A social engineering penetration test (SEPT) is an authorized simulated attack against an organization, designed to evaluate its security posture. The SEPT is conducted by ethical hackers, also known as white hat hackers, who use the same tools and techniques as malicious hackers, but with the permission of the organization being tested.
The purpose of a SEPT is to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by a malicious hacker, and to assess the organization's ability to detect and respond to such an attack. SEPTs can also help organizations to understand the effectiveness of their security awareness training and incident response procedures.
SEPTs are often conducted as part of a larger security assessment, which may also include other types of testing, such as network vulnerability assessments and application security testing.
What is social engineering in penetration testing?
Social engineering in penetration testing is the process of using deception to trick people into revealing information or performing an action that will help the attacker gain access to a system or network. This can be done in person, over the phone, or online.
One common social engineering attack is known as phishing. This is where the attacker sends an email that appears to be from a trusted source, such as a bank or online retailer. The email will often contain a link that takes the victim to a fake website that looks identical to the real website. The victim is then asked to enter their login credentials or credit card information.
Another type of social engineering attack is known as tailgating. This is where the attacker follows someone into a secure building or area without having to go through the proper authentication process. This can be done by simply pretending to be someone else, such as an employee or contractor.
Social engineering attacks can be difficult to defend against because they exploit the trust that people have in others. The best way to defend against these attacks is to raise awareness of the threat and train people to be suspicious of unsolicited requests for information or requests to perform an action. Is social engineering ethical in penetration testing? There is no definitive answer to this question as it depends on the specific circumstances of each individual case. Some people may argue that social engineering is ethical if it is used to test the security of an organization's systems and help them to improve their security posture. Others may argue that social engineering is always unethical, regardless of the purpose for which it is used. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to use social engineering in penetration testing must be made on a case-by-case basis.
Consequently, what are the 3 types of penetration testing?
1. Black Box Penetration Testing: In black box testing, the tester is given little to no information about the system under test. The tester must rely on their own skills and knowledge to discover as much as possible about the system. This type of testing is often used to simulate the actions of a real-world attacker.
2. Gray Box Penetration Testing: In gray box testing, the tester is given some information about the system under test. This information may include things like network diagrams, source code, or configuration files. The tester is then able to use this information to more effectively attack the system.
3. White Box Penetration Testing: In white box testing, the tester is given full access to the system under test. This includes all source code, configuration files, and any other information that may be useful in attacking the system. White box testing is often used to find security vulnerabilities that may be difficult to find using other methods.
Moreover, what are the 5 stages of penetration testing?
1. Reconnaissance: This is the stage where the attacker gathers information about the target system. This may include information about the network layout, system IP addresses, and open ports.
2. Scanning: This is the stage where the attacker scans the target system for vulnerabilities. This may include using port scanners and vulnerability scanners.
3. Gaining Access: This is the stage where the attacker attempts to gain access to the target system. This may include exploiting vulnerabilities or using brute force attacks.
4. Maintaining Access: This is the stage where the attacker attempts to maintain their access to the target system. This may include creating backdoors or installing rootkits.
5. Covering Tracks: This is the stage where the attacker attempts to cover their tracks. This may include deleting log files or encrypting communications.