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Many people are using modernized devices today to perform several tasks. Using these devices, they can send picture or text messages to someone, call someone, browse information, download apps, and even perform tasks online. So, they are using this device to share information to someone. In this process, the information is even transferred to unknown parties.
The unknown parties are able to extract information using various techniques. They are able to track secret codes such as passcodes, passwords, etc. So, they are able to derive information from the users and also misuse such information. If your smartphone or any other device is exposed to a threat, then you should meet a technician. The technician uses different techniques to save information.
The technicians are using such languages to confuse the users. The users cannot understand the information or the content. Penetration testing is one of the best methods to save the information and prevent leakage of information.
What techniques are the technicians using to prevent misuse of information?
The hackers are easily able to derive secret codes of the users. So, merely using passwords or passcodes cannot help in preventing leakage of information. The hackers are able to open any application and also derive information from the texts. So, the technicians or engineers are using advanced methods to prevent leakage of information. The hacker may open the applications but cannot understand information or content from the application or software.
They are assigning names to the files or documents in a vague way. For eg. Instead of writing debit card numbers, they are using words such as symbols or icons. They are using methods to convert into a complicated code or a script to confuse the reader. The reader cannot derive any information from the script as it only contains syntaxes, symbols, characters, etc.
Penetration is a method of evaluating the security on the system. The penetration testers are like the hackers who perform ethical hacking. They use different methods, techniques and tools to access the hidden information and evaluate the security. They study the weakness of the security system. It is also known as pan test to evaluate the security of the IT infrastructure. The vulnerabilities are existing in the security system, or caused due to improper configuration, or error in the applications. They use different networks, applications, and other devices to test the weakness of the security system. The testers may use automated or manual technologies to find out the weakness in the security system.
This testing is divided into five distinct stages.
The first stage of penetration is known as reconnaissance. It is a stage of collecting information of the users such as domain name, network and the mail system. The testers plan goals that should be achieved. They decide the type of testing methods to be used.
The next stage of penetration testing is the process of scan. In this stage, the testers study the response of the application. They study how the hackers can find information or the methods they can use to derive information.
Applications in the dynamic stage
They study the behavior of the application code in motion. This method is practical and also provides the best results of the appliances.
Analysis in a static form
They determine the code of the application when it is operated. It consists of tools that scan the code just once.
How are hackers able to access the code or information?
In this stage, they study the ways the hackers are able to derive and use information. The hackers or the attackers can use different methods to scan such as SQL injection, scripting of cross-site, or using methods such as backdoor to unlock information. So, the testers apply these methods to know the weakness of the system and how much information the hackers are able to derive. They also derive the amount of data the hackers are able to steal. They also study factors such as traffic intercepting.
How do hackers maintain access?
In this stage, they test if the hackers are able to steal or derive data from the sources continuously. They study the overall weakness of the security system. They study if the threats are persistent. The users are sometimes able to steal the most sensitive data of the system.
Analyzing
They prepare a detailed report of the security system.
They derive the data that is sensitive and can be easily extracted
They also prepare a report of the total vulnerabilities detected during the time.
The testers also test the time the testers required to detect the problem.
Importance of pen testing methods
It tests the ability of the organization to retain data, protect the network, prevent unauthorized downloading of the applications, etc. The users can use different methods to hack information. So, the testers use the best methods to know the ways the hackers can use and the information they can derive.
So, they can use the best tools to manage data of the organization. They can suggest programs to protect the documents, files or applications to prevent data leakage. They use various proactive security measures to maintain the security of the system. They also measure the security strength and access if the operations or the applications of the systems are working.
So, the users should be able to use the information confidently without fearing for leakage of information. They also assess if the users are fulfilling the regulatory formalities of the system.
It is a test to assess different aspects of the system such as the network system, servers, social engineering, etc. used to detect the amount of threat caused and the weakness of the security system. They also provide information to the organization about the problems they would experience due to weakness in the security system.
Professionals with hacking skills and technical knowledge can become ethical hackers. This job usually requires a degree in electronic or engineering, computer science, cyber security etc. The ethical hacker should understand the methods of ethical hacking and detect abnormalities in the security system.
Also read: WHEA Uncorrectable Error: What It Is and How to Fix It
