Hello everyone interested in cybersecurity and wanting to make it your profession! In this article, we’ll dive into the exciting world of ethical hacking and learn how to become a pentester – one of the most in-demand cybersecurity specialists who search for vulnerabilities in IT systems to help companies protect against real cyber threats.
Who is a Pentester and What Do They Do?
Pentesters, or penetration testing specialists, are a kind of “good hackers”. Their task is to simulate the actions of a potential attacker and try to hack corporate networks, websites, applications. But unlike real cybercriminals, pentesters do this legally and with the client’s consent, to identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors exploit them.
During penetration testing, a pentester tries to:
- Bypass security, authentication and authorization systems
- Gain access to the company’s confidential data
- Escalate privileges from a regular user to admin level
- Execute malicious code or inject SQL queries
- Cause a denial of service (DDoS attack)
The goal is not just to find security gaps, but also to assess the potential damage from their exploitation. After the test, the pentester prepares a detailed report describing the vulnerabilities found and recommendations for fixing them. The security of the client’s business directly depends on the quality of their work.
What Skills Should a Pentester Have?
To become a top-notch penetration testing specialist, you’ll need a versatile technical background. Here’s what a good pentester should know and be able to do:
- Network technologies and protocols (TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS, etc.)
- Operating systems (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS)
- Programming languages (Python, C++, Java, PHP, etc.)
- Security testing methods and tools (Kali Linux, Metasploit, Nmap, Burp Suite, etc.)
- Cryptography and information security fundamentals
- Current cyber threats, vulnerability types, and attack vectors
In addition, soft skills are also important. A pentester needs to be able to clearly articulate their thoughts, work effectively in a team, and creatively approach solving non-trivial problems. And of course, always act strictly within the law and the testing plan agreed with the client.
Where to Learn Pentesting: A Detailed Analysis of Resources and Certifications
If you’ve decided to master the profession of a pentester, here’s a selection of the best training resources and certification programs:
- Hack The Box (HTB) – an online platform for honing ethical hacking skills. In addition to dozens of vulnerable systems to hack, HTB offers competitions (CTFs) and hands-on labs (Pro Labs) of varying difficulty levels. Suitable for both beginners and experienced pentesters.
- VulnHub – a collection of vulnerable virtual machines (VMs). VM images can be downloaded and deployed on your computer for local testing. A great opportunity to get acquainted with different attack vectors in a safe environment. Basic Linux and virtualization skills are needed to get started.
- PentesterLab – an interactive online platform for learning web security. Courses and hands-on exercises are divided into categories and cover OWASP Top 10, exploitation methods, API testing, etc. There is both free and paid content, with prices starting at $20/month.
- PortSwigger Web Security Academy – a very detailed web security training platform from the creators of Burp Suite. Hundreds of hands-on labs are grouped by vulnerability types and difficulty levels. All materials are free, but a paid account ($6.60/month) is needed to access solutions.
As for professional certifications, the most recognized in the industry are:
- OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) – certification from Offensive Security, creators of Kali Linux. Includes a 24-hour hands-on exam to hack several systems. To be eligible, you need to take the paid PWK (Penetration Testing with Kali Linux) course for $999 with 30 days of lab access or $1349 for 60 days.
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) – certification from EC-Council. Tests knowledge of the entire ethical hacking lifecycle from reconnaissance to post-exploitation. The exam is 4 hours long and contains 125 questions. To get certified, you need to take the official training ($850) or have 2 years of InfoSec experience. The exam costs $1199.
- CompTIA PenTest+ – a vendor-neutral entry-level certification. Validates mastery of penetration testing and reporting basics. The 165-minute exam has 85 questions with a passing score of 750/900. Recommended preparation is the CySA+ course or 3-4 years of InfoSec experience. The exam voucher costs $359.
What Does a Typical Workday of a Pentester Look Like?
To give you a better understanding of what an ethical hacking specialist does, let’s take a look at one of their workdays:
07:00 – Woke up, had breakfast, scrolled through cybersecurity news. In our profession, it’s important to always keep your finger on the pulse and know about the latest vulnerabilities.
09:00 – Arrived at the client’s office for a comprehensive corporate network penetration test. Met with the head of IT, discussed the work plan, agreed on rules and restrictions.
10:00 – Started with reconnaissance. Gathered open-source intelligence about the company, studied its network infrastructure, scanned hosts and ports to find potential entry points.
12:00 – Discovered several servers with outdated software and known vulnerabilities. Using suitable exploits, gained remote access and escalated privileges. Carefully documented all steps.
14:00 – Lunch break. Browsing forums and chats, exchanging experiences with colleagues, discussing interesting cases.
15:00 – Testing the client’s web applications. Looking for bugs like SQL injection, XSS, CSRF, insecure deserialization. Found a couple of vulnerabilities that allow executing arbitrary code on the server.
17:00 – Preparing a draft report describing the vulnerabilities found and steps to reproduce them. Discussing the results with the team, supplementing the report with their findings.
19:00 – Sending the final report for review to the team lead. After their approval, scheduling a meeting with the client to present the results and answer questions.
21:00 – Heading home. Listening to InfoSec podcasts or audiobooks on the way. At home, devoting time to lab experiments with new techniques and tools.
Of course, this is a generalized example. A pentester’s actual workdays depend on the project specifics, company structure, and personal preferences. But the key points – analytical work, creative approaches to finding security gaps, and constant self-learning – are unchanging.
Success Stories of Well-Known Pentesters
Here are some inspiring examples of how ethical hacking professionals are helping to make the world a safer place:
- Jay Lego, a senior pentester at Google Project Zero, discovered a critical vulnerability in Intel processors. The bug allowed unauthorized access to the kernel on most Windows and Linux systems. Jay’s timely report and Intel’s quick patch prevented a global cyberattack.
- Katie Pearce, a cybersecurity researcher from Duo Labs, conducted an in-depth analysis of authentication mechanisms in the Internet of Things. Her report uncovered critical flaws in smart locks, thermostats, light bulbs, and other IoT devices. Katie’s work helped vendors improve the security of their products and protect user data.
- Santiago Lopez, a 19-year-old Argentinean, was the first to earn $1 million on bug bounties. Over 3 years, he submitted over 1,600 vulnerability reports to companies. Santiago received the largest reward of $9,000 from Verizon Media for RCE in server infrastructure. He now heads the cybersecurity department at Accenture startup.
Ethical hackers prevent data breaches, corporate network hacks, intellectual property theft, and other cyber incidents daily. Their findings make the digital world safer for businesses and regular users alike.
Career Prospects for Ethical Hackers
According to ZipRecruiter, the average pentester salary in the US is $119,289 per year, while experienced professionals can earn $150,000+ annually. The demand for penetration testing experts is constantly growing since no serious business can ignore cybersecurity issues nowadays.
A pentester career means constant professional growth, solving exciting challenges, and the opportunity to help companies defend against cyber threats. If you relate to this mission and are ready to learn and develop in the dynamic field of InfoSec – welcome to the ranks of ethical hackers! I hope this article becomes the first step on your journey.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: Where to start learning pentesting?
Answer: Begin by studying network technologies, operating systems, and programming languages. Set up Kali Linux, sign up for Hack The Box or VulnHub. Choose one area (web, networks, IoT) and master it using the resources from this article.
Question: How much do beginner pentesters earn?
Answer: According to Payscale, the median salary for a junior pentester in the US is $76,000 per year. Actual income depends on the workplace, skills, and experience. Some companies offer internships or junior InfoSec analyst positions with salaries from $50,000. In parallel, you can look for bugs on bug bounty platforms.
Question: Is working as a pentester legal?
Answer: Yes, if you act within the law and the client’s policies. Before the test, sign an agreement with a clear list of your actions and their boundaries. Report all findings to the client and don’t disclose them publicly without permission. Use your skills only for ethical purposes.
Question: How to find your first pentesting clients?
Answer: Send your resume to InfoSec companies in your region. Network with colleagues at industry events and on social media. Start a blog to share knowledge and attract clients. Register on freelance platforms like Upwork and look for security testing projects there.
I hope this article helped you better understand the pentester profession and inspired you to master ethical hacking. Study, practice, believe in yourself – and you will definitely succeed. Best of luck!
