Own the Shell: A Pentester’s Guide to Exploiting SSH SSH (Secure Shell) is a staple for remote administration in Linux and *nix systems—but for pentesters, it’s a door that can be kicked in, picked open, or snuck through with the right tools and intel. In this post, we’ll go through how to identify, enumerate, and […]
Cracking RDP: Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) is a go-to service for system administrators—and a juicy target for attackers. RDP provides GUI access to a remote Windows system, but misconfigurations, weak credentials, and unpatched systems make it a serious security risk. This guide walks through discovering, enumerating, exploiting, and abusing RDP like a pro. 1. What
Breaking into FTP: A Pentester’s Guide to Enumeration and Exploitation FTP (File Transfer Protocol) is one of those legacy services that still shows up in networks more often than you’d think. And when it does, it often comes with bad configurations and juicy missteps. This post walks you through exploiting FTP from discovery to post-exploitation,
Cracking SMB: A Pentester’s Guide to Enumeration and Exploitation Server Message Block (SMB) is one of those protocols that keeps popping up in real-world environments—and in CTFs. As pentesters, understanding how to fingerprint, enumerate, and ultimately exploit SMB can often make or break a successful engagement. This post will walk you through what SMB is,
What Is Nmap? Nmap (Network Mapper) is a powerful open-source tool used for network discovery and security auditing. Whether you’re scanning a single host or an entire subnet, Nmap helps you: Created by Gordon Lyon (aka Fyodor), it has become an industry standard for reconnaissance and enumeration. How Nmap Works Nmap sends raw packets to
PowerShell for Pentesters: What You Need to Know PowerShell is one of the most powerful tools in a pentester’s Windows toolbox. If you’re targeting a Windows environment — and let’s be real, you will be — you need to understand PowerShell not just as a scripting language, but as a full-blown post-exploitation Swiss Army knife.
Programming and Scripting as a Pentester If you’re getting into penetration testing, you’ve probably already heard that you need to learn programming or scripting. But why exactly? What are you supposed to do with Bash, Python, PowerShell, or JavaScript? Let’s break it down simply—no tech jargon, no fluff. Just real talk about why these skills
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Windows Administration for Pentesters Outline Why Pentesters Must Learn Windows Most enterprise environments run on Windows. That means the majority of real-world engagements will involve Windows machines — workstations, servers, and domain controllers. As a pentester, understanding Windows isn’t optional; it’s essential. You’ll encounter Active Directory, Windows-based user management, PowerShell scripts, Group Policy, and a
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Essential Linux Administration Commands Outline 1.Introduction This post is a curated list of practical Linux commands and techniques that every aspiring penetration tester should know. It covers everything from file enumeration and privilege escalation to persistence and log analysis — the kind of stuff you’ll actually use in real-world scenarios and CTFs. However, I’ll leave
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What Is Windows? Windows is a proprietary operating system developed by Microsoft, first launched in 1985. It has since evolved into a dominant platform powering: Unlike Linux — which is open-source, community-driven, and Unix-based — Windows is closed-source and heavily reliant on its own subsystems, drivers, and services. Why Windows Matters to Pentesters Most enterprise
