The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing

What is Penetration Testing?

Information in This Chapter:

Introduction to Kali and Backtrack Linux: Tools. Lots of Tools

Working with Your Attack Machine: Starting the Engine

The Use and Creation of a Hacking Lab

Methodology: Phases of a Penetration Test

Introduction

Penetration testing can be defined as a legal and authorized attempt to locate and

successfully exploit computer systems for the purpose of making those systems

more secure. The process includes probing for vulnerabilities as well as

providing proof of concept attacks to demonstrate the vulnerabilities are real.

Proper penetration testing always ends with specific recommendations for

addressing and fixing the issues that were discovered during the test. On the

whole, this process is used to help secure computers and networks against future

attacks. The general idea is to find security issues by using the same tools and

techniques as an attacker. These findings can then be mitigated before a real

hacker exploits them.

Penetration testing is also known as

Pen testing

PT

Hacking

Ethical hacking

White hat hacking

Offensive security

Red teaming.

It is important to spend a few moments discussing the difference between

penetration testing and vulnerability asses