a penetration tester is a hacker you hire to attack your own systems — so you can fix them before real attackers do. this authorized process is what we call penetration testing. It's not about causing damage,it's about finding where the damage could happen, and fixing it.
Why is penetration testing important?
Penetration testing helps an organization discover vulnerabilities and flaws in their systems that they might not have otherwise been able to find. This can help stop attacks before they start, as organizations can fix these vulnerabilities once they have been identified.
Where does pen testing fit in?
It's the hands-on core of ethical hacking(the good-guy side of hacking), and is used in red team exercises, where companies simulate real attacks to see how well their security holds up.
Testers usually specialize based on what they're trying to break into. The most common types are:
. Web App Testing: Checking if websites and online tools can be hacked . Network Testing: Testing the security of a company's internal networks and servers. . Cloud Testing: Checking the security of cloud platforms like AWS or Azure. . Mobile App Testing: Looking for vulnerabilities in iOS and Android apps. . Social Engineering: Checking if staff would click on suspicious links or share sensitive data.
What are the types of pen tests?
- Open-box test: The tester gets some internal info about the company's security before starting.
- Closed-box pen test (single-blind): this is one where the tester starts with almost no info — just like a real outsider would.
- Covert pen test (Double-Blind): This is a secret exercise. Even the company's own security team doesn't know the test is happening. The goal is to see how they react to a real, unexpected "attack." , everything is pre-approved in writing to avoid legal issues.
- External pen test: the hacker goes up against the company's external-facing technology, like their website and external network servers. In some cases, the hacker may not even be allowed to enter the company's building. This can mean conducting the attack from a remote location or carrying out the test from a truck or van parked nearby.
- Internal pen test : the ethical hacker performs the test from the company's internal network. This kind of test is useful in determining how much damage a disgruntled employee can cause from behind the company's firewall.
The Pen Test Process: Step by Step
Gathering Information: The tester starts by collecting all available public data about the target like websites, employee profiles, or tech details — to understand how the company's systems are built.
Attempting Access: Using that knowledge, they try to break in. They might use: Software tools that try thousands of password combinations (brute-force) or exploit database weaknesses (SQL injections). Small, hidden hardware (like a USB device) that can be plugged into a company computer to create a secret backdoor. Social engineering such as sending fake emails (phishing) to employees .
Clearing Tracks: Once the test is complete, the tester carefully removes any tools, files, or devices they used, leaving the system exactly as they found it.
After the Test: What Comes Next?
After completing a pen test, the ethical hacker will share their findings with the target company's security team. This information can then be used to implement security upgrades to plug up any vulnerabilities discovered during the test.