Penetration testing checklist
When performing a penetration test on a system or network, a set of approved or recommended guidelines is used to ensure that the desired outcome is achieved. A penetrating testing methodology usually consists of the following phases:
- Reconnaissance
- Scanning and enumeration
- Vulnerability assessment
- Exploitation (gaining access)
- Post-exploitation (maintaining access and pivoting)
- Reporting
Following such a checklist ensures that the penetration tester completes all tasks for a phase before moving on to the next. In this book, you started with the information-gathering phase and gradually moved on from there. The early chapters covered the early phases of penetration testing and taught you how to obtain sensitive details about a target using various techniques and resources, while the later chapters covered using the information found to gain access to a target using various methods and tools, and establishing persistence...
