CompTIA Pentest 3.1 Interview Insights

The process of identifying vulnerabilities in a network and exploiting them to gain unauthorized access.

A technique used to gain unauthorized access to a system or network by exploiting vulnerabilities.

A team of IT professionals who are responsible for defending a network against attacks.

Individuals who are responsible for attacking systems to identify vulnerabilities and improve security.

A group of professionals who manage the security of an organization's cloud infrastructure.

A wide range of IT roles, including desktop support, server management, networking, and database administration.

The process of identifying and mitigating risks associated with using cloud services.

The field of IT that focuses on preventing and mitigating cyberattacks.

A type of attack that tries every possible combination of characters to guess a password. It is often used in conjunction with dictionary attacks.

An attack that uses a pre-made list of common passwords to try and guess a password.

A security measure that requires two or more forms of authentication to verify a user's identity. This can include passwords, biometrics, or one-time codes.

A type of attack that involves intercepting communication between two parties. The attacker can then modify, steal, or eavesdrop on the communication.

The act of testing a system for security vulnerabilities. It is typically performed by an ethical hacker or security professional.

An attack that takes advantage of flaws in software or systems. This can be done to gain access to sensitive information, disrupt services, or cause harm to the system.

A method used to improve a dictionary attack by adding words and permutations specific to a target organization or individual. This can increase the likelihood of success.

Cyberattacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and even traditional methods such as password attacks are still effective.

The process of gathering information about a target before an attack, such as user IDs, password complexity, and potential weaknesses.

A collection of potential passwords used in password cracking attempts.

Using specific information about a target to create a more effective password dictionary.

A technique used to gather information about a target from publicly available sources.

The time constraint for completing a penetration test or attack.

The complexity of a password, based on factors like length, character types, and special characters.

The ability to gain information about a target from former employees.

Using information gathered during reconnaissance to create specialized password dictionaries.

Using widely known tools like Metasploit or Nmap can be easily detected by defenders, so pen testers need to be strategic and adapt their approach.

Penetration testers need to analyze the target organization's defenses and understand their capabilities to choose effective attack methods.

Creating custom solutions for attacking a target is beneficial for avoiding detection, as these tools are less likely to be recognized by defenders.

Python is a popular programming language used in many security tools and scripts, making it a versatile choice for developing custom solutions.

Penetration testers can leverage existing code and modify it to suit their needs, even if they are not expert programmers.

A method used to exploit vulnerabilities and gain unauthorized access to a system or network.

A technique used to quietly and effectively perform an attack without raising suspicion.

A software tool that identifies and reports vulnerabilities by simulating malicious activity.

Software used to create and execute malicious code that exploits vulnerabilities.

A process of analyzing and modifying tools to reduce their visibility and impact.

The practice of adjusting attacks to target specific vulnerabilities in a network.

The process of limiting the amount of traffic generated by a tool to avoid detection.

Reducing the impact of an exploit by removing unnecessary elements that might be harmful.