How to Explain Penetration Testing to a Five-Year-Old
What's Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing, also known as "pen testing," is the process of simulating a cyber attack on a computer system, network, or web application in order to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker. The goal of penetration testing is to identify and validate security weaknesses, so that they can be fixed before they are discovered and exploited by a real attacker.
Penetration Testing Types
There are several types of penetration testing, each with its own focus and methodology. Some of the most common types of pen testing include:
- Black box testing: This type of testing simulates an attack from an external perspective, simulating a real-world scenario where the attacker has no prior knowledge of the system being tested. This type of testing is often used to evaluate the security of a web application or public-facing network.
- White box testing: This type of testing simulates an attack from an internal perspective, simulating a real-world scenario where the attacker has access to the system or network being tested. This type of testing is often used to evaluate the security of an internal network or system.
- Gray box testing: This type of testing simulates an attack from a partially informed perspective, simulating a real-world scenario where the attacker has some knowledge of the system or network being tested.
- External testing: This type of testing is performed from outside the organization's network, simulating an attack from the internet.
- Internal testing: This type of testing is performed from inside the organization's network, simulating an attack from an internal user.
- Web application testing: This type of testing specifically focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in web applications, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting.
- Network testing: This type of testing specifically focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in networks, such as open ports and mis-configured firewall rules.
- Social engineering testing: This type of testing specifically focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in people, such as phishing or pre-texting attacks.
How Is't Done?
Penetration testing is typically performed by a team of security experts, who use a combination of manual testing and automated tools to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. The process typically begins with reconnaissance, in which the testers gather information about the system or network being tested. Next, the testers will use this information to identify potential vulnerabilities, and then attempt to exploit those vulnerabilities.
Once the testing is complete, the testers will document any vulnerabilities that were discovered, along with a description of how the vulnerability could be exploited. They will also provide recommendations for how to fix the vulnerabilities, along with a timeline for when the vulnerabilities should be fixed.
It's important to note that penetration testing is not a one-time process, and it should be conducted regularly to ensure that new vulnerabilities are identified and addressed in a timely manner. It's also important to perform penetration testing before any significant changes are made to the system or network being tested, such as upgrading software or adding new hardware.
In conclusion, Penetration testing is a crucial process to ensure that an organization's system or network is protected from cyber-attacks. It simulates a cyber attack on a computer system, network, or web application in order to identify vulnerabilities that could be exploited by an attacker. There are several types of penetration testing, each with its own focus and methodology. These include black box, white box, gray box, external, internal, web application, network and social engineering testing. A team of security experts typically perform the testing using a combination of manual testing and automated tools. It's important to note that penetration testing is not a one-time process and should be conducted regularly, and before any significant changes are made to the system or network.