systems.
Explore lateral movement within a network for broader access.
Things to remember
Be familiar with cybersecurity frameworks and best practices like OWASP, NIST, etc.
Participate in CTF challenges to apply and reinforce your skills.
Stay updated with the latest security trends, techniques, and tools by reading blogs, attending conferences, and participating in online communities.
Penetration Testing Methodologies
Learn about common testing frameworks like PTES and OWASP.