Here's how you can boost your career opportunities by mastering penetration testing tools and techniques.

As a beginner, we need to read books and articles. Then we need to practice lab also we need to test real targets same time manually. A beginner security researcher needs to test at least 2 years manually. Within these 2 years, he will gather knowledge about automation testing.

Excellent advice on mastering the basics first. It's essential to have a firm grasp of methodologies like OSSTMM and understand the differences between black-box, white-box, and gray-box testing. Additionally, prioritizing the legal and ethical aspects is crucial to avoid any unintended consequences. Perhaps we could organize foundational training sessions to ensure everyone is well-versed in these core concepts before moving on to more advanced techniques.

Organizations are looking for trained people who can discover and address vulnerabilities in their systems as cyberattacks become more frequent and sophisticated. Mastering penetration testing establishes you as a valued asset in the job market.

Mastering penetration testing tools and techniques can significantly boost your career opportunities in the field of information security. Here are some ways in which this expertise can benefit your career: 1. Enhanced Employability. 2. Specialized Roles. 3. Competitive Edge. 4. Continuous Learning. 5. Consulting and Freelancing Opportunities. 6. Industry Recognition. 7. Professional Certifications. Remember, mastering penetration testing tools and techniques is a continuous journey. It requires dedication, hands-on practice, and a commitment to staying updated with the evolving threat landscape.Etc….

As a professional in pentesting, I believe that mastering the basics is crucial for developing strong, real skills. Traditionally, the word "hacker" referred to someone with the expertise to deeply understand technology, enabling them to identify its flaws and weaknesses. Although this meaning has become less known, being able to look beyond tools and technologies to grasp their core functions remains one of the most important skills an ethical hacker can have.

En base a mi experiencia en ciberseguridad, he observado dos enfoques en las pruebas de penetración: basado en herramientas y habilidades. A veces cometemos el error de confiar ciegamente en las herramientas, que pueden dar falsos positivos o dañar la infraestructura del cliente si no se usan correctamente. Por eso, las habilidades adquiridas con la experiencia son la mejor herramienta 🛠️. Comprender sistemas operativos, protocolos de red y web, así como sus vectores de ataque, es crucial. Para adquirir experiencia, es importante practicar en plataformas como HackTheBox y TryHackMe o entornos locales, además de tomar cursos o certificaciones para afianzar conocimientos 🎓.

Existe un abanico de herramientas muy grande, algunas son las tipicas ya conocidas (nmap, nessus, nikto, john, etc), pero es algo que esta en continuo desarrollo y aparicion de nuevas herramientas practicamente a diario. Aqui hay que diferenciar entre bajo el paraguas de un test de intrusion las que sirven para obtener informacion, enumerar, identificar vulnerabilidades o explotarlas, pero tambien saber que hay que entender perfectamente como funcionan y el impacto que pueden generar sobre un objetivo o un grupo de objetivos, generando a veces ruido innecesario o incluso, la posibilidad de provocar interrupciones en el servicio, por tanto, hay que comprender para que sirven y en que circunstancias o entornos utilizarlas.

Great reminder about the importance of mastering penetration testing tools. While tools like Nmap and Nessus are powerful, their true value comes from our ability to interpret their outputs and customize their use for specific environments. Regular practice and experimentation will be key to deepening our proficiency. Perhaps we could set up dedicated lab sessions where we focus on different tools and share insights on their effective use.

Tools just tend to make life for pentesters so much easier. A lot of Pentesting activities require manual labor. Figuring out ways to automate manual tasks using tools is like a lubricant to a well oiled motor! It makes things more effective!

Learning the operating systems is just as important as learning the necessary tools. Penetration testing on a Linux distribution can differ from the approach used on a Windows machine, so don't limit your scope to just one.

Muchos colegas me preguntan cómo empezar en ciberseguridad ofensiva o prepararse para una certificación. Según mi experiencia, es clave enfocarse en un área específica, como pentesting web 🌐, redes 🖧, móvil 📱, red teaming 🔴 o desarrollo de malware 🐛. Esto facilita una comprensión profunda y efectiva sobre el tema en específico. Recomiendo usar HackTheBox Academy y TryHackMe, alineando contenidos con una certificación. Por ejemplo, para eJPT, tomar la ruta de aprendizaje "Jr Penetration Tester" de TryHackMe o el módulo "Attacking Common Services" de HackTheBox Academy es una buena idea. Este enfoque estructurado me ayudó a enfrentar exámenes con confianza ✅. Espero les sirva. Si quieren más contenido de este estilo, dejen un like 👍.

I’m a huge proponent of CTF Challenges! They are an amazing way to understand how real world systems and networks function! They help one upskill in a more competitive and self-learning way! I would also suggest creating CTF challenges as that helps think even more outside the box!

Poder practicar lo aprendido es fundamental para entender y absorber el conocimiento. Los laboratorios de pruebas existentes, entornos de pruebas creados especificamente para este fin o el poder participar en retos (CTF), ayuda, motiva y finalmente consolida todas la teoria. Lo principal en este sentido es la constancia, la proactividad, y el interes en superarse.

Creating a home lab with virtual machines is a great idea to gain real-world experience in penetration testing. Participating in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions or using ethical hacking platforms will provide hands-on practice with diverse operating systems and network setups. This practical experience not only sharpens our skills in exploiting vulnerabilities but also deepens our understanding of effective security mitigation strategies. Let's explore setting up a dedicated space for ongoing practice and learning within our team.

Set up a home lab to practice penetration testing techniques in a controlled environment. Engage with platforms like Hack The Box and TryHackMe to hone your skills.

La ciberseguridad evoluciona de forma paralela a la tecnologia, en un mundo donde constantemente aparecen nuevas tecnologias es fundamental intentar mantenerse actualizado. A veces es complicado tener conocimiento de todo y debemos escoger especializarnos, pero una vision general tambien aporta a la hora de comprender como mitigar un riesgo o cual es el origen de una amenaza.

Absolutely, staying current is essential in cybersecurity. Following industry blogs, participating in forums, and attending webinars and conferences are excellent ways to stay updated on the latest vulnerabilities and techniques. Demonstrating a commitment to continuous learning not only enhances our skills but also boosts our credibility within the field. We should prioritize regular knowledge-sharing sessions to discuss and implement the latest insights and best practices.

Follow industry blogs, attend webinars, and participate in cybersecurity forums and conferences. Networking with other professionals keeps you informed about the latest trends and best practices.

A área de segurança da informação está em constante evolução, com novas vulnerabilidades (CVEs), exploits e técnicas surgindo regularmente. Manter-se atualizado é essencial para continuar sendo um profissional competente e relevante. Participe ativamente de fóruns, assine newsletters e siga blogs especializados. Envolva-se em cursos, webinars e conferências para aprofundar suas habilidades. Além disso, faça networking para trocar experiências e aprender com outros profissionais. Estar sempre em busca de novos conhecimentos e acompanhar as últimas tendências garantirá que você se destaque na área e se mantenha preparado para os desafios que surgirem.

This is what I like most about this field. It updates everyday. Sometimes it feels like new people will bring more competition, but at the end that's the real fun of cyber security. Learning pen testing lr networking is required, but I think the most required skill in cyber security field, is to be a fast and good learner. These skills can't be earned overnight. It takes time. But once you learn this, not only in cyber security, but in any fields in life, these skills will help you to overcome the competition.

Muchas veces nos centramos en las habilidades y conocimientos tecnicos necesarios para desarrollar una carrera en pentesting o en ciberseguridad en general, pero para ser un excelente profesional además son necesarias otras habilidades que el dia de mañana van a ser muy importantes si queremos realmente progresar y porque no dirigir equipos de trabajo o incluso departamentos y areas dedicadas a ciberseguridad. Estas habilidades tienen que ver tambien con el seniority del individuo y son las relacionadas con manejo de la incertidumbre, capacidad de sintesis, resolucion, habilidad para trabajar en equipo, pensamiento creativo o habilidades para el trato con personas.

Absolutely, honing soft skills is crucial for a successful career in penetration testing. Developing proficiency in report writing and presentation can significantly enhance our ability to communicate complex technical findings effectively to non-technical stakeholders. Perhaps we could schedule practice sessions focused on simplifying security concepts and refining our presentation skills. These skills not only showcase our technical expertise but also ensure our insights are actionable and understood across all levels of an organization.

I always say, “If you can’t communicate it, then it’s misplaced knowledge!”. Soft skills are so huge, especially in the security landscape where it’s so easy for management and engineers to coexist with no idea of who needs what. Soft skills help accelerate the implementation of security knowledge!

En el mundo de la ciberseguridad, muchos puestos de trabajo requieren certificaciones específicas, por lo que considerar tomar una certificación es una buena idea. Desde mi experiencia en seguridad ofensiva, existen diversas certificaciones que dependen del área de especialización que uno elija. Es importante enfocarse en una 🛤️ ruta de aprendizaje. Por ejemplo, si el objetivo es obtener la certificación OSCP, una buena estrategia sería seguir esta ruta: TryHackMe>HTB Academy>eJPT>eCPPT>OSCP. Aunque no es obligatoria, considero que esta ruta es adecuada dada la complejidad del examen y los conocimientos requeridos para aprobarlo. Dependiendo del presupuesto, se podría optar por una alternativa como: TryHackMe>eJPT>HTB Academy>OSCP✅.

Professional certifications are a valuable investment in your career as a penetration tester. Consider pursuing credentials like Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) or Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) to validate your expertise and dedication. These certifications provide a structured learning path and are highly regarded in the industry, often opening doors to advanced roles. Pairing certification achievements with real-world experience creates a robust foundation that can significantly enhance your credibility and increase your career opportunities.

Enroll in cybersecurity courses and obtain certifications such as CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), or CISSP (Certified Information Systems Security Professional).

Patience and quick learning ability are most important skills for a good cyber security career. Sometimes newbies do poor recon and just start panicking when they don't find any vulnerability in system after completing all checks from their checklist. recon is 90% part of a successful attack. Htb and tryhackme boxes fails to justify importance of recon. But in real world scenarios, this is most important skill. And for that, you have to be patience. Observed every single open source code related to target, try to get a map, try to list all subdomains, not just by using tools, do it manually to, understand their business model.

In cybersecurity, it is critical to understand how things happen from the perspective of the attacker. This allows professionals to stay one step ahead by predicting how an attacker might gain unauthorized access to a system or network. Penetration testing requires a deep understanding of attacker methodologies and out-of-the-box thinking that provides the kind of proactive-ness that is so valuable in the cybersecurity industry. By mastering these tools and techniques, you can become a much more effective and desirable candidate since you have a well-rounded understand of how to combat threats.