A test of a network's vulnerabilities by having an authorized individual actually attempt to break into the network. The tester may undertake several methods, workarounds and "hacks" to gain entry, often initially getting through to one seemingly harmless section, and from there, attacking more sensitive areas of the network.
Security experts recommend that an annual penetration test be undertaken as a supplement to a more frequent automated security scan. See security scan and ethical hacker.
Security experts recommend that an annual penetration test be undertaken as a supplement to a more frequent automated security scan. See security scan and ethical hacker.
 | Reproduced with permission from Computer Desktop Encyclopedia. Copyright (c) 1981-2009 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved. |
Additional Resources
- Metasploit + Rapid7 shakes up pen-test landscape
- With the acquisition of Metasploit by Rapid7, the dynamics within the small penetration testing market have changed. We believe that more competition will challenge each of the three main penetration testing software vendors in different ways. by Ryan Naraine
- Blog posts 2009-10-22
- OpenVAS emerges as free alternative to Nessus
- OpenVas - Two Thumbs upI find OpenVas to be an excellent tool, and the more I use it the more impressed I am becoming.This is an interesting video showing the power of combining OpenVas with metasploit during a penetration test. It speeds things up considerably.http://www.securitytube.net/Pwning-using-OpenVAS-and-Metasploit-Db_Autopwn-video.aspxRegards,Peterhttp://HackerTarget.com
- Discussion threads 2009-10-08
- Why pre-roll app ads on the Zune HD are a dealbreaker
- OptionsAs others have suggested, I guess MS could offer the apps for a fee, as well as free and ad supported. I think it would probably be a good idea if MS is very upfront about a free app being ad supported. I think so long as MS ensures that...
- Discussion threads 2009-09-17
- Blackjack Gold 1.3.2 (Mac)
- If you're looking for a true casino blackjack game, Blackjack Gold is for you. Don't take our word for it, try it for yourself. Folks who've tried the free versions versus the most comprehensive blackjack game available for under $20 choose Blackjack Gold hands down. Download it for yourself before...
- Software downloads 2009-08-13
- Some important truths about pen-testing
- Guest editorial by Alberto Soliño Penetration testing is a highly scientific, metrics-driven approach to IT security that has been in practice since almost the dawn of the modern computing era when programmers first began conducting organized tests, or “hacks†of their own, or others’ technologies to test...
- Blog posts 2009-07-20
- When you see Chrome OS think business model
- When you see Chrome OS think business modelI stopped reading at."But when you consider the $50/year price to license an anti-viral, the $30/year to license a malware program and the additional $30/year you need for a registry cleaner"Talk about exaggerating the costs to justify the rest of your article. Not...
- Discussion threads 2009-07-10
- 'Psyb0t' worm infects Linksys, Netgear home routers, modems
- More information has surfaced about the botnet "psyb0t," the first known to be capable of directly infecting home routers and cable/DSL modems. It was first observed infecting a Netcomm NB5 modem/router in Australia. Members of the website DroneBL, a real-time IP tracker that scans...
- Blog posts 2009-03-25
- WinMagic Case Study: Money Partners
- Having identified laptop theft as a possible risk factor during its regular audit and penetration test Money Partners Holdings Ltd, one of the UK'S fastest growing lenders in the thriving specialist mortgage market, began looking for the best and most cost-effective method of eliminating the threat of data theft due...
- Case studies 2009-02-18
- News to know: IE exploit; Windows Live; Crowdsourcing; Apple
- Here are today’s notable headlines. You can get News To Know via email alert and RSS daily: Ed Bott: Windows Live drops the ball on support Mary Jo Foley: Will the Microsoft Live Search turmoil ever end? Gizmodo: The Definitive Coast-to-Coast...
- Blog posts 2008-12-18
- Why Linux owes (part of) its success to Microsoft
- Why Linux owes part of its success to MicrosoftFascinatingRMS was the one with the open source ideas. Not Torvalds.. Torvalds found nothing usefull for his brand new 80386. After approaching Tanenbaum and asking whether more features and support could be implemented in Minix. He came to write his own OS....
- Discussion threads 2008-12-16
- Gartner: 85 percent of companies using open source
- Gartner: 85 percent of companies using open sourcePretty deep penetrationand only going to get deeper. ]:)RE: Gartner: 85 percent of companies using open sourcewonder what planet this guy is on, i works for ALOT of tech and not tech business, and most do NOT use Linux/FOSS, OSS AT ALL. nil,...
- Discussion threads 2008-11-17
- Linux laptops see 4x returns compared to Windows
- Linux laptops see 4x returns compared to WindowsProve itProve its fud,the article is from a vendor that sells linux laptops that did there own study. Thats would make what you said pure liesYou're the Mike Cox for linux.I also suspect that you don't even know linux that well.Message has been...
- Discussion threads 2008-10-06
- The cloud finally comes to education
- Cloud computing is one of those great buzzwords in IT that, so far, has meant very little to the average Ed Tech customer. We all have a pretty good idea what it means: lots of computers somewhere (we don't actually care where) doing lots of processing to deliver services...
- Blog posts 2008-10-06
- Microsoft: Windows and Linux offer same TCO in emerging markets
- Microsoft: Windows and Linux offer same TCO in emerging marketsThis line says it all ...[i]That's the conclusion of a recent [b]Microsoft-sponsored study[/b] from Vital Wave Consulting, which Microsoft is touting in new posting on the company's Unlimited Potential UP blog.[/i]Why am I not surprised of the results of this "study"?...
- Discussion threads 2008-09-24
- DEFCON 16: List of tools and stuff released
- Â Guest editorial by Rob Fuller DEFCON, the 9000+ attendee hacker conference in Vegas has become a sort of hydra conference. It has become more like a global fair than what most people think of conferences; even the badge is highly...
- Blog posts 2008-08-18
- Measuring (not so) recent BIND nameserver patching
- Guest editorial by Derek Callaway This post is meant to provide an approximation of BIND nameserver updates that occurred during the past month, most likely in response to Dan Kaminsky's DNS cache poisoning vulnerability. I conducted this research because I was curious as to how widely BIND...
- Blog posts 2008-08-14
- Microsoft sending mixed messages about Windows futures with 'Fiji'?
- Microsoft sending mixed messages about Windows futures with 'Fiji'?This isn't even strictly a Beta Tester issueMicrosoft realised that MCE systems just weren't flying out the door and then correctly perceived that it makes more sense to bundle it with Vista so that OEMs can either make a "home entertainment center"...
- Discussion threads 2008-08-05
- Microsoft makes daring vulnerability sharing move
- LAS VEGAS -- Starting in October, Microsoft will start sharing details on software vulnerabilities with security vendors ahead of Patch Tuesday under a daring new program aimed at reducing the window of exposure to hacker attacks. The new Microsoft Active Protections Program MAPP, which will be formally...
- Blog posts 2008-08-05
- Katie Moussouris on HOPE 2008: HOPE Springs Eternal
- Guest Editorial by Katie Moussouris of Microsoft If cyberspace is a mass, consensual hallucination, as William Gibson characterized it, then HOPE was a dream manifested in meatspace that would not die. While Hackers On Planet Earth has been running every other year since 1994, it was...
- Blog posts 2008-07-28
- Vista: Whose 'reality' do you believe?
- Vista: Whose 'reality' do you believe?Microsoft Search sucks.Now they are hijacking your PC to gain search share. Vista, XP, and anything else Microsoft is leaving this organization at every chance.RE: Vista: Whose 'reality' do you believe?This studies almost alway fail to note that XP's business penetration was no better after...
- Discussion threads 2008-07-24
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