WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.200 All right, everyone, get ready, because today we're diving deep 2 00:00:04.240 --> 00:00:06.200 into the world of penetration testing. 3 00:00:06.320 --> 00:00:08.320 Oooh exciting, I know. 4 00:00:08.480 --> 00:00:12.640 Right, we're using Penetration Testing for Dummies by Robert Schimonsky 5 00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:13.279 to guide us. 6 00:00:13.759 --> 00:00:14.560 Great book. 7 00:00:14.759 --> 00:00:17.719 Yeah it is, and think of this as your crash 8 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:22.000 course in cybersecurity defense. Like, we're going to uncover how 9 00:00:22.039 --> 00:00:25.320 those attackers think, what tricks they have up their sleeves, absolutely, 10 00:00:25.480 --> 00:00:28.839 and most importantly, how you can actually like build up 11 00:00:28.839 --> 00:00:30.719 your defenses and keep your data safe. 12 00:00:30.839 --> 00:00:33.399 Yeah. It's not just about reacting to threats, right, it's 13 00:00:33.399 --> 00:00:37.920 about being proactive anticipating them, really getting into the mindset 14 00:00:37.960 --> 00:00:38.600 of the enemy. 15 00:00:38.719 --> 00:00:40.200 Well that sounds scary, it. 16 00:00:40.079 --> 00:00:41.880 Can be, but it's necessary, I guess. 17 00:00:41.880 --> 00:00:44.960 So, so where do we even begin with something like this? 18 00:00:45.079 --> 00:00:47.039 Well, I think a good place to start is with 19 00:00:47.119 --> 00:00:49.759 the people who are on the front lines of this 20 00:00:49.840 --> 00:00:51.359 whole cybersecurity battle. 21 00:00:51.479 --> 00:00:54.079 Okay, you mean, like the penetration testers exactly. 22 00:00:54.119 --> 00:00:57.159 The pen testers they're like the digital detectives of the 23 00:00:57.159 --> 00:00:58.240 cybersecurity world. 24 00:00:58.359 --> 00:00:59.399 Oooh, I like that. 25 00:00:59.560 --> 00:01:02.479 Yeah, they use the same techniques and tools as those 26 00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:06.959 malicious hackers, but they're the good guys exactly. Their goal 27 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:09.359 is to find the weaknesses before the bad guys do. 28 00:01:10.120 --> 00:01:12.319 So it's kind of like if you hired someone to 29 00:01:12.359 --> 00:01:16.040 break into your house to see how secure it really is. 30 00:01:16.239 --> 00:01:19.560 That's a great analogy, like a security consultant, but way 31 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:20.760 more intense for sure. 32 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:22.879 But that's the point, right, You want to find those 33 00:01:22.959 --> 00:01:25.680 vulnerabilities before someone with bad intentions does. 34 00:01:26.000 --> 00:01:29.000 Makes sense. So the book mentions there are different types 35 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:30.439 of these pen testers, all right. 36 00:01:30.439 --> 00:01:32.640 Yeah, it's not a one size fits all kind of thing. 37 00:01:32.799 --> 00:01:36.239 Okay, So like what are the different flavors of pen testers. 38 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:39.480 Well, you've got some organizations that have dedicated in how 39 00:01:39.560 --> 00:01:42.959 security teams, right, they have people who are experts in 40 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.879 penetration testing. Then you've got others who might bring in 41 00:01:45.959 --> 00:01:47.439 outside consultants so. 42 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:49.560 Like a fresh perspective. 43 00:01:49.079 --> 00:01:51.920 Exactly, or maybe they need a specific skill set that 44 00:01:51.959 --> 00:01:55.120 they don't have in house. And then there's also the 45 00:01:55.200 --> 00:01:57.400 rise of these crowdsourced platforms. 46 00:01:57.439 --> 00:01:59.840 Resourced like getting a bunch of people together to test 47 00:01:59.879 --> 00:02:00.519 your security. 48 00:02:00.680 --> 00:02:04.000 Yeah, it's like tapping into this network of ethical hackers, 49 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.959 all with different backgrounds and expertise, and they put your 50 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:09.960 systems to the test. Huh. 51 00:02:10.080 --> 00:02:11.919 Interesting, So it's like a team effort. 52 00:02:11.840 --> 00:02:14.960 In a way. Yeah, and each approach, whether it's in 53 00:02:15.039 --> 00:02:19.800 house consultants or crowdsourcing, has its own strengths and weaknesses. 54 00:02:20.000 --> 00:02:22.599 So it depends on what the organization needs, right. 55 00:02:22.520 --> 00:02:26.919 Exactly, their size, their budget, their specific security concerns. All 56 00:02:26.960 --> 00:02:29.159 of that factors in makes sense. 57 00:02:29.520 --> 00:02:31.400 I guess it's kind of like the hackers themselves, right, 58 00:02:31.400 --> 00:02:32.280 They're not all the same. 59 00:02:32.439 --> 00:02:35.400 Oh, absolutely not. There's a whole spectrum of hackers out there, 60 00:02:35.479 --> 00:02:38.000 each with their own motivations and skill levels. 61 00:02:38.039 --> 00:02:40.680 Okay, so, like, who are we dealing with here? Give 62 00:02:40.719 --> 00:02:41.360 me the rundown. 63 00:02:41.439 --> 00:02:44.000 Well, on one end, you've got your script kitties. 64 00:02:44.159 --> 00:02:46.680 Script kitties, what are those like little kids writing code? 65 00:02:46.800 --> 00:02:49.840 Hah huh, Not exactly. They're more like amateurs using pre 66 00:02:49.919 --> 00:02:52.039 built tools and scripts that they find online. 67 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:53.560 Oh so they don't really know what they're. 68 00:02:53.360 --> 00:02:57.159 Doing, not necessarily. They might cause some disruption, but they're 69 00:02:57.159 --> 00:03:00.120 not usually capable of sophisticated attacks. 70 00:03:00.199 --> 00:03:02.960 So like more annoying than dangerous. 71 00:03:03.319 --> 00:03:05.879 Yeah, I think that's a fair assessment. But then on 72 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:08.719 the other end of the spectrum, you have the elite hackers. 73 00:03:09.000 --> 00:03:10.599 Okay, those sound a lot more intimidating. 74 00:03:10.680 --> 00:03:13.039 They are. These are the masterminds, the ones who can 75 00:03:13.039 --> 00:03:15.719 develop their own custom exploits, so. 76 00:03:15.719 --> 00:03:18.360 Like they're writing their own hacking tools exactly. 77 00:03:18.759 --> 00:03:22.759 They're incredibly skilled and often very patient and persistent. They 78 00:03:22.840 --> 00:03:26.520 might spend weeks, months, even years crafting their attacks. 79 00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:29.919 Wow, that's dedication. I guess you've got to admire their commitment, 80 00:03:30.120 --> 00:03:33.599 even if their goals are less than noble. 81 00:03:33.759 --> 00:03:36.000 Right, a little scary but also fascinating. 82 00:03:36.159 --> 00:03:39.520 Yeah, for sure. Speaking of less than noble, the book 83 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:42.800 mentions this whole white hat, black hat, gray hat thing. 84 00:03:42.919 --> 00:03:44.000 Can you break that down for me? 85 00:03:44.120 --> 00:03:47.199 Sure? Think of it like a spectrum of intent. So 86 00:03:47.240 --> 00:03:49.759 you've got your white hat hackers. They're the ethical ones, 87 00:03:49.800 --> 00:03:51.439 the good guys like our pen testers. 88 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:54.080 Okay, so using their powers for good exactly. 89 00:03:54.080 --> 00:03:56.479 They're working to protect systems and data. Then you have 90 00:03:56.560 --> 00:03:59.479 your black hat hackers. Those are the criminals, the ones 91 00:03:59.520 --> 00:04:03.919 motivated by profit, revenge, or just you know, plain malice. 92 00:04:03.719 --> 00:04:04.879 The villains of the story. 93 00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:09.159 Right, they're actively seeking to exploit vulnerabilities for their own 94 00:04:09.199 --> 00:04:10.000 personal gain. 95 00:04:10.319 --> 00:04:13.080 And what about the gray hats? Where do they fit in? 96 00:04:13.120 --> 00:04:16.120 They're a bit more ambiguous. Sometimes they operate in a 97 00:04:16.199 --> 00:04:18.040 legal and ethical gray area. 98 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:19.480 Sounds kind of shady. 99 00:04:19.839 --> 00:04:23.720 Well, they might uncover vulnerabilities without permission for example. 100 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:27.439 Oh so like breaking the rules, but for a good cause. 101 00:04:27.600 --> 00:04:32.519 Sometimes they might publicly disclose those vulnerabilities to force companies 102 00:04:32.560 --> 00:04:33.759 to improve their security. 103 00:04:34.399 --> 00:04:40.120 Huh so like a vigilante hacker. Interesting, but I guess 104 00:04:40.240 --> 00:04:43.160 understanding all these players is key to building a strong defense, right. 105 00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:45.160 Absolutely, you need to know who you're up against and 106 00:04:45.199 --> 00:04:46.279 what their motivations are. 107 00:04:46.519 --> 00:04:49.439 Right makes sense. So how about we delve into the 108 00:04:49.480 --> 00:04:51.040 actual art of hacking. 109 00:04:51.120 --> 00:04:51.680 Let's do it. 110 00:04:51.720 --> 00:04:55.160 The book keeps mentioning this term attack vectors. What exactly 111 00:04:55.199 --> 00:04:55.600 are those? 112 00:04:55.720 --> 00:04:58.680 Okay, imagine you're trying to break into, say a heavily 113 00:04:58.720 --> 00:04:59.680 fortified castle. 114 00:05:00.120 --> 00:05:00.759 I'm picturing it. 115 00:05:00.959 --> 00:05:02.279 You wouldn't just charge straight at the. 116 00:05:02.199 --> 00:05:04.079 Front gate, right, Probably not a good idea. 117 00:05:04.160 --> 00:05:08.040 You look for weaknesses, alternative entry points, anything that gives 118 00:05:08.079 --> 00:05:09.360 you an advantage. 119 00:05:09.079 --> 00:05:11.839 Sneak in the back, maybe find a secret passage exactly. 120 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:15.600 And those pathways, those are the attack vectors. They're how 121 00:05:15.680 --> 00:05:18.519 hackers gain access to systems. It could be a technical 122 00:05:18.600 --> 00:05:19.240 flaw or. 123 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:21.839 Tricking someone into giving up information. 124 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:24.680 Exactly, social engineering, like we talked about, it's all about 125 00:05:24.720 --> 00:05:28.040 exploiting weaknesses, whether they're technical or human. 126 00:05:28.360 --> 00:05:31.199 So you're saying it's not just about having strong defenses, 127 00:05:31.759 --> 00:05:35.120 but also understanding how those defenses might be bypassed. 128 00:05:35.199 --> 00:05:36.839 That's a great way to put it. It's about knowing 129 00:05:36.879 --> 00:05:38.040 your enemy and how they think. 130 00:05:38.319 --> 00:05:42.000 Okay, that makes sense. Now. The book gives some pretty 131 00:05:42.040 --> 00:05:46.680 wild examples of these attack vectors, like social engineering. 132 00:05:47.240 --> 00:05:51.639 Oh yeah, social engineering is fascinating and incredibly effective. It's 133 00:05:51.680 --> 00:05:56.319 all about exploiting human psychology rather than just technical flaws. 134 00:05:56.000 --> 00:05:58.240 So like tricking someone into handing over the keys to 135 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:00.800 the castle instead of trying to pick the law exactly. 136 00:06:00.839 --> 00:06:03.639 And the book talks about how attackers can clone websites, 137 00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:07.519 like fake websites. Yeah, but they look practically identical to 138 00:06:07.560 --> 00:06:10.360 the real thing, So someone might enter their log in 139 00:06:10.360 --> 00:06:13.160 credentials thinking they're on a legitimate site. 140 00:06:12.920 --> 00:06:15.639 And boom, the attacker has their info exactly. 141 00:06:15.680 --> 00:06:18.480 It prays on trust and it can be incredibly effective. 142 00:06:18.920 --> 00:06:22.279 That's scary, especially of how good those fake websites can be. 143 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:24.759 I've almost fallen for a few myself. 144 00:06:25.000 --> 00:06:27.199 It happens to the best of us. It's a constant 145 00:06:27.199 --> 00:06:28.360 reminder to be vigilant. 146 00:06:28.480 --> 00:06:32.160 Definitely. Yeah. Okay, what about password cracking? That always seems 147 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:33.079 like a big threat. 148 00:06:33.240 --> 00:06:36.680 It is, and unfortunately it can be pretty straightforward if 149 00:06:36.720 --> 00:06:40.120 people aren't using strong passwords. The book describes how these 150 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:43.000 password cracking tools work basically like. 151 00:06:43.000 --> 00:06:45.279 Trying every combination until they get it. 152 00:06:45.519 --> 00:06:48.319 Yeah, it's a brute force approach, but it highlights how 153 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:51.680 crucial strong unique passwords are for each of your accounts. 154 00:06:52.319 --> 00:06:55.079 I know, I know, I should probably change a few 155 00:06:55.079 --> 00:06:55.720 of mine after this. 156 00:06:55.800 --> 00:06:58.360 It's always a good idea. And then, of course there's malware. 157 00:06:58.519 --> 00:07:00.639 Oh yeah, malware. That's always a scary one. 158 00:07:00.680 --> 00:07:02.800 It is, and the thing with malware is that it's 159 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:06.560 constantly evolving. The book was talking about how some modern 160 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:09.800 malware is designed to exploit zero day vulnerabilities. 161 00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:10.800 Zero day what's that? 162 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:13.839 It means those security holes that haven't even been discovered yet, 163 00:07:13.920 --> 00:07:16.439 so there's no patch or fix available, So like. 164 00:07:16.720 --> 00:07:19.240 A secret entrance that no one knows about until it's. 165 00:07:19.120 --> 00:07:25.040 Too late exactly makes it incredibly difficult to detect because. 166 00:07:24.800 --> 00:07:27.720 Like your antivirus software isn't looking for it. 167 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:32.079 Right, because it's looking for known threats, not these unknown dangers. 168 00:07:32.279 --> 00:07:35.800 It's a constant arms race between the security researchers and 169 00:07:35.839 --> 00:07:36.959 the malware developers. 170 00:07:37.319 --> 00:07:39.319 So what can you even do to protect yourself? 171 00:07:39.480 --> 00:07:42.680 Well, it's all about having a layered defense and staying 172 00:07:42.680 --> 00:07:45.600 informed about the latest threats. But that's something we can 173 00:07:45.639 --> 00:07:48.279 dive into more in the next part of our deep dive. 174 00:07:48.439 --> 00:07:51.199 All right, Cliffhanger, I guess everyone will have to tune 175 00:07:51.199 --> 00:07:53.160 in next time to learn more about how to actually 176 00:07:53.199 --> 00:07:54.959 defend against all this scary stuff. 177 00:07:55.120 --> 00:07:58.519 Exactly, we'll talk about building your digital fortress and some 178 00:07:58.560 --> 00:08:00.519 strategies to keep those attackers bay. 179 00:08:00.879 --> 00:08:02.399 Sounds good, See y'all next time. 180 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:05.160 See you then, So, picking up where we left off, 181 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:07.000 one of the big things the book stresses is this 182 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:09.079 idea of defense and depth. 183 00:08:09.240 --> 00:08:12.160 Defense and depth. Okay, I'm intrigued. Lay it on me. 184 00:08:12.319 --> 00:08:13.720 It's like, you know how we were talking about those 185 00:08:13.800 --> 00:08:15.000 layered castle defenses. 186 00:08:15.160 --> 00:08:17.360 Yeah, with the moats and the walls and all that. 187 00:08:17.959 --> 00:08:20.519 Exactly, it's not enough to just have one strong point, 188 00:08:20.639 --> 00:08:23.560 ya I have backup. You need multiple layers of security, 189 00:08:23.600 --> 00:08:25.160 each one backing up the others. 190 00:08:25.279 --> 00:08:27.839 Okay, so that makes sense, But wouldn't that be super 191 00:08:27.959 --> 00:08:29.639 complex and expensive to set up? 192 00:08:29.920 --> 00:08:34.399 Not necessarily it can be. But the book actually offers 193 00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:37.399 some good advice for companies, especially those with tighter budgets. 194 00:08:37.559 --> 00:08:39.039 Oh that's good practical tips. 195 00:08:39.159 --> 00:08:43.399 Yeah, Like they suggest starting with a vulnerability assessment. 196 00:08:43.600 --> 00:08:46.440 Vulnerability assessment so like a scan for weak points. 197 00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:50.919 Exactly. It's like a preliminary check to identify potential problems 198 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:53.519 without the full cost of a penetration test. 199 00:08:53.720 --> 00:08:55.360 Okay, I could see how that would be helpful. But 200 00:08:55.360 --> 00:08:57.360 wouldn't that just give you a surface level view. 201 00:08:57.919 --> 00:09:00.840 You're right, it's not a deep dive, but it helps 202 00:09:00.840 --> 00:09:02.759 you prioritize. 203 00:09:01.919 --> 00:09:04.240 You know, prioritize. Okay, so you find the most critical 204 00:09:04.240 --> 00:09:05.840 stuff and focus on those first. 205 00:09:05.960 --> 00:09:08.240 Exactly. It's like a doctor's check up. It might not 206 00:09:08.320 --> 00:09:11.639 catch everything, but it can highlight areas that need more attention. 207 00:09:12.360 --> 00:09:15.679 I like that analogy. So start with the assessment, then 208 00:09:15.759 --> 00:09:16.840 dig deeper where you. 209 00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:19.559 Need to precisely, and then you can allocate your resources 210 00:09:19.559 --> 00:09:20.279 more effectively. 211 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:23.559 Smart. Okay, Well, let's get back to those attack factors 212 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:26.600 for a sec. The book has some pretty crazy real 213 00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:28.480 world example Oh yeah, some of. 214 00:09:28.440 --> 00:09:30.200 Them are wild. The one that stuck with me it 215 00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:33.080 was about physical security breaches physical. 216 00:09:33.200 --> 00:09:35.039 Wait, I thought we were talking about digital stuff. 217 00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:37.240 We are, But the book makes this point that even 218 00:09:37.279 --> 00:09:39.840 something as simple as dumpster diving can be a gold 219 00:09:39.879 --> 00:09:40.720 mine for attackers. 220 00:09:40.799 --> 00:09:44.720 Dumpster diving Seriously, that sounds more like something out of 221 00:09:44.759 --> 00:09:45.360 us by. 222 00:09:45.240 --> 00:09:47.519 Movie, I know, right, yeah, but you'd be surprised what 223 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:52.799 people throw away documents with passwords, account numbers, even internal 224 00:09:52.840 --> 00:09:53.799 network diagram. 225 00:09:53.919 --> 00:09:56.240 Well that's bad. So it's like they're literally digging through 226 00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:57.159 the trash. 227 00:09:56.840 --> 00:10:00.919 For clues, exactly. It highlights this often o relooked aspect 228 00:10:01.000 --> 00:10:01.759 of security. 229 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:04.919 You know that security is about more than just firewalls 230 00:10:04.919 --> 00:10:06.240 and passwords. 231 00:10:05.759 --> 00:10:10.320 Right, It's also about physical security, employee awareness, thinking about 232 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:11.919 all those potential weak points. 233 00:10:12.039 --> 00:10:14.919 Okay, so shred everything basically. 234 00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:17.200 Pretty much, and be mindful of what you're discussing in 235 00:10:17.240 --> 00:10:20.360 public too. The book also talks about shoulder surfing. 236 00:10:20.759 --> 00:10:24.399 Shoulder surfing, what's that like, literally looking over someone's shoulder. 237 00:10:24.559 --> 00:10:27.720 Yep, that's exactly it. Imagine someone peeking while you're typing 238 00:10:27.720 --> 00:10:30.039 in your password or looking at sensitive data. 239 00:10:30.159 --> 00:10:32.559 Oh that's creepy. But wouldn't you notice someone doing that? 240 00:10:32.840 --> 00:10:36.200 You'd think so, right, But it can be surprisingly effective, 241 00:10:36.279 --> 00:10:39.000 especially in crowded places or open offices. 242 00:10:39.080 --> 00:10:41.960 Okay, you've officially made me paranoid. Maybe I need one 243 00:10:41.960 --> 00:10:43.759 of those Privacy screens form my laptop. 244 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:47.519 Not a bad idea. It's amazing how these simple, low 245 00:10:47.639 --> 00:10:50.000 tech tactics can still be so effective. 246 00:10:50.440 --> 00:10:53.559 Right. It's like we're so focused on the fancy digital 247 00:10:53.600 --> 00:10:56.000 threats that we forget about the basics exactly. 248 00:10:56.480 --> 00:10:58.919 But let's talk about some of those more technical attacks. Now. 249 00:10:59.000 --> 00:11:01.519 The book goes into things denial of service attacks. 250 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:04.480 Oh yeah, d DIIC attacks. Those sound pretty scary. 251 00:11:04.720 --> 00:11:07.720 They can be. Imagine a website or server getting flooded 252 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:10.039 with so much traffic that it just crashes, like a 253 00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:14.080 digital traffic jat perfect analogy. And nowadays these attacks can 254 00:11:14.120 --> 00:11:16.080 be massive using a botnets. 255 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:20.919 Bot nets those are like networks of infected computers, right. 256 00:11:21.039 --> 00:11:26.399 Yeah, potentially thousands of devices all coordinated to bombard to target. 257 00:11:26.840 --> 00:11:28.080 Really hard to defend against. 258 00:11:28.159 --> 00:11:30.960 Wow, that's like a digital army, it kind of is. 259 00:11:31.399 --> 00:11:33.919 The book really got me thinking about the sheer scale 260 00:11:33.960 --> 00:11:34.840 of these attacks. 261 00:11:34.840 --> 00:11:37.840 Definitely a wake up call. Okay, what about those buffer 262 00:11:37.879 --> 00:11:41.320 overflow attacks? Those always sounded super complicated to me. 263 00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:44.799 They are complex, but the book breaks it down pretty well. 264 00:11:44.799 --> 00:11:48.919 It's basically exploiting weaknesses in a program's code code. 265 00:11:49.039 --> 00:11:50.840 Okay, this is where I start to get lost. 266 00:11:51.159 --> 00:11:52.960 Think of it like this. You're trying to stuff too 267 00:11:53.039 --> 00:11:55.639 much data into a container, right again, I'm picturing it. 268 00:11:55.960 --> 00:11:59.120 Eventually it fober flows and that messes up the surrounding 269 00:11:59.240 --> 00:12:02.840 data in a computer system that can cause crashes or 270 00:12:03.000 --> 00:12:04.200 unpredictable behavior. 271 00:12:04.440 --> 00:12:07.399 So you're like overloading the system's memory to make it. 272 00:12:07.399 --> 00:12:11.000 Vulnerable exactly, and that's how an attacker can inject malicious 273 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:12.840 code or even take control of the system. 274 00:12:13.039 --> 00:12:18.039 Yikes, Okay, So deta as attacks, buffer overflows, and of 275 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:19.799 course we can't forget about malware. 276 00:12:19.919 --> 00:12:23.080 Oh, malware. It's like a whole universe of digital. 277 00:12:22.720 --> 00:12:26.639 Threats, viruses, worms, trojan horses. It's like a bad zoo haha. 278 00:12:27.159 --> 00:12:29.279 Right, and the book goes into detail about all the 279 00:12:29.279 --> 00:12:32.039 different types, how they work, and the damage they can do. 280 00:12:32.519 --> 00:12:34.879 So what's the best way to protect yourself against all 281 00:12:34.879 --> 00:12:38.360 these threats? It's got to be more than just hoping 282 00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:39.360 for the best, right. 283 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:42.679 Definitely, not like we talked about before. It's about having 284 00:12:42.679 --> 00:12:48.320 a layered defense firewalls, intrusion detection systems, strong passwords, and 285 00:12:48.440 --> 00:12:51.399 most importantly, security awareness training. 286 00:12:51.519 --> 00:12:54.279 So educating people about the risks and how to spot 287 00:12:54.320 --> 00:12:56.360 those phishing emails and stuff exactly. 288 00:12:56.399 --> 00:12:58.159 Because at the end of the day, people are often 289 00:12:58.200 --> 00:12:59.039 the weakest link. 290 00:13:00.120 --> 00:13:03.000 Makes sense, But what about those attacks that are like 291 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:06.519 specifically targeted at certain people spearfishing I think it's. 292 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:09.080 Called, Oh, spearfishing is nasty. Those are the ones that 293 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:12.159 are tailored to specific individuals or organizations. 294 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:15.720 So like, instead of a generic spam email, it's something 295 00:13:15.720 --> 00:13:17.159 that looks like it's from someone. 296 00:13:16.919 --> 00:13:20.080 You know exactly, and they use personal information stuff they 297 00:13:20.159 --> 00:13:22.679 find on social media or other sources to make it 298 00:13:22.679 --> 00:13:24.039 look really convincing, so. 299 00:13:24.000 --> 00:13:26.840 You're more likely to click on a malicious link or 300 00:13:26.960 --> 00:13:28.799 open an infected attachments exactly. 301 00:13:28.840 --> 00:13:30.279 It's like a wolf in sheep's clothing. 302 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:33.960 Not cool. So how do you even protect yourself against that? 303 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:35.759 It seems like it could happen to anyone. 304 00:13:36.159 --> 00:13:40.679 It could, but awareness is key. Being skeptical of unexpected emails, 305 00:13:40.919 --> 00:13:44.559 double checking the sender's address, hovering over links before you 306 00:13:44.559 --> 00:13:45.039 click them. 307 00:13:45.120 --> 00:13:49.759 Okay, So basically trust no one, well not quite, but 308 00:13:50.039 --> 00:13:52.440 definitely be cautious and use your common sense. 309 00:13:52.480 --> 00:13:54.840 If something seems off, it probably. 310 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:58.799 Is good advice. So we've talked about all these attack vectors, 311 00:13:58.840 --> 00:14:00.799 and it seems like there's a lot to be worried about. 312 00:14:01.039 --> 00:14:04.720 There is. But that's why penetration testing is so important. 313 00:14:04.559 --> 00:14:07.320 Right, because it helps you find those weaknesses before the 314 00:14:07.360 --> 00:14:08.120 bad guys do. 315 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:11.879 Exactly. It's like a proactive approach to security. You're not 316 00:14:11.960 --> 00:14:15.080 just waiting for something bad to happen, you're actively trying 317 00:14:15.120 --> 00:14:15.639 to prevent. 318 00:14:15.720 --> 00:14:18.000 It makes sense. It's like an ounce of prevention is 319 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.080 worth a pound of cure. 320 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:22.720 Right exactly. And by doing these penetration tests, you can 321 00:14:22.759 --> 00:14:25.519 identify the gaps in your defenses, fix them, and make 322 00:14:25.559 --> 00:14:27.480 it much harder for those attackers to get in. 323 00:14:27.600 --> 00:14:29.879 So you're basically strengthening your digital fortress. 324 00:14:30.000 --> 00:14:33.200 That's the goal, making it as impenetrable as possible. 325 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:35.600 All right, I like it. So we've talked about the 326 00:14:35.639 --> 00:14:38.519 bad guys, the attacks, the defenses, but what about the 327 00:14:38.519 --> 00:14:42.039 good guys, those penetration testers. What makes them tick? What 328 00:14:42.120 --> 00:14:44.279 kind of skills do they need to do this job? 329 00:14:44.480 --> 00:14:47.879 Well, it's definitely a unique blend of technical expertise and 330 00:14:48.120 --> 00:14:49.840 honestly a certain kind of mindset. 331 00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:52.519 Okay, so brains and a bit of an attitude. 332 00:14:52.600 --> 00:14:55.639 Uh huh, Yeah, you could say that. On the technical side, 333 00:14:55.679 --> 00:14:59.440 they need to have a deep understanding of networking, operating 334 00:14:59.480 --> 00:15:01.399 system security, concepts. 335 00:15:01.519 --> 00:15:04.240 So they need to know how the Internet works inside. 336 00:15:03.840 --> 00:15:06.200 And out pretty much, and they need to be comfortable 337 00:15:06.200 --> 00:15:09.679 with code, with navigating those complex digital landscapes. 338 00:15:09.840 --> 00:15:12.679 It sounds like they need to be part detective, part engineer, 339 00:15:12.720 --> 00:15:14.799 and part hacker all rolled into one. 340 00:15:15.080 --> 00:15:17.000 That's a great way to put it. They have to 341 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:20.080 be able to think like an attacker, anticipate their moves, 342 00:15:20.279 --> 00:15:22.360 and find those hidden vulnerabilities. 343 00:15:22.360 --> 00:15:24.759 So they need to be able to see the matrix basically. 344 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:26.720 Huh huh kind of. But it's not just about the 345 00:15:26.759 --> 00:15:31.919 technical skills. They also need strong problem solving abilities, relentless curiosity, 346 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:34.039 and a healthy dose of skepticism. 347 00:15:34.320 --> 00:15:36.399 So they can't just take things at face value. They 348 00:15:36.440 --> 00:15:38.879 need to dig deeper, question everything. 349 00:15:38.720 --> 00:15:41.080 Exactly, and that's where the mindset comes in. They need 350 00:15:41.120 --> 00:15:43.840 to be able to think outside the box, to challenge 351 00:15:43.919 --> 00:15:46.440 assumptions and be constantly pushing the boundaries. 352 00:15:46.840 --> 00:15:49.000 It sounds like a pretty demanding job. And they need 353 00:15:49.039 --> 00:15:51.000 to be ethical too, right, I mean they're being given 354 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:53.879 access to all this sensitive information. 355 00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:57.799 Absolutely, ethical considerations are paramount in this field. It's about 356 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:00.679 using those powerful skills for good. 357 00:16:00.559 --> 00:16:03.759 Right, So no going rogue and using their knowledge for evil. 358 00:16:03.879 --> 00:16:08.360 Exactly. They have to be trustworthy, discrete, committed to using 359 00:16:08.360 --> 00:16:12.279 their knowledge to actually strengthen security, not exploit it. 360 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:15.159 It's a lot of responsibility. Yeah, like being entrusted with 361 00:16:15.200 --> 00:16:16.279 the keys to the kingdom. 362 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:18.360 That's a good way to put it. They're the guardians 363 00:16:18.399 --> 00:16:19.360 of the digital realm. 364 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:21.840 Okay. So let's say a company decides, all right, we 365 00:16:21.879 --> 00:16:25.399 need to do this penetration testing thing. What's the process, like, 366 00:16:25.440 --> 00:16:26.519 how does it actually work? 367 00:16:26.639 --> 00:16:28.840 The book breaks it down into several stages, and the 368 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:31.200 first one is planning and scoping. 369 00:16:31.559 --> 00:16:34.440 Planning and scoping, so figuring out what they're actually going 370 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:35.720 to test, right. 371 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:39.080 The pen testers and the client organization. They work together 372 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:42.559 to define the goals, the boundaries, what systems are in scope. 373 00:16:42.600 --> 00:16:44.200 So it's like drawing up a battle plan. 374 00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:47.080 Yeah, exactly, making sure everyone is on the same page 375 00:16:47.120 --> 00:16:48.879 and understands the rules of engagement. 376 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.919 Okay, and then what Once the plan is in. 377 00:16:50.879 --> 00:16:54.759 Place, then comes the reconnaissance phase. This is where the 378 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:57.960 pen testers gather as much information as they can about 379 00:16:58.000 --> 00:16:58.440 the target. 380 00:16:58.639 --> 00:17:00.879 Oh so like doing their homework. 381 00:17:00.440 --> 00:17:04.920 Right yep, scouring the internet for public information, scanning networks, 382 00:17:05.359 --> 00:17:09.400 maybe even using some social engineering tactics to gather intel, so. 383 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:12.400 Like a digital detective building a profile. 384 00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:15.400 That's a great analogy. They're looking for any clues that 385 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:17.680 might help them gain unauthorized access. 386 00:17:17.839 --> 00:17:21.400 So they've done their research, identified the target. Then what's 387 00:17:21.480 --> 00:17:22.759 next the actual attack? 388 00:17:22.839 --> 00:17:26.039 You got it. The next phase is exploitation, and this 389 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.519 is where the real action happens. 390 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.920 Okay, time to put those skills to the test exactly. 391 00:17:30.359 --> 00:17:33.920 The pen testers try to exploit those vulnerabilities they've found 392 00:17:34.200 --> 00:17:36.720 using a whole range of tools and techniques, so. 393 00:17:36.720 --> 00:17:41.680 Like cracking passwords, finding software bugs, maybe even tricking employees 394 00:17:41.680 --> 00:17:43.119 into giving them access. 395 00:17:42.960 --> 00:17:45.640 All of the above. They're essentially putting on their black 396 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:48.640 hats for a while, thinking and acting like a real attacker. 397 00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:51.640 Wo wow, that's intense, But it's all controls right, Like, 398 00:17:51.720 --> 00:17:53.319 they're not actually going to steal data or. 399 00:17:53.279 --> 00:17:56.680 Anything, right, it's all ethical and within the agreed upon scope. 400 00:17:57.160 --> 00:17:59.160 The goal is to see how far they can get 401 00:17:59.200 --> 00:18:02.119