Offensive Security

Key Ideas/Facts:

• Offensive security complements defensive security:

• Penetration testing simulates real-world attacks to uncover vulnerabilities:

• Different penetration test methodologies offer varying levels of attacker knowledge:
• Social engineering tests assess human vulnerability to manipulation.
• APTs are long-term, stealthy attacks often motivated by espionage or sabotage:

• Detecting APTs requires vigilance and attention to unusual network activity: Monitoring user accounts, database activity, and data files for anomalies is crucial in identifying potential APT activity.

Tools & Technologies:

The source mentions numerous tools commonly used in offensive security and penetration testing, categorized as follows:

• Network Scanning & Vulnerability Assessment: Nmap, Nessus
• Exploitation Frameworks: Metasploit, Cobalt Strike
• Password Cracking: John the Ripper, Hashcat
• Web Application Testing: OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite
• Social Engineering: SET, Gophish
• Operating System: Kali Linux with various specialized tools like Aircrack-ng, SQLmap, and Mimikatz.