Security Testing Archives - Page 2 of 5

How Much Does Penetration Test Cost?

Posted on November 7, 2019 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

How much does penetration test cost? have you ever thought about it? You would, absolutely! if your business is based on the digital domain.
The digital world is very susceptible to security threats. Hackers are increasingly hacking websites for various reasons. There had been many security threats that had made many big companies reconsider their security measures.

Hackers find the loopholes in the website and accomplish their felon ideas. Even web world biggies find it hard to evade these stacks. To lessen the chances of such security breaks, companies are taking help on website penetration testing. But, how much does penetration test cost?
Before we get to the cost of penetration testing let’s have a look at the latest cybersecurity statistics

Around 230,000 malware’s are created by hackers every day
It is estimated that cybercrimes will cost around $2 trillion
60% of companies have cyber-attacks one way or another
A frightening 56% increase in web-based attacks have been reported
33% increase in mobile-based ransomware attacks
25% of the attack groups use harmful malware
There are tools available on the dark-web which help any person with computer knowledge to be a hacker. Pricing of these tools are mostly $1
94% of the email attacks have a malicious email attached to it

What is Penetration testing?

Penetration testing or also known as ethical hacking refers to testing websites to discover security susceptibilities that the hackers could use to get an illegal entry to your website. Penetration testing of websites can be done both automatically and manually.

Know : Top 10 Penetration Testing Companies in India

The process helps organizations find the following vulnerabilities in their websites:

Target point of hackers
How can attackers attack the website
How effective is your website defenses mechanism
Probable size of the breaks

What are the types of penetration testing?
Black box penetration testing
Performed after there is no or little information available regarding the digital architecture of a company. The main intention behind such an attack is to imitate cyber-attack.
White-box penetration testing
performed after a complete analysis of the system. White-box penetration testing is performed for in-depth security audit
Gray box penetration testing
Performed after having only partial knowledge about the system. For instance, testers escalate user privilege for an efficient assessment.
Network service penetration testing
Done to perform vulnerabilities of network architecture such as switches, firewalls, servers, routers, printers, workstations, etc.
Web-app penetration testing
A continuously evolving type of testing used to find the vulnerabilities of web-based applications
Penetration testing can also be used to recognize

application layer flaws
network-level flaws
system-level flaws
Physical security barriers

Automated penetration testing has the ability to discover some cybersecurity issues but extensive penetration testing also focuses on business’s susceptibility to manual breaches also.
Why penetration testing important?
• Helps in experiencing real-life scenario of intrusion
• Helps in revealing lacking security policy
• A single target can be attacked in a various manner to reveal flaws
• Gives a user perspective of your software security
• Saves a lot of money by saving your company from devastating breaches
• Ensures the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance
• Pentest result can be used as training material for developers to make fewer mistakes in the future
Why penetration testing differs from vulnerability scanning?

Penetration testing	Vulnerability Assessment
Evaluates the security defense of your company software architecture	Used to unravel as much security flaws as possible
Combination of manual and automated techniques	Can be automated easily
Unknown vulnerabilities can be traced out	Exploitable vulnerabilities that are known can be fished out
Must be done by skilled individuals or a team of individuals	Can be done by an in-house team
Mostly performed once or twice in a year	Performed quarterly

How much does penetration testing cost?

The cost of penetration testing varies based on the size and complexity of the website. There are many other factors that also play an important role in defining the cost of penetration testing. Let us discuss in detail various factors that affect the calculation of penetration testing.
1. Objective
The objective of your website plays an important role in deciding the pricing of penetration testing of the website.
Whether you are going to get a small website tested or a huge website or a social media app, the size of your website will largely affect the penetration testing of your website.
Also if you want to test networks, applications, IoT devices, etc. will affect the cost of the testing. Also, the amount of information you want to give to the tester will affect the cost of penetration testing.
2. Scope
Scope in penetration testing is related to the time required by the testers to test the website.
Both cost and time are related to the number of parties/networks/IP addresses/applications/facilities involved, etc. The cost also depends on the restrictions if any.
3. Approach
There are many ways to approach penetration testing. These approaches play an important role in the cost of the pen-testing. Some go only for the basic level of testing, while others are only bothered about the entry points for the breaches, but if you are interested in the more extensive approach to penetration testing you might have to pay more.
The deeper insight into the vulnerabilities means more cost. While the less deep the penetration approach testing, the lesser will be the cost.
4. Skills
The very common phenomenon for all types of testing is the skills of the testers. The more expertise of the testers, the more will be the cost. If you will go for high expertise, you ensure deeper penetration testing but will have to pay higher for it.
But if we consider in a long term perspective, the deeper penetration testing will give you more chances to protect your website and hence saving you from many cybersecurity issues and thus saving you a lot of money.
5. Re-Testing
When testers conduct penetration testing, the vulnerabilities in the website get unveiled. The developers again work on the code, to correct the code and bar all the vulnerabilities. But once after the corrections are done, the code is again retested to check if the vulnerabilities have been taken care of and the website is secure from any future security breaches.

Read also : 15 Best Penetration Testing Tools

Re-testing is a very important factor that adds up to the cost of a penetration test. There are few testing teams that offer to retest for free. Though there are many companies that charge an amount for retesting. The cost of retesting depends upon the amount of retesting that is required to be done and the number of retests that are conducted.
6. Service
Penetration testing cost also depends on the services offered by the testing teams. Some teams offer you all-inclusive services consisting of many reports, suggestions, etc. These teams keep you completely involved in the testing process.
Penetration testing costs can vary from a few thousand dollars to more than $100,000 depending upon the size and complexity of the website.
7.The complexity of the system
A penetration test is a mandate for corporate of all types, be it a start-up or a multibillion-dollar company. But depending upon their size, the cost of penetration testing also differs as the difference in size leads to differences in the amount of work required for penetration testing. The number of systems, number of roles, type of testing play an important role in determining the cost of penetration testing.
8. Types of tools used
Penetration testing might require a variety of tools for its execution. There is a large variety of such tools and even their pricing differs by a huge margin. Some of the tools are available free of cost while others come for a hefty amount. The use of these tools in penetration testing plays an important role in determining the overall cost of penetration testing.
Cost of pen testing
The cost of penetration testing can range from $1500-$5000+ in a normal situation with respect to how big the company and complex the systems are.

For somewhat decent testing, it would cost around 5000$ for a small company which has fewer than 100 employees
There will be another 25% increase in the cost if the penetration test has to be PCI compliant.

Conclusion:
Penetration testing is an important part of website testing to ensure the high-end security of your websites. But many website owners consider it as an expensive overhead and avoid conducting penetration testing. But focusing more on the initial cost of penetration testing they forget to count on the cost they might have to incur for not getting the penetration testing done.

Not getting penetration testing done opens the doors of your website to security breaches. These security breaches cannot bring you monetary losses but can also be very harmful to your reputation and name. Hence, realize the importance of penetration testing and ensure you conduct penetration testing.
hope you get an idea about How much does penetration test cost?
Why Testbytes?
Testbytes can carry out penetration testing for your company with astounding efficiency. Price ranges from 1500$ to – 5000$ based on the complexity of the system.

11 Easy Steps to Secure Your Website From Hackers

Posted on November 1, 2019 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

In this time of heightened cyber-attack you must be aware of how to secure website from hackers. Your website is an important asset to your business. It is very important to protect it from any kind of threat and hacking. Here are some ways that can help you protect your website from hacking.
1. Install security plugins

If your website is built using a content management system, you can easily improve the security of your website using the plugins. Most of the CMS offer security plugins so that you can improve the security of your website.

Security plugins for WordPress:

iThemes Security
Bulletproof Security
Sucuri
Wordfence
fail2Ban

Security options for Magento:

Amasty
Watchlog Pro
MageFence

Security extensions for Joomla:

JHackGuard
jomDefender
RSFirewall
Antivirus Website Protection

These plugins prove helpful in barring security vulnerabilities. You can also opt for siteLock. It supports both CMS managed and HTML pages. SiteLocks does regular monitoring for all security loopholes including malware detection, vulnerability identification, active virus scanning, etc.
2. Use HTTPS

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate helps in secure-transfer of information amid the website and the server. There is a lot of secure information that we need to share through the websites.
The secure transaction ensures the end clients to freely transact their information without worrying about the treats the insecure transfer of sensitive information can bring.

Must Know : Top 10 WordPress Plugins For Developers and Testers

The security of your website plays a very important in today’s world unless your clients are satisfied and trust your security system, they will not share their sensitive information with you. SSL is an important way to convince your customers about the security of their information.
3. Keep your website platform and software up-to-date

One of the main causes of security threats on the website is vulnerabilities in CMS’s extensible components. Many of these extensible components are open source, and hackers could easily detect the security vulnerabilities and take control and exploit your website.
To ensure the security of your website your CMS, plugins needs to be updated.
4. Make sure your passwords are secure

Making your password strong might not seem to be a very unique and dominant idea, but the fact is keeping your password strong plays a very important role. It is important that you keep your password strong.
It should be long enough, with special characters, numbers, letters, etc. Avoid keeping your password on the names of special people in your life and on special dates of your life. It gets easier for hackers to hack such a password.
Not only you, but your team should also follow these rules so that the hackers could not enter your system through any of your team member’s ID.
5. Invest in automatic backups

Even after following all the precautionary methods, there are still few chances of you getting attacked by hackers. The best way in such cases is to have a backup copy of your website. In case you do not have a backup copy, you might land lose everything.
Though data breaches are very stressful no matter what, having a backup can give you a levy to recover your website easily. But sometimes you might forget to back up your website, regularly and hence investing in the automatic backup can give you peace of mind.

Must Read : How to Find Bugs in Your App

The above steps are easy to follow and can even be followed by people with minimal technical knowledge, but here we move on to some more complicated ways to protect your website from hackers.
These advanced techniques might require a technically skilled person and also ensure a higher level of security from hackers.
6. Be cautious while accepting file uploads.

Allowing uploads to your website can be pretty dangerous. Hackers can upload malicious files to your system and can gain access to your system, overwrite existing files, can bring your website down, etc. hence, it is very important to check the kind of files that are being uploaded to your system.
If not required, do not permit file uploads at all. But if it’s a necessity, do keep a check on it. The following points may help you to protect your website by the hackers.

Allow only specific file types to be uploaded to your system.
The above point can be easily defied by renaming the file. Hence it is highly recommended to use file type verification.
Set maximum file size and reject all the files over this size.
Scan files for malware. Use antivirus software to check all files before opening.
Use a system to automatically rename a file when uploaded to your system. In such a case hackers will keep looking for their file to accomplish their notorious intentions.
Do not include upload folder in the web root, it will keep hackers away from accessing your website using their uploaded file.
These steps can prove helpful in defending your website from file uploads risks.

7. Use Parameterized Queries

SQL injections are a widely used method to hack websites by hackers. SQL injections can be exploited if your website has a web form or URL parameters that accept information from outsiders.
It these parameters are way too open they let the hackers exploit your website by inserting them with the codes that allow them to access your database. Though there are many ways to protect your website from hackers using SQL injections the easiest way is to use parameterized queries.
8. Use CSP

Cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks are another very common way that allows hackers to slip malicious JavaScript code into your website. This code can further infect the devices of the users of the website exposed to that code.
The easy way to defend your website from such abuses is to ensure that the code that accepts input that is categorical in accepting the inputs. It protects your website from getting induced to any malicious scripts and keeps it protected.
Content Security Policy (CSP) is also an effective tool to protect your website from XSS attacks. It permits you to allow specify domains a browser should consider.
9. Restrict the permissions for directories and files

There are several files and folders inside your web hosting account. They contain data that makes your website work and also includes the permissions on who can read, write, and execute the files and folders.
Ensure these rights are properly set to ensure the highest safety of your website. Any intrusion to these files and folders can put your website security on risk.
10. Be careful about the error messages.

Error messages can play a huge role in putting your website security on risk. How? Here it is: a detailed error message tells you what is wrong with your website and how can you rectify it. It can help you a lot internally. But if the same messages are displayed to your visitors they can exploit these messages and find vulnerabilities in your website and can exploit them.
Ensure that the error messages are not very detailed one that can give hackers a chance to get inside your system. But also make sure that these messages give an idea to the visitors to what to do next in case an error occurs.
11. Do proper validation

Validation has to be done both on both on the browser side and server-side. Imagine that someone is trying to inject code through one of the mandatory fields. The browser has to reject such an invalid input.
When it comes to validation like this it has been performed on server-side also to ensure that malicious code hasn’t been injected to the website.
Conclusion:
Hacking is a very common practice in the digital world that has put on stake the security of your systems. Your website can too be easily exploited by hackers. It is very important that you take enough preventive methods to secure your website from hackers.

The security threats to your website can not only harm you and your business but can be equally harassing for your audiences. Ensure that you take proper measures to protect your website from hackers.

Top 15 Penetration Testing Companies in India

Posted on October 16, 2019 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

When it comes to penetration testing companies in India, there are indeed a handful of promising companies that are proving their capability all over the world.
Penetration testing has to be done by experienced and skilled personnel and in the long run, it can save companies who rely on it by millions. Wish to know how much does penetration testing cost?
Click here!
However, you need assistance from penetration testing companies who are good at what they do. Wish to know more about them let’s have a look
Let’s have a look at them

What is penetration testing?
Penetration testing is to intentionally simulate a cyber-attack on a system to detect the system vulnerabilities to these attacks. Penetration testing requires great expertise and hence only a few companies conduct penetration testing. Here are some of the expert penetration testing companies in India.
1. Test Bytes
TestBytes is a Pune based software testing firm that uses software testing strategies to offer its clients quantifiable results. TestBytes helps development teams deliver bug-free software and has expertise in IT cyber-security testing.

Core Services: Penetration Testing, Mobile App Testing, Game Testing, Automation Testing, Test management services, Ecommerce testing services, Web Application testing, security testing, software performance testing, Functional Testing, Browser compatibility.
Features

Employs CMMI, ISO, Agile best practices.
certified in ISTQB, CSTE, CSQA, and Automation Tools
Expertise in developing reusable automation frameworks, templates, & repositories
Expertise in penetration testing
A large team of in-house and remote testers
High-end testing laboratory

2. eSec Forte
eSec Forte, founded in 2010 is a CMMI Level-3 ISO 9001-2008, 27001-2013 certified company that is counted among the best IT service providers and cybersecurity consulting services. eSec Forte is headquartered in Delhi and was founded in the year 2010 and is one of the best penetration testing companies in India.

Core Services: Penetration Testing, Mobile Application Security, Configuration Assessment, Vulnerability Assessment, Source Code Review, Wireless Network Assessment, Malware Analysis, Incident Response
Products: Core Impact for Penetration Testing, Smokescreen for Cyber Deception, Nessus for Vulnerability Management, CHECKMARX, Digital Guardian for Data Loss Prevention, Netsparker, and Web inspect for Application Security
Speciality

It provides veteran penetration testing services.
It offers mobile apps based on the skeletal framework.
It involves the clients completely in all the processes, to give the best satisfaction.

3. ISECURION
ISECURION is a Bangalore based IT cybersecurity firm and is known for its high-end services, modernization, and research in IT Security Consulting and Technology. ISECURION caters their clients based on the current information security setting.

Core Services: Penetration Testing, Mobile Application Security, Vulnerability Assessment, Network Security, Red team Penetration Testing, Blockchain Security, Compliance Audits, Source Code Audit, SCADA Security Audits, ISO 27001 Implementation & Certification, SAP Security Assessment, etc.
Speciality

Manual and automated penetration testing
Good domain expertise.
Certified IT Security Consultants
Recognizes gaps in the company’s people, technology, and process.
Does not only find vulnerabilities in the system but also helps to fix them.
Uses modern technologies, techniques, and industry best practices.

4. SumaSoft
SumaSoft is a Pune based ITES and BPO Company providing customized Business Process Management Services.

Core Services: Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Assessment, Network Security Monitoring, Business Process Outsourcing, Cloud Migration Services, Database Support Services, Logistics Services, Software Development Services.
Products: Cloud-based Asset Management System.
Speciality

18+ experience
Offers various services in Software and QA, BPO, and Security Management Services.
Best Business solution providers.
Software solutions for web, mobile, and cloud.

5. Kratikal Tech Pvt. Ltd
Kratikal Tech Pvt. Ltd is a Noida Based firm that offers services to protect your businesses from cyber threat attacks. They use advanced technologies to assist you with critical security issues.

Core Services: Network Penetration Testing, Infrastructure Penetration Testing, E-Commerce, Cloud Security Testing, Application/Server Security Testing, Compliance Management etc.
Products: ThreatCop, a cybersecurity enhancer.
Speciality

Provides cybersecurity services to various sectors including Financial Services, Healthcare, Government, Payment Services, E-Commerce, and Educational firms.
Offers Real-Time Attack Simulation services
Offers Manual and automated security testing.
Good RoI on security investments.
Conducts Risk Assessment.

6. Secugenius
Secugenius is a Noida based Information Security provider that offers expert solutions to defend the businesses from cybercrime. Their security expertise and ethical hacking services to defend the business against cyber threats has made a remarkable presence in the market.

Core Services: Web app Penetration Testing, Network Penetration Testing, Website Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Assessment, Database Pen Testing, Mobile App Security Testing, Cloud Security, Source Code Review, etc.
Products: QuickX platform
Speciality

Quick X platform is an effective solution for cost, scalability, and time-related issues.
24 x 7 R & D support.
Quick X also offers an instant payment option.

7. Pristine Info Solutions
Pristine Info Solutions is a Mumbai based penetration testing provider that offers real-world threat assessment and wide-ranging penetration tests. It is known as one of the best Ethical Hacking and Information Security service provider in India.

Core Services: Penetration Testing, Cyber Law Consulting, Information Security Services, Cyber Crime Investigation
Speciality

Manual and automated penetration testing:
Information Security Services encompassing Network Security Audit, Security Compliance Audit, Website Security Audit, Mobile Security Testing, etc.
Flexible service delivery models, and security alignments

8. Entersoft
Entersoft Security is a Bengaluru based application security solution service provider that provides its clients with a strong application for operational threat susceptibility valuation.

Core Services: Penetration Testing, Code Review, Vulnerability Testing, Application Security Monitoring, Cloud Security, Compliance Management, etc.
Specialty

Entersoft Business Suit and Entersoft Expert for Business Intelligence
Entersoft Retail for E-Commerce
Entersoft WMS for Warehouse Management
Entersoft Mobile Field Service etc.

Features:

Offensive assessment
Proactive monitoring and assessment.
FinTech and Nasscom award winner

9. Secfence
Secfence is a New Delhi based, Information Security service provider and has its expertise in research-based cybersecurity solutions.

Core Services: Penetration Testing, Web Application Penetration Testing, Anti-Malware Software Development, Vulnerability Assessment, R&D Services, Information Security Training, Intelligence Analytics, Web Application Code Review, Cyber Crime Investigation, etc.
Products: Pentest++.
Speciality

Specializes in real-world cyber-attack
Offers pioneer technologies and methodologies to prevent National, Corporate, and Individual firms and infrastructure from extreme cyber-attacks in terms of information security.

10. SecureLayer7
SecureLayer7 is based in Pune and is a globally acclaimed cybersecurity service provider that offers information security solutions to businesses.

Core Services: Vulnerability Assessment, Penetration Testing, Source Code Audit, Network Security, Mobile App Security, SAP Security Assessment, Telecom Network Security, etc.
Specialty

Offers knowledge-based support.
Assures ‘Zero Security Threat Alert’.
24x 7 Real-Time Solutions.

11. Indian cybersecurity solution

ICSS or Indian cybersecurity solution in Kolkata based on a leading web application penetration testing company. It offers vulnerability assessment services for various programming languages and environments. ICSS serves the world with its outstanding penetration testing capabilities. They offer penetration testing for
Core Services
Web-based apps, AWS environments, Traditional normal apps, etc.
The company has proven its mark by servicing various organizations worldwide and securities them from any vulnerable cyber attacks. They have a team of highly skilled testers who work in detail to ensure no loopholes in the system remains undetected.
12. Holm security

Holm Security is located in New Delhi in India. With increasing cyber attacks, it has become extremely important to unveil all the vulnerabilities in your system.

At Holm security, their highly experienced and certified testers ensure to leave no loopholes in your system and ensure high security.
With systems having highly secure and sensitive information, the vulnerability check becomes even more important.
And Holm security is one company that ensures highly comprehensive penetration testing leaving their clients worry-free.

13. Shieldbyte infosec

This Mumbai based penetration testing company is a team of skilled, certified, and experienced team with many years of experience.

With the help of their highly expert team, they are capable of taking off the high-end information security.
The Shieldbyte Infosec is renowned for their time management and on-time delivery.
Their main services include RISK ASSESSMENT & SECURITY MANAGEMENT, Vulnerability Assessment, Penetration Testing, Web Application Security Assessment, Mobile Application Security Assessment, Source Code Review, DDOS Assessment Services, Network & Wireless Assessment, Social Engineering Risk Assessment, Forensic Analysis, etc.

Core Services
Security risk and gap analysis, digital forensic and cybercrime investigation
14. Cybersecurity hive

Cybersecurity hive is a Bangalore based security testing specializing in penetration testing and vulnerability assessment. Their
cybersecurity services include

Web VAPT
Mobile VAPT
Network VAPT
Cloud security assessment
Phishing simulation.

With their expert and dedicated team, they ensure they secure their clients from any kind of cyberattacks.
Core Services
Penetration testing, Threat intelligence, VAPT, etc.
15. EC-Council Global Services

EC-Council Global Services is among one of the most reputed penetration companies in India. It helps secure your organization by implementing high-end penetration testing. It carries out a comprehensive assessment and testing to find loopholes in your system. It is located in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad.

The company employs highly talented, expert, qualified and experienced testers to ensure high-grade security of your system.
The company also offers remote services to ensure better security services.
EC-Council Global Services ensures high-quality services by offering customized penetration testing services to its clients based on their specific needs.

Core Services
Secured Artificial Intelligence Based Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Enterprise, Cyber Security, etc.

Company Name	Company presence	Services	Founded Year
Testbytes	Pune	Penetration testing, information security testing, vulnerability assessment, Wapt, App testing, Game testing, etc.	2011
EsecForte	Delhi	Security Assessment, security consulting, etc.	2011
Isecurion	Bangalore	Vulnerability assessment, penetration testing, closed security assessment, etc.	2015
Sumasoft	Pune	Enterprise Security, VAPT, security testing, etc.	2000
Kratikal tech	Noida	Application security testing, server security testing, network penetration testing, etc.	2013
Entersoft	Bangalore	Cloud security testing and consulting	2002
Securelayer 7	Pune	Application penetration testing. Mobile app security testing. VOIP security etc.	2012
Secfence	New Delhi	Red Teaming Platforms, Vulnerability & Exploit Research, Cyber Deception Platform, Automated End-user Attack Simulation Platform	2010
CyberOps	Jaipur	Penetration testing, Assessment, and review, etc.	2016
Prestine infosolution	Mumbai	Information security, cyber law consulting, and training	2010
Secugenius	Noida	penetration testing, Source code review, DDoS protection etc.	2011
EC-Council Global Services	Mumbai	VAPT, Cybersecurity posture assessment, etc.	NA
Cyber security hive	Bangalore	Web VAPT, Mobile VAPT, Network VAPT, Cloud security assessment, Phishing solution, etc.	2018
Shieldbyte infosec	Mumbai	Security risk and gap analysis, digital forensic and cybercrime investigation	2018
Holm Security	New Delhi	Penetration testing, Threat intelligence, VAPT, etc.	NA
Indian cybersecurity solution	Kolkata	Secured Artificial Intelligence Based Vulnerability Assessment Tool for Enterprise, Cyber Security, etc.	2013

Things to be considered while hiring a penetration testing company
There are a few things that you should consider before hiring a penetration testing company

1. Ensure that the company employees expert, trained, and certified testers.
2. Always choose a reputed firm for penetration testing. The company will have access to the inner infrastructure of your company and will know all your security loopholes, so ensure the company you are hiring is trustworthy and well certified.
3. Ensure that the company is proficient and adopts the latest methodology and penetration testing techniques.
4. Always have well documented and signed rules of engagement documents. Also, ensure the safety of your crucial and sensitive data.
5. Ensure that the company offers customized pen testing services and has all the required pen-testing tools and people expert in using such tools.

Conclusions:
Penetration testing is the need of the present-day world, with the rising security threats. Hence it should be ensured that that penetration testing should be done with utmost care. So, while choosing the company for getting penetration testing done, be assured to pick the best.

Top 10 Most Common Types of Cyber Attacks

Posted on July 5, 2019 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

Increasing usage of internet has also led to an increase in cyber-crimes / cyber-attacks. But how many types of cyber-attacks are you familiar with? In order to tackle cyber threats, you must be well aware of its nature. So here are the top 10 types of cyber attacks that you need to know about.

What are Cyber Attacks?

A Cyber Attack is defined as an attack originated by a digital system against another digital device, website, or any other digital system and compromises its privacy, reliability or the data stored in it.
Not only these attacks are a threat to digital individuals but are a great threat to businesses as well.
“The total volume of cyber-attacks has increased almost fourfold between January 2016 and October 2017.” – Cisco Annual Cyber-security Report

Why are Cyber-Attacks Initiated?

Before moving further to types of cyber-attacks, let us first have a look at the reasons for initiating cyber-attacks:

Acquiring unauthorized access to a digital network, system or its data.
Denial of service
Virus or malware installation
Hacking a website for unsolicited purposes
To get access to personal and secure information of people and businesses
Unauthorized use of a computer

Types of Cyber Attacks

Cyber-attacks can be of various types. You need to be aware of all those types of cyber attacks to guarantee your utmost safety and security.

1) Malware

Malware is considered as software that is intentionally developed to disrupt computer, server, client, or computer network.
Malware can be in the form of scripts, executable codes, active content, and other malicious software.
These codes can be computer worms, viruses, ransomware, Trojan horses, adware, spyware, or scare ware. Malware, as the name suggests, is designed with a malicious intent to cause damage to the website/computer user.
The most prominent damages caused by malware are:

As ransomware, it blocks access to key components of the network.
Installs harmful software/malware
As spyware, they can steal valuable information from your system (spyware)
They can damage certain hardware components of your system and make them inoperable.

2) Phishing

The main aim of Phishing is to steal restricted and private information such as credit card details, login ids, and passwords, etc.
By impersonating oneself as a reliable establishment in electronic communication. It is usually done through email spoofing or instant messaging.

They carry a link that directs users to a fake website which looks similar to the legitimate site and asks them to enter personal and secure information. It is a fraudulent activity intended to cheat users.
They bait the users by claiming to be from a reliable third group such as auction sites, online payment processors, social web sites, banks, or IT administrators.
You need to be well aware and acknowledged with such fraudulent activities to bypass any such fraud activities.

3) Man-In-The-Middle Attack

In Man-in-the-middle (MitM) the invader covertly modifies the chats and dialogues between two people who are communicating with each other.
In a Man-in-the-middle attack, the communicators are made to believe that they are directly communicating with each other without any interference from any third party.
But the truth is that the whole communication is controlled by the invader while making the communicators believe that they are talking to each other. It is also known as eavesdropping.
The Entry Points For MITM

The invaders can easily take control of o private chats over an unsecured public Wi-Fi. Invaders can inset between the device and the network and can take control of the private hats in the network. The communicators without having any idea pass all the conversation to the invaders.
It can also be done through malware. In such cases, the invader installs software on the victim’s device to process all his information.

4) Denial-of-service attack

In denial-of-service attack (DoS attack) the offender tries to make digital assets inaccessible to its anticipated users.
The offender provisionally interrupts services of a host who is linked to the Internet. It involves overflowing the besieged machine with surplus applications to burden it from fulfilling the legitimate requests.

5) SQL Injection attack

A Structured Query Language (SQL) injection attack allows the intruders to run malicious SQL statements. These SQL statements have the power to take over the database server.
Using SQL injection intruders can overcome application security measures.
It allows them to pass through the validation and approval process of any web application.
It also allows them to recover the entire data from their database. It also gives access to intruders to add, modify, and delete data in the database.
An SQL Injection allows intruders to fiddle with various databases including MySQL, Oracle, SQL Server, or others. It is widely used by attackers to get access over:

Personal data
Intellectual property
Customer information
Trade secrets and more.

6.Zero-Day Attack

The zero-day vulnerability is a defect in the software, hardware or even the firmware.
It is hidden from the teams responsible for fixing this bug. It is referred to as zero-day as it has a zero day time gap between the time it is detected and the first attack.

7. Cross-Site Scripting

In Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) attacks the malicious scripts are embedded to reliable websites.
The intruders send malicious code to different users by embedding them into a trusted website usually as a browser side script.
The web browser cannot recognize this malicious script and has no idea that it is unreliable, and hence it executes the script as it comes from a trusted source. But alas these malicious scripts have powers to access any session tokens, cookies, or any other secret information that is used by that site.

8. Credential Reuse Attack

With almost every personal account asking for Ids and passwords, we tend to reuse them for various accounts.
Though it is a big NO, we tend to reuse one id and password for many accounts. Reusing the same password can be a big threat to your security.
The intruders can steal your usernames and passwords from a hacked website and they get a chance to log in to your other account using the same id n passwords.
And if you have reused them they get a golden opportunity to peek into your private accounts including your bank account, email, your social media accounts, and many others.
And we really do not need to tell you how hazardous it could be! So follow password security best practices and avoid using the same id and password for multiple accounts. You can use Password managers to manage the various IDs you use.

9. Password Attack

Passwords are the main gateways to securely enter into your personal accounts. Getting access to these passwords is an age-old and most convenient way to intrude into someone’s private account.

Our passwords are usually connected to our life’s incidents, people and places and hackers take benefit of such details. They can even sniff into the network to gain access to unencrypted passwords.
Attackers can use either of the below given two approaches to get hack your passwords:

Brute-force

Brute force is just like any other guessing game where you apply your wits and logic and expect that one of your guesses might work.

Dictionary attack

In such attacks, attackers use a dictionary of common passwords to intrude into the user’s computer and network.
The attackers copy encrypted file having the list of passwords, and use it to a dictionary of frequently used passwords. They then compare the results to take hold of the user’s password.
The account lockout policy is the best method to evade such risks as it locks your account after a few wrong attempts and hence securing your accounts.

10) Drive-By Download Attack

Drive-by –download attack is a common method used by hackers to spread malicious scripts or codes on user’s systems.
Attackers embed a malicious script into an insecure website’s pages. Whenever you visit such websites, the scripts will automatically install on your system or might redirect you to a website that is controlled by the attacker.
These attacks can occur by visiting a website, a pop-up window or an email message. Drive-by downloads do not require users input to get activated.
It does not require you to download/open any malicious attachment. It uses an operating system/ web browser with inadequate security features.
To avoid the risk of drive-by download attack you should:

Keep operating systems and browsers up to date
Avoid suspicious websites.
Try to use known websites as much as possible.
Don’t download unnecessary programs and apps.
Keep minimal plug-ins.

10 Major Cyber-Attacks of 21st Century

Now when we have learned about various types of cyber-attacks and we are sure about their ugly existence. Cyber-attack can happen to any digital user at any time and at any place.
Some might be harmless or might cause just a little damage. But there are a few types of cyber attacks that had caused significant damage and had taken entry in the list of most significant cyber-attacks.

And Here are 10 Major Cyber-Attacks on 21st Century..

1. Cyber-Attack on Yahoo!

One of the most prominent internet giant, Yahoo suffered a big blow when the security of their 3 billion user accounts was put on stake.
The names, dates of birth, email addresses, passwords as well as security questions and answers of 3 billion users were put on stake. The attack took place in 2013-2014.
The attack had severely affected the company; the Yahoo group that was once valued at $100 billion was finally sold off to Verizon for only $4.48 billion for its core Internet business.
The name of the company was later changed to Altaba, Inc. after the sale.

2. eBay Cyber-Attack

Another cyber-attack that shook the entire world was the user’s database hacking by the intruders.
The e-commerce giant was subjected to a major cyber-attack in May 2014 when hackers intruded into the user’s database using their corporate employee’s accounts.
The hackers had complete access into their network for about 229 days. The breach compromised the sensitive information like names, dates of birth, addresses, and encrypted passwords of around 145 million users.
But as per the company, the financial data of the customers was safe at it was stored in a separate database and was not compromised. The beach resulted in widespread criticism of the company and incurred great loses.

Recommended Read: Major Cyber Attacks on India (Alarming News)

3. Equifax Cyber Attack

Equifax one of the US largest credit bureaus, faced a major blow when the data of its 143 million costumers was hacked.
The customer’s sensitive information including birth dates, Social Security Numbers, addresses, and drivers’ license numbers was hacked by the intruders.
The attack did not end with hacking only the personal information, even the credit card information of around 209,000 consumers was stolen too.
According to the company, the application vulnerability on their site resulted in the data attack. The attack was exposed on July 29, 2017, but was suspected to have started in mid-May the same year.

4. Target Stores Data Breach

End of December 2013 gave a big blow to Target stores when they discovered that a data breach into their system had compromised the Credit/debit card details and/or contact information of around 110 million people.
The hackers penetrated into their private network by exploiting their vulnerability through a third-party vender for HVAC system to POS payment card readers. The cyber-attack cost them around $162 million.

Know about : What is Data Breach? How to Prevent Data Breach

The CEO and CIO of the company had to resign after this major cyber-security issue.

5. Uber Cyber-Security Breach

Data breaches are common events in the current digital world. How the companies deal with it, also play an equally important role. Uber was subjected to a data breach in late 2016. The company was not much criticized as its take on this attack was.
The breach resulted in compromising names, mobile phone numbers and email addresses of 57 million Uber users and 600,000 Uber driver’s driver license numbers.
The company discovered of the breach in late 2016 but made it public almost after a year. Not only that the company offered the hackers an amount of massive $100,000 to destroy the data without verifying they actually did.
The breach had resulted in the loss of both the reputation and finances of the company. The company was in negotiation to sell its stakes to Softbank, at the time the breach was announced. The breach lowered the value of the deal from $68 billion to $48 billion.

6. JP Morgan Chase Data Breach

JP Morgan; one of the finest bank of the USA suffered from a cyber-attack which compromised the contact information – names, addresses, phone numbers and email addresses of 6 million households and 7 million small businesses.
There were no monetary losses. The hackers gained privilege over 90 bank servers. July of 2014 would really have been tough for JP Morgan to have a deal with all such critical issues.

7. US Office of Personnel Management – The OPM Data Breach

USA was taken off when the Chinese hacker intruded into their OPM through a third-party contractor.
The attack started in 2012 but was discovered only on March 20, 2014. A second hacker again hacked into their OPM system in May 2014 but was discovered only after almost a year.
The attackers hacked the sensitive information including security clearance data and fingerprint information of over 22 million current and past federal workers.

8. Cyber Attack on Sony PlayStation Network

One of the biggest data breaches in the gaming industry of all times happened on the Sony PlayStation Network. April 20, 2011, is a date that will always be remembered in the gaming industry for the biggest data breach in the gaming industry.
The hackers hacked 77 million Network accounts. These accounts had 12 million accounts that had unencrypted credit card numbers.
The hackers hacked full names, e-mails, credit card numbers, passwords, purchase history, PSN/Qriocity logins and passwords, and home addresses.
Sony incurred losses of an estimate of $171 million. It resulted in an initial $15 million reimbursement in a lawsuit over the breach.

9. RSA Security Attack

March 2011, is a date that is still in debates for the cyber-security breach of the mighty security giant’s SecurID authentication tokens of the company RSA.
The hackers successfully managed to perform phishing attack on RSA employees and impersonated as individuals and intruded into the network of the company. The attack is estimated to have stolen 40 million employee records.

10. Adobe Cyber Attack

Another big cyber-attack that shook the IT giant Adobe happened in October 2013.
The attack compromised the personal information including customer names, IDs, passwords and debit and credit card information of over 38 million users.
The company paid $1 million as legal fees to resolve prerogatives of violating the Customer Records Act and biased business practices.
When market biggies like Yahoo, eBay, Equifax, etc. can get trapped in the trap of cyber-attacks, you too can! So be aware and follow all cyber-security safety measures religiously and BE SAFE!

Response on Cyber Attack

Even after taking precautions cyber-attacks can knock your digital doors. In such cases your initial responses should be:

It the attack real or just a prank
If you can access your data; take a backup.
If required approach legal authorities
If employees misuse their rights take appropriate actions
If services are denied, the website traffic should be diverted to other servers.

Prevention of Cyber Attacks

Though there is no guarantee to debar cyber-attacks completely, you can take as many precautions as you can to avoid them. Some of the steps you can follow to safeguard you are:

Use a good anti-virus that can detect various malware and can stop them from getting inside your system.
Use a good firewall. Use a good quality third party firewall apart from your default firewall.
In a corporate computer network, assure that no Plug and Play is supported in any system.
Corporates should use good network traffic analyzer to track any strange usage behavior from any system.
To protect yourself from DDoS attacks, mitigate your website to different servers and even better to use cloud service.
To prevent high-grade attacks seeks the expertise of a security testing company. Their vulnerability assessment report will be extensive and will tighten all the loose ends of the digital products and windows of your company.

Conclusion
Cyber-attacks are a sad reality of the digital world. Proper legislative rules are now laid down to protect the users from these hazardous attacks. Cyber-attacks are much more than just gaining unauthorized access to other’s systems.

They can be very hazardous. And can lead to loss of money, brand name and can even be a big blow to your integrity. So being a digital user, it is just for you to know about all these types of cyber attacks and take proper measures to avoid them and take proper steps in case you are fallen a victim to them.

21 Best Network Scanning Tools for Network Security

Posted on May 15, 2019 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

Network scanning tools are designed with only one intention. To prevent and monitor threats like misuse and unauthorized manipulation of a network.
Network scanning tools, a covenant of Network Security, identify loopholes and vulnerabilities of the network to safeguard it from unprecedented and abnormal behavior that poses a threat to the system spoiling any confidential and personal information.
What is network scanning?
For proper maintenance and assessment of the network security system, the following processes are carried out:

Detection of two active hosts on a network and identification of filtering systems between them
Scanning of frequently used TCP and UDP network services
Detection of TCP Sequence Number of both the hosts
Scanning and transfer of data packets to a specified port number

There are various Network Scanning Tools (IP and Network Scanner) intended for the maintenance and assessment of a Network Security System.

The top 15 has been mentioned here:
1. Acunetix
2. OpenVas
3. Wireshark
4. Nikto
5. Angry IP Scanner
6. Advanced IP Scanner
7. Qualys Freescan
8. SoftPerfect
9. Retina Network Scanner
10. Nmap
11. Nessus
12. Metasploit Framework
13. Snort
14. OpenSSH
15. Nexpose
16. SolarWinds Network Device Scanner
17.ManageEngine
18.Intruder
19.Syxsense
20. PRTG Network Monitor
21.Fiddler
1) Acunetix

Acunetix Online is a fully automated versatile scanning tool which is able to identify and report on a plethora of known network threats and misconfigurations.
Key features:

Running services and open ports are discovered
Security of routers, firewalls, switches, and load balancers is assessed
DNS zone relocation, weak passwords, weak SNMP community strings, and TLS/SSL ciphers, poorly configured Proxy Servers, are tested.
A comprehensive audit of network security over the audit of Acunetix web application is carried out by incorporating this tool with Acunetix online.

Website: https://www.acunetix.com/
2) OpenVAS

Key Features:

The Open Vulnerability Assessment System (OpenVAS) tool is a free and reliable tool for scanning network security.
Lots of OpenVAS components are licensed under the General Public License or GNU.
The Security Scanner that comprises the key component of OpenVAS operates in a Linux environment only.
OpenVAS can be incorporated with Open Vulnerability Assessment Language (OVAL) to note down vulnerability tests.
Scanning alternatives offered by OpenVAS are:
Full scanning of the entire network.
Scanning of the web server and web applications.
Scanning for WordPress vulnerability and WordPress web server issues.
Demonstrated ability to perform as a robust network vulnerability scanning tool with a smart customized approach.

Website: http://www.openvas.org/
3) Wireshark

Key Features:

Being an open-source tool, Wireshark has marked its utility as a network protocol analyzer capable of performing on various platforms.
Data vulnerabilities cropping up between the active client and server on a live network are scanned with this tool.
Network traffic can be viewed and the network stream can be pursued.
The Wireshark tool operates on Linux, Windows, as well as on OSX.
It demonstrates the stream development of TCP session and comprises tshark, a tcpdump support rendition (tcpdump is a packet analyzer operating on a command line).
Experience of Remote Security Exploitation is the lone issue with Wireshark tool.

Website: https://www.wireshark.org/
4) Nikto

Key Features:

Nikto functions as an open-source web server scanner.
It performs fast testing to identify suspicious activities on the network along with other network programs capable of exploiting network traffic.
The most excellent highlights of Nikto are:
Full HTTP substitute support.
Reporting in HTML, XML, and CSV formats tailored as per requirement.
The scanning qualities of Nikto will refresh automatically.
Web server options, HTTP servers, and server configurations are checked for.

Website: https://cirt.net/Nikto2
5) Angry IP Scanner

Key Features:

It is a free and open-source network scanning tool that scans IP addresses and also executes port scans successfully and swiftly
The scan report comprises information like computer name, hostname, MAC address, NetBIOS (Network Basic Input/Output System), workgroup information, etc
The report can be generated in Txt, CSV, and/or XML format
It operates with a Multi-threaded Scanning approach where a different scanning thread for every individual IP address improves the scanning procedure

Website: https://angryip.org/download/#windows
6) Advanced IP Scanner

Key Features:

It is an open-source and free network scanning tool that runs on the Windows platform.
It has the capability to identify and scan any device on a network including remote gadgets.
It lets RDP, FTP and HTTPS services to run on the remote machine.
It carries out several actions like remote access, remote wake-on-LAN, and a speedier shutdown.

Website: https://www.advanced-ip-scanner.com/
7) Qualys Freescan

Key Features:

Qualys Freescan is an open-source and free network scanning tool that offers scans for local servers, Internet Protocols, and URLs to identify safety ambiguities.
Qualys Freescan supports three types of checks:
Vulnerability tests for SSL-related issues and malware.
Tests network configuration against Security Contents i.e.; SCAP.
Qualys Freescan is capable of performing only 10 free scans. And therefore cannot be used for regular network scans.
It helps to differentiate network issues and security patches to dispose of it.

Website: https://freescan.qualys.com/freescan-front/
8)SoftPerfect

Key Features:

It is a free network scanning tool with a set of advanced Multi-thread IPv4/IPv6 scanning features.
It offers information like hostname and MAC address that is associated with LAN network derived from HTTP, SNMP, and NetBIOS.
It gathers information on local and external IP addresses, secluded wake-on-LAN, and shut down.
It assists in improving the performance of the network and recognizes the working condition of devices on a network to check network availability.
This tool has a demonstrated utility for the multi-protocol environment.

Website: https://www.softperfect.com/
9) Retina Network Scanner

Key Features:

RN Scanner provides a security patch for Adobe, Microsoft, and Firefox applications.
It is an unconnected network vulnerability tool capable of supporting the assessment of threats derived from the Operating System, finest network performance, and applications.
It is a free tool that runs on a Windows server with the provision of security fixes up to 256 IPs.
This tool performs user-customized scanning simultaneously allowing the user to select the type of report delivery.

Website: https://www.beyondtrust.com/resources/datasheets/retina-network-security-scanner
10) Nmap

Key Features

Also known as a Port scanning tool, Nmap maps the network and its ports numerically.
Nmap is associated with NSE (Nmap Scripting Engine) scripts to spot network security issues and misconfiguration.
It is a free tool that finds out host availability by verifying the IP packets.

Website: https://nmap.org/
11) Nessus

Key Features:

It is an extensively applied network security scanner that runs in a UNIX system.
The tool which was earlier an open-source and free software is now commercial software.
The free edition of Nessus is obtainable with limited security features.
The chief security highlights of Nessus consist of:
Web-based interface
Client-Server architecture
Remote and local security checks
Built-in plug-ins
Nessus tool is obtainable with 70,000+ plug-ins and services or functionalities like detection of malware, scanning of web application scanning, and checking of system configuration, etc.
Among the advanced features are multi-network scanning, automated scanning, and asset discovery.
Nessus is obtainable with 3 versions namely Nessus Professional, Nessus Home, and Nessus Manager/Nessus Cloud.

Website: https://www.tenable.com/lp/campaigns/19/try-nessus/
12) Metasploit Framework

Key Features:

This Network Scanning Tool detects network exploit.
Although earlier it was an open-source tool, it is now a commercial tool.
An open-source and free edition known as Community Edition is also available but that comes with limited security features.
The advance edition is obtainable as Express Edition while the full-featured edition is obtainable as Pro Edition.
GUI for Metasploit Framework is Java-based whereas GUI for Community Edition, express, and Pro Edition is web-based.

Website: https://www.metasploit.com/
13) Snort

Key Features:

Short is a free and open-source tool that detects network intrusion and prevents systems.
Snort analyses network traffic with an ongoing IP address.
It is able to spot port scan, worm, and other networks exploit by means of content searching and protocol analysis.

14) OpenSSH

Key Features:

SSH (Secure Shell) assists in setting up safe and encrypted contact over an insecure network link between unreliable hosts.
OpenSSH is an open-source tool and runs in a UNIX environment.
The Internal network can be accessed using single point access through SSH.
As a Premier Connectivity Tool, it encrypts the network traffic and eradicates network issues like eavesdropping, unreliable connection and connection usurping between two hosts.
The tool provides server authentication, SSH tunneling, and secure network configuration.

Website: https://www.openssh.com/
15) Nexpose

Key Features:

Nexpose is a commercial network scanning tool while its Community Edition is available free.
It is capable of scanning network capabilities, operating systems, application databases, etc.
The tool offers a web-based GUI that can be set up on Linux and Windows operating systems, including virtual machines as well.
Community Edition of Nexpose comprises all robust features for network analysis.

Website: https://www.rapid7.com/products/nexpose/
16. SolarWinds

Network Device Scanner is one of the widely used network Scanners in 2021. With its Network Device Scanner and Network Performance Monitor, it discovers, monitors, scans, and maps the other network devices. It allows you to run the discovery tool at scheduled intervals or to run it once. Some if its important features are:

It automatically locates and inspects the network devices.
It maps network topology.
It assesses availability, fault, and performance metrics for network devices
The network performance monitor displays all this information and gives network alerts.
It analyzes on-premises and cloud services and applications.

Website: https://www.solarwinds.com/ip-address-manager/use-cases/network-scanner
17) ManageEngine

ManageEngine is a prominent network scanning tool in the year 2021, it is best suited for small, private, enterprise-scale, and government IT systems
Whereas, ManageEngine OpUtils provides network scanning for small to enterprise-scale networks.
It uses various network protocols such as ICMP and SNMP for network scanning. It provides analysis of connected devices, servers, and switch ports. Some of the important features of this network scanning tools are:

It is a web-based tool
It is a cross-platform tool.
It can execute on both Linux and Windows servers.
It includes 30 built-in network scanning tools.
It provides scanning across various servers, subnets, etc across a centralized console.
It supports grouping resources on the basis of IT admins, locations, etc.
It allows you to run the discovery tool at scheduled intervals or to run it once.
It provides real-time analysis results.

Website: https://www.manageengine.com/
18) Intruder

Intruder is an enterprise-grade network scanning tool that is suitable for companies of all sizes. It helps in discovering missing patches, misconfigurations, and common issues in web apps. It focuses on vulnerability management. It is very time-saving as it prioritizes its results and also automatically keeps scanning your system for any vulnerability.
Website: https://www.intruder.io/
19) Syxsense

It is a time-saving, economic, and easy-to-use network scanning tool. It provides easy to repeat automatic scans.

The determination of the TCP/UDP that is open can be traced.
SNMP ports that are open and vulnerable to OS bugs can be traced out
A global network map that can be used to confirm compliance or alert security threats
The entire live environment can be visualized in a jiffy. Hovering over the devices reveals the vulnerabilities.
Monitoring device health, vulnerabilities, and deploying patches can be done directly through the network map

Website: https://www.syxsense.com/vulnerability-scanner/
20) PRTG Network Monitor

PRTG Network Monitor is another prominent network scanning tool. It analyses your entire infrastructure including systems, traffic, devices, and applications. It is a complete package with to need for additional plugins. Some of its features are:

easy to use
suitable for any business size.
The monitor’s network infrastructure of your organization
Specific datasets from your database can be monitored and individually configured through PRTG sensors and SQL queries.
The local network can be easily tracked
protocol-based usage such as SNMP can be traced
Offers web-based interface.
Special features like detailed reporting, comprehensive network monitoring, flexible alert system.

Website: https://www.paessler.com/prtg
21) Fiddler

Fiddler is a widely used network scanning tool by Telerik for analyzing HTTP traffic. Some of the important features of Fiddler are:

It analyzes traffic between the selected systems in the network.
It also analyzes sent and received data packets
It also helps in security testing and analyzing the system performance of web applications.
It automatically captures the HTTP traffic

Website: https://www.telerik.com/fiddler
Conclusion
Network Scanning Tools can convert the crucial tasks of prevention of network intrusion into a much easier one. Moreover, Swift and incessant scanning of networks issues help us to arrange a prevention plan to get rid of them.
Today, all major software industries functioning on an online viewpoint make use of Network Scanning Tools to prevent network attacks.

What is gray/ grey box testing? Examples Included!

Posted on April 18, 2019 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

Gray box testing/ grey box testing is a method of testing a software system – application or product, externally and internally by using a combination of “white box testing” and “black-box testing”.
Gray box testing is carried out with limited or partial knowledge of the internal workings of the software system/application.
With a view to conquering the deficiencies and ambiguities found in such type of testing, Grey Box Testing (also spelled as Gray Box Testing) has been developed as a productive merger of white box and black box testing.
White Box Testing – the internal structure (code) is known
Black Box Testing – the internal structure (code) is unknown
Grey Box Testing – the internal structure (code) is partially known
let’s dive dip into the implication of grey/gray box testing in software engineering.

Grey Box Testing Methodology
First – White Box Testing to study and gain a basic understanding of the internal features of the application.
Second – Design and define test cases based on thorough knowledge and understanding to cover each and every aspect of the application.
Third – Black box testing to execute developed test cases to externally test the qualities of the software application.
Best Suited Applications:
Grey-box testing is an ideal fit for Web-based applications.
Grey-box testing is the best technique for domain or functional testing
Grey Box Testing Strategy in software engineering
It’s not necessary in this methodology that source code is required by the tester to design test cases. To carry out this testing process, test cases can be designed based on the algorithm, knowledge of architectures, internal states, or other advanced descriptions of the program behavior.
It utilizes all the clear-cut techniques of black box testing for function testing. The generation of a test case is based on requirements and presetting all the conditions by the assertion method.
The standard steps to carry out Grey box Testing are as follows:
Step 1: Selection and identification of inputs from White-Box and Black-Box testing inputs.
Step 2: Identification of probable outputs from the above-selected inputs.
Step 3: Identification of all the key paths to pass through during the testing phase.
Step 4: Identification of sub-functions to carry out deep-level testing.
Step 5: Identification of inputs for sub-functions.
Step 6: Identification of likely outputs for sub-functions.
Step 7: Execution of a test case for sub-functions.
Step 8: Verification of the appropriateness of outcome.
Step 9: Repetition of Steps 4 and 8.
Step 10: Repetition of Steps 7 and 8.
Security-related, GUI-related, Database related, Browser related, and Operational system-related testing are all part of the test cases designed for the process.
Types of Grey box testing/gray box testing/Grey box testing techniques
Matrix Testing
Matrix testing, a technique coming under Grey Box testing, defines all the used variables of a particular program. In any program, variables are the essential elements through which values can move through the program.
It should be on par with the requirement without which the readability of the program and speed of the software will be reduced. The matrix technique is a way to eliminate uninitialized and unused variables by identifying used variables from the program.
Examination of inherent risks like technical risks and business risks that are associated with the variables with different frequencies labeled by the software developer is carried out under this type of testing.
The design of test cases becomes smooth and easier when all of this information is summarized in two types of tables as in the following example:
All Info About Grey Box Testing (With Examples)
From the information in the above two tables, the testing analyst can immediately make out that the technical and business aspect of the code, namely saving and deleting records requires testing.
Regression Testing
This type of testing is carried out after executing a functional development or repair to the program.
To verify whether the modification in any of the previous versions of the software has regressed or caused any unintended or adverse side effect in other aspects of the program in the new version, the following testing strategies can be pursued:

Retesting within a firewall where dependencies are analyzed for choosing baseline tests
Retesting risky use cases where the risk factor is considered
Retesting all existing test cases
Retesting by profile where time is allocated in proportion to the operational profile
Retesting changed segment where code changes are compared for choosing baseline tests

At some stage in confirmation testing, if any defect got rectified, and that part of the software started functioning as intended, there might be a possibility that the rectified defect may have initiated a different defect somewhere else in the software.
Here, regression testing takes care of these types of defects by utilizing the above-mentioned testing strategies. The tester, as a reference, may use 80% of the allowed time to run existing test cases and 20% of the allowed time to execute exploratory testing.
Orthogonal Array Testing or OAT
The intention behind this testing is to locate defective logic in the system by providing coverage with the maximum code as well as GUI functions and with minimum test cases in a statistical and organized way of software testing.
Complex applications and e-comm products can be tested with this technique. Orthogonal Array Testing is composed of an array of values in which a variable is represented in each column and a test case is represented in each row.
A simple example is as follows:

By conveying values for each factor and then, of course, extrapolating for combined pairing, the total number of test cases will surely come down to nine from 27.
Though simple, this effective technique helps in maximizing the required testing coverage.
Pattern Testing
This testing is carried out by using the record of analysis on the historical data of the previous system defects. These analyses may contain specific reasons for the defect or bug with information on the problem that has been addressed, applicable situation, generic test cases, etc.
Unlike black box testing, grey box testing plows within the code to determine the reason for the failure so that they can be fixed in the next software. It is noteworthy that pattern testing is applicable only to such type of software that has been developed by following the same pattern of previous software as the possibility of similar defects occurs in this software only.
Generally, the Grey box methodology employs automated software testing tools to conduct the testing. Module drivers and stubs are created to relieve the tester from manually generating the code.
Examples for grey/gray box testing
Grey Box Testing is said to be performed when –

The codes for two modules or units are studied for designing test cases which is the White Box Testing method and then
Actual tests are conducted using the exposed interfaces which are the Black Box Testing method.

For example, during testing of Drupal website containing links, if an error crops up while clicking that link, changes can be made in the HTML code for further checking. Here the user is carrying out white box testing by altering the code and black-box testing by testing on the front end.

Objectives of Grey Box Testing
Some of the main objectives are:

To help combine the inputs from both testers and developers to get the best results
To improve the overall quality of the product with less cost
To find defects early and get the developers more time to fix the issues
To combine the advantages of both black box and white box testing
To reduce the overhead of functional and non-functional test documentations

Advantages of Grey Box Testing
Now, let us look at some of the advantages of choosing Grey Box testing.

The testing is carried out from a user perspective and hence helps to improve the overall quality of the application.
In most cases, the testers do not need technical or programming knowledge to get started with grey box testing. This also means that the manual and automation testers can both perform this testing with equal ease.
Since the defects are found earlier, it gives the development teams more time to fix and deploy the changes.
The clarity and transparency of the test ensure there are no conflicts between the testers and developers.
It can be much more effective both quality-wise and cost-wise when compared to integration testing

Disadvantages of Grey Box Testing
In this section, we look at some disadvantages of Grey Box testing

Since we are looking at only part of the system, it is very difficult to assign defects to a particular module.
Since the testers have only limited access to the code, they have only limited knowledge about the paths traversed. This can reduce the coverage.
It can be difficult to design effective test cases for grey box testing
It can not be used for algorithm testing
Neither white box nor black box testing benefits can be reaped fully through the process.

Challenges in Grey Box Testing
Here, we discuss few common challenges related to Grey Box Testing, that are preventing companies from utilizing it fully.

In some cases, the test case may be a pass but the displayed results would be incorrect. Such cases can not be handled well in grey box testing.
In case the module under test crashes it may lead to aborting the test and it would be difficult to find the reason.
Testers do not have access to the source code, hence they may miss some critical vulnerabilities in the application
For large applications, it can be very time-consuming to check all the input combinations and traverse all the different paths involved.

Tools used for Grey Box Testing
The tools used for automation of black and white box testing can also very well be used for Grey Box Testing. The most popular tools used are:

Selenium
Appium
Postman
Chrome Dev Tools
Burp Suite
JUnit
Cucumber
RestAssured

What is gray box penetration testing?
The main idea behind the gray box/ grey box pen testing is to form a precise idea about network security. By leveraging the information provided in the design document of a particular network assessments can be made that can be used to predict risk-prone areas in a network. Usually minimal credential and information is available for this type of testing. The level of access a hacker could gain can be envisioned using this type of testing. In short, both internal and external attacks can be simulated

Conclusion
Nowadays in this modern world, nobody is indisputably safe from cybercrime irrespective of whether it is a big corporate or an individual, government organization, or non-benefit association.
The potentiality of becoming a cybercrime target looms large. Grey box testing comes up as a priceless tool for securing security in software. Significant vulnerabilities can be uncovered by giving in less effort and cost.

17 Top-Notch Penetration Testing Tools (2021 Update)

Posted on March 29, 2019 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

There is a bunch of penetration testing tools available on the internet. This article brings to you the 15 most coveted, critically acclaimed, and best penetration testing tools.
What is penetration testing?
Cyber attacks can happen at any point in time. To be on the safer side you need to know thoroughly about the loose ends of your software defense. Penetration testing unravels the vulnerabilities of your software so that you can tighten it later.
Following Penetration Testing Tools are Covered in this Blog.

1. 1. Netsparker
  2. Coreimpact
  3. Metasploit
  4. W3AF
  5. Nessus
  6. Cain & Abel
  7. Accunetix
  8. Probe.ly
  9. Wiresharker
  10. Kali Linux
  11. Burpsuite
  12. Zedattackproxy(ZAP)
  13. Openvas
  14. Sboxr
  15. Webscarab
  16. nmap
  17. Hashcat

1. Netsparker
Netsparker is perhaps the most accurate penetration testing tool. It automatically identifies vulnerabilities in both web API and applications.
Features

Considered as a pioneer in web application security
NETSPARKER eliminates the need for the penetration tester to manually sit and test different vulnerabilities.
All the real vulnerabilities are brought into the limelight just with a simple scan and it is capable of finding vulnerabilities like cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and so on. You can simply download and install it from the internet.
Can easily integrate with CI/CD and other systems in software development, in short, a fully customizable workflow can be created
Verified bugs are automatically posted to the bug tracking system

2. Core impact
It is one of the oldest penetration testing tools present in the market. The range of exploits in this penetration testing tool is impeccable.
Features

Core Impact has Metasploit exploits, automated wizard processes, PowerShell commands, etc. Exploits written by Core Impact are commercial grade and widely used in both companies and security consultancies. The price of this tool is on the higher side but you get exactly what you are paying for.
Has the ability to replicate attack across systems, devices, and applications
Security posture can be validated by methods used by dreaded cyber-criminals
An up-to-date library on leading threats
Programmable self-destruct capability so that no loose end will be left behind
The reporting feature of the tool can be used for compliance validation
Can be used for network testing
Can capture information shared between a real user and the website

Also Read: Top 10 Automation Testing Tools 2020

3. Meta sploit
It is one of the most prevalent and advanced penetration testing tools for penetration testing. It has a set of exploits that can enter a system bypassing its security. If the exploit successfully enters the system, a payload is run which basically provides a framework for testing.

Features

This is a commercial product; therefore you have to purchase it after the free trial if you want access to all the features. Metasploit is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
There are modules that can send a sequence of commands that can focus on a particular type of vulnerability
Metasploit can be used to gain as much information to learn about the weakness of a software system.
Has a database that can store system log, host data, and evidence
A multi-function payload module

4. W3AF
This is a free penetration testing tool and to be frank, does a great job. It has a bunch of useful features like fast HTTP requests, injecting payloads, various HTTP requests, and so on.
Features

The user interface of W3AF is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X. Unlike other tools, this one is free to download and use.
Has web and proxy servers that can be easily integrated into the code of the software
Helps in sending lightning speed HTTP request owing to the surplus of extension
Various type of logging methods such as Console, Text, CSV, HTML, and XML
Be it any part of the HTTP request, W3af can inject any type of payload

5. Nessus
Nessus is a very capable vulnerability scanner with a website scan, IP scan, and has a sensitive data search specialist module. All these functionalities are built into Nessus and help in finding vulnerabilities in the system, capable of handling all testing environments.
Features

Up-to-date database that’s updated on a daily basis
Can be used to expose scalability
(Nessus Attack Scripting Language) NASL is used as the scripting language
Nessus can identify an FTP server on a non-standard port, or even a web server running on port 8080
The tool can make services like HTTPS, SMTP look like SSL so that they can be injected into a PKI-type environment.

6. Cain & Abel
This is the perfect tool for decoding passwords and network keys. Cain & Abel accomplishes this by using different methods like network sniffing, cryptanalysis attacks, cache uncovering, dictionary, and routing protocol analysis. This is a free tool but is only available for Windows operating systems
Features

Can crack WEP(Wired Equivalent Privacy)
VoIP conversations can be recorded
LSA (Local Security Authority ) can be dumped
Password related issue can be resolved

7. Acunetix
It is a full-fledged, fully automatic vulnerability scanner capable of scanning over 4500 different types of vulnerabilities.
Features

The best feature of this tool is that it can complete several tests automatically which sometimes takes hours to complete. The results generated on this tool are accurate and fast.
Acunetix supports all systems including JavaScript, HTML5, and CMS.
Can detect over 4500 vulnerabilities
Hidden inputs that haven’t revealed in black-box scanning can be revealed
Javascript of websites and SPAs can be crawled
Ability to create management and compliance report
Can integrate with CI tools
Configurable workflow
Replication of e-mail injection attack

8. Probe.ly
Probe.ly not only finds vulnerabilities but also suggests a possible fix on it. The user interface of this tool is ridiculously intuitive and has all the necessary features for penetration testing.
Features

Probe.ly is capable of finding out upward of a thousand different types of vulnerabilities including OWASP TOP10.
Guidance to fix the issue will also be provided by Probe.ly
Can integrate with other tools
Can do intrusive and non-intrusive scans
Available also as a plugin for integration with CI tools
Has the ability to generate scan result, compliance report and the coverage report

9. Wireshark
This is less of a penetration testing tool and more of a network analyzer. It is compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac OS X, FreeBSD, NetBSD, Solaris, and so on and so forth. Wireshark is free to download and install on all operating systems. All the information gathered by Wireshark is presented in a systematic manner on TShark utility.
Features

Can inspect 100s of protocols
Detailed VoIP analysis
Offline analysis and live capture
Data that has been captured by Wireshark

10. Kali Linux
Kali Linux is developed and maintained by Offensive Security. It is an open-source tool which basically means that anyone can use it and add features to it.
Version tracking, tool listings, and meta-packages are integrated into Kali Linux for penetration testing.
Kali Linux is free to download and use on almost all operating systems.
Features

Debian based Linux distribution
600+ pre-installed tools designated for security research, penetration testing, web app testing, etc.
Multilingual support
Completely customizable

11. Burp Suite
This penetration testing tool has an intruder tool mainly for executing attacks. The intruder tool has limited functionality but all of its functions can be unlocked by purchasing it. This tool makes penetration testing very time efficient. Burp Suite is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
Features

Impeccable web vulnerability scanner
CI integration
Advanced manual tools
Can detect server-side vulnerabilities that are completely invisible
Pioneer in using OAST (out-of-band techniques)
Can perform interactive application security testing (IAST)
Advanced web application crawler
Can perform javascript analysis

12. Zed Attack Proxy (ZAP)
ZAP is free to download and use. It basically scans web applications for vulnerabilities. There are different types of scanners integrated into the ZAP penetration testing tool.

Features

The main feature of ZAP is perhaps the proxy intercepting tool which is particularly useful in different test scenarios. is compatible with Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X.
Easy to integrate
Automated scanners
Both manual, as well as automated pen-testing, are used
Can mimic activities of a hacker to expose the vulnerability
It will stand between a browser and a tester so that it can intercept and inspect messages

13. Open VAS
Open vas is a vulnerability scanner that is capable of performing authenticated testing, unauthenticated testing, and various protocols (both high and low) Performance tuning, etc. Open VAS also has an inbuilt powerful language that can be used for performing any type of vulnerability test.
Features

More than 50,000 vulnerability tests
A comprehensive vulnerability management solution
Open-source
Open VAS is controlled by the service layer

14. SBOXR
Over 30 DOM security issues can be traced out by Xbox. Python/Ruby capability makes Sboxr an impeccable tool
Features

Ease of use
Can be used by DEV, QA as well as security teams
Detailed reporting
Good customer support

15. WebScarab
Used for analyzing application that uses HTTP and HTTPS protocol for communication. Since the tool is written in JAVA it’s portable to many platforms. It has several modes of operation as well as plugins.
Features

Operates as an intercepting proxy
Review and modify requests
Can be used to intercept both HTTP and HTTPS communication
Primarily designed for those who can write codes

16. nmap
nmap is a free network discovery and security auditing software that’s widely used for managing service upgrade schedules, network inventory, and monitoring host or service uptime
Features

Helps in mapping out networks filled with IP filters
Supports OS like, Linux, Microsoft Windows, FreeBSD, OpenBSD, Solaris, IRIX, Mac OS X, HP-UX, NetBSD, Sun OS, Amiga, etc.
Can be used to scan large network

17. Hashcat
One of the fastest password cracking software in existence and the first and only in-kernel rule engine.
Features

Open-source
Multiple OS, device, platform, and hash support
Supports hex-salt and hex-charset
Has a built-in benchmarking system
Automatic performance tuning

Conclusion
The 15 above-mentioned penetration testing tools are the best in the business and will get the job done for you. The only thing you have to check out is the compatibility with your operating system.

Software Security Challenges 2020: How To Save Your Company?

Posted on December 17, 2018 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

The recent years have seen probably the most continuous and extreme software security attacks ever recorded against organizations in an assortment of enterprises.
Security — once only a little piece of big IT enterprise — is presently a vast range, critical for business achievement. It has lifted the purpose of safety and risk the management leaders who are currently facing the troublesome task of shielding their company from destructive cyber attacks and stricter regulators with raised aspirations.
Here’s a list of the leading software security threats we suspect in 2020 and how your company can ensure itself.
Ransomware and IoT
An ever-growing number of hackers seem to have driven their consideration to ransomware. Ransomware acts as it relies on users’ careless security actions.
A huge percentage of internet users do not comprehend best methods – It is likely that most cyber criminals are adapting to it for their source of income. We ought not to underestimate the possible harm IoT ransomware might cause in 2019.
For instance, cyber criminals may target severe arrangements like the city energy grids. If the target city declines or fails to pay the ransom timely, the attackers can totally seal down the energy grid.
Subsequently, as several towns and houses are choosing smart technology in 2018 and 2019, hackers can attack smart cars, factory production, home appliances like smart fridges, TVs, ovens and much more.
So, we should at present be extremely mindful to not to undervalue the potential damage IoT ransomware could cause to us in 2019. And, in 2020, we hope to see more companies thinking of ransomware reimbursement methodologies and keeping information in different, imitated areas.
Artificial Intelligence Gags the Internet
Artificial Intelligence is considered a potential danger which is not too far off.

Know More : Major Cyber Attacks in India (2018)

AI gets more refined, and we depend on the code to write code, thus, we can lose the capacity to track and regulate it.
The CIO investigation raises the dangers of AI mechanizing complex systems and acquiring from wrong or deficient data, prompting erroneous ends.
While security and QA experts get Artificial Intelligence to battle on their side, the hackers will utilize AI further in their favor as well.
Moreover, down in the spiral of murkiness, risk factors may weaponize AI devastating administration delivery and the Internet of Things (IoT), and making governments separate Internet landscape in protection. People can be pushed off the Internet, with odd results.
In the year 2020, smart administrations will have the capacity to locate the shortest framework vulnerabilities and break down complex client behavior situations, performing troublesome estimations which take a very long time for an expert human programmer to direct.
Software Update Supply Chain Attack
The software update supply chain attacks are an imminent digital risk. This sort of attack embeds a part of malware into a generally authorized software package at its standard delivery area.
It happens amid the development phase of the product seller, at a third-party storage area or by redirection.
One reason for this attack is the number of infections, infused when updating product, can develop unnoticed and rapidly. Cyber-criminals frequently target specific divisions or areas.
In 2020, companies should concentrate on the weakest points in their product update supply chains. Few out of every odd security attack can be counteracted early, if not all, yet your providers and on-site digital security professionals should be proactive in any case.

Embrace powerful, repeatable, and adaptable procedures with convictions that are corresponding to the dangers you confront. Companies should install supply chain data risk management in the current recovery and vendor management processes.
Organizations Will Sink to Comply to the GDPR
The GDPR – General Data Protection Regulation that became effective in May 2018 provides various imperative changes to the present Data Protection Directive. These incorporate – stricter consent laws, expanded the regional scope and raised rights for data subjects to give some examples.
With GDPR, entrepreneurs can’t stand to overlook security anymore. As for international organizations which fail to comply with this resolution, penalties for non-compliance can touch up to 4% of global annual turnover.
For software testers and engineers, this exhibits a major test. Checking the security of data handling and storage, database testing, and adding cookies — these are only a couple of motives for the developer nowadays.
GDPR made the whole stuff harder for both developers and entrepreneurs as well as marketing divisions. Then again, the direction could be the enormous impact that will drive organizations to at long last think about security as their principle need.
Security Moves to the Cloud
Enterprise security groups are getting inundated under the maintenance weight of legacy security services. Cloud-based security software is more flexible and can execute new recognition strategies and solutions quicker than on on-site systems.
However, not every cloud security solution is an equivalent.Foes go where the gold is, and 2020 pledges to contribute a growing number of events for attackers in the cloud system. With the cloud, there’s a unique, and usually growing attack surface which can be left exposed or with inaccurate protection in place to secure valuable data.
Exploiting the cloud is more substantial than stimulating legacy management servers to the cloud. SRM pioneers ought to search for arrangements that take full benefit of cloud scale, staff optimization, increased data telemetry, API-based access, machine learning, and different products and services that are troublesome to the norm.
Botnets DDOS Attacks
Botnets are incredible systems of arbitrated machines that can be remotely managed and used to dispatch attacks on a gigantic scale, once in a while including a considerable number of Zombie PCs.

Know More : Harmful Browser Security Threats: How to Avoid Them?

Botnets are led by Command and Control (C&C) networks, which are controlled by the cybercriminals. They can be utilized to dispatch attacks called DDOS (Distributed Denial of Service), to make an objective site so busy that it cannot process right requests.
DDOS attacks are even capable to totally crash the targeted webpage, and support might be offered just if the objective site proprietor pays a ransom amount to hackers.
Botnets can likewise be utilized to attack secure frameworks, with every bot working at a frequency of low attack to dodge detection, yet the total playing out an extensive brute-force attack.
The principal watchdog against botnets is to shield your machines from getting to be a botnet, by applying strategies for limiting infection from viruses and worms, along with the use of antivirus software and keeping the software updated.
However, even though all the machines in your business are kept clean, you can be attacked when third-party machines are regulated to attack your infrastructure or web server. In view of the scale, resistance for this situation demands a collaborative methodology incorporating working with your ISP, law enforcement agencies, and system software vendors.
Container Adoption
The notoriety of software container systems, for example, Docker have detonated in recent few years as organizations search for approaches to let applications run reasonably when shifted from one environment onto the next. With a container, every application or process on a server gets its own environment to drive that shares the operating system of the host server.
Since containers don’t need to load an OS, they can be made immediately. They are furthermore movable, simple to scale and separate complex applications into modular micro services.
In any case, similar components that empower containers to build agility additionally lead to security challenges. The utilization of a shared OS model implies a vulnerability attack in the host OS which could prompt a compromise for every container.
Since containers can be made right away, it is basically incomprehensible for conventional network and endpoint controls to stay aware of the progressions required to anchor them.
They make another attack surface through the APIs and command plane, which present intricacy in conveying the real assessment setting, imperiling application internals.
Security members should know about container deployments that are in process in the company. A persistent vulnerability appraisal and remediation plan is an essential part of productive containerization activities.
Also, container security suppliers offer tools for companies which give full life cycle vulnerability management and application-customized run time security to help guard containers against dangers.
What Can You Do to Prevent Your Enterprise from Cyber Security Attacks in 2020?
A particular breach can lead to huge losses, both regarding the company reputation and money.Though cyber threats and risks proceed to stack up, the good news is – the difficulties we are about to encounter in 2020 aren’t unbeatable.
The solution is to take immediate,careful actions. Prevention from the increasing number of threats and attacks hitting you in 2020 begins with instructing workers, utilizing versatile up-to-date cyber security systems and solution, and obtaining knowledge into the dangers focusing on your industry or business. These needs are a significant challenge for cybersecurity administrators.

Seek assistance from a software security testing company so that your systems can be thoroughly monitored.
As the security experts get ready for another likely record-breaking year of data security threats and network breaches, so, it is crucial that you make yourself attentive of the most recent digital security technologies and methods to remain one step ahead of the culprits and ensure your most vital resources.

Top 20 Penetration Testing Certification For Security Professionals

Posted on December 14, 2018 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

Penetration Testing Certification is an added advantage for your current security testing job or if you wish to build a career in it. Security-related employment comprises many domains, for example, security analyst, information security specialist, security engineer, the system administrator (with security as a duty) network security administrator, and additionally specialized jobs, for example, penetration tester, intrusion analyst, and malware engineer. In this article, you will get to know about 10 Penetration Testing Certifications which are considered with high regard in the web-security industry.

What Are The Merits of Security Testing Certification?

It comprehends vulnerabilities and risks influencing the companies once a day.
Your misguided judgments about hacking will be solved as after the certification, you’ll get a general sense regarding what an ethical hacker’s role will be in the company.
Additionally, you’ll comprehend that the idea of hacking is significantly more than just hacking into another person’s email or Facebook accounts.
The program will prepare you for the enumeration and network scanning methods.
Through the security testing program, you will learn different kinds of countermeasures, foot-printing, and foot-printing tools.
You can likewise find what packet sniffing strategies are and how to secure against sniffing.
You will build up your insight in the field of system hijacking and hacking techniques, steganography, virus analysis, covering tracks, the working of viruses, malware investigation strategy, and PC worms.
As a white hacker certificate holder, you can likewise build up your expertise in Trojans, Trojan analysis, and Trojan countermeasures
Lastly, you’ll figure out how the exploits develop.

So, in case you want to head towards the profession in the IT field and are interested in gaining practical experience in security testing, certification is an extraordinary decision.
It’s a powerful method to approve your abilities and demonstrate a current or prospective manager that you are qualified and appropriately trained.
Here is our list of 7 best security or penetration testing certification one must look forward to.

Top 20 Penetration testing certification

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
GIAC Security Essentials Certification
Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT)
CREST
GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration tester
(IACRB) Certified Penetration Tester
Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP)
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
GIAC Security Essentials Certification
Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT)
CREST
GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration tester
(IACRB) Certified Penetration Tester
Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP)

1. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The Certified Ethical Hacker is offered by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council) which is an intermediate level qualification.

Know More: Salary of a Software Tester (2019)

It’s an unquestionable requirement have for IT experts seeking after a career in ethical hacking. It is considerably more technical certification.
The CEH certification sets up and oversees the base benchmarks for professional ethical hackers. The CEH certification affirms people in the particular system security control of ethical hacking.
CEH accreditation holders get learning and skills on hacking methods in fields, for example, scanning networks, foot-printing and reconnaissance, system hacking, enumeration, sniffers, Trojans, worms and viruses, social engineering, hacking web servers, session hijacking, wireless networks, and web applications, penetration testing, cryptography, SQL injection, avoiding IDS, honeypots, and firewalls.
Since innovation in the field of hacking transforms day by day, CEH certification holders are obligated to get 120 proceeding learning credits for every three-year cycle.

2. Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)

CISSP is an advanced level accreditation for IT masters who are serious about occupations in data security. This vendor-neutral accreditation is known as (ISC)2 and articulated as “ISC squared” offered by the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium. It is perceived worldwide for its benchmarks of magnificence.
With the assistance of Certified Information Systems Security Professional aka CISSP program, the learner will get introduction towards the security solicitudes and can manage them in an expert way. The person will have the capacity to put the standard methods into usage.
On doing this course you will surely emerge and will be advantageous while going to attend interviews. The certification will also give a person an entrance to a system of industry and subject specialists who are into the security field.

3. Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP)

One of the primary purposes behind security experts to take the CCSP course is to demonstrate they are educated about cloud security as well as other security-related cloud contemplations – a situation at the front line of business advancement in IT.
Cloud environments are loaded up with security threats that differ day by day, so picking up the CCSP credential is imperative for proving to hiring managers you’re knowledgeable in the required security contemplations that are a vital part of cloud computing.
This course enables individuals to show capability in cloud data security, cloud design, and architecture, and also application security considerations, everyday activities, and considerably more. Any individual who is hoping to do a job in a cloud-based environment will be very much assisted with a CCSP certification.

4. Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)

The Offensive Security Certified Professional is one of the most specialized programs of the certification choices. Offered by the revenue driven Offensive Security, it’s sponsored as the main totally hands-on accreditation program.
Offensive Security planned the course for technical experts to demonstrate they have a practical and reasonable comprehension of the penetration testing procedure and lifecycle.
Prior to opting for the OCSP course, comprehend that the coursework demands a strong technical comprehension of software development, systems networking protocols, and systems internals, particularly Kali Linux, an open-source venture by Offensive Security.
This is an online training course for most of the candidates as classroom training is just offered in Las Vegas.
The test-taker is assigned to recognizing vulnerabilities, researching the network, and hacking into the system to obtain official access within 24 hours.
Afterward, the Offensive Security certification commission should receive a thorough penetration test report for analysis and decide whether to award the certification.

5. GIAC Security Essentials Certification

The GIAC Security Essentials Certification is appropriate for people who are searching for employment growth in the cybersecurity domain. By doing this course, a person will have the capacity to prove capabilities to deal with security errands.
The people ought to be in charge of showing distinctive notions in the information security field. A person will have the potential to design and create a network architecture utilizing distinctive technologies, like NAC, VLAN’s, etc.
The program will also make the candidate skilled enough to run plenty of command-line tools to analyze the framework. The candidate will further gain pragmatic learning on windows security, threat management, Linux security, and so on.

6. Licensed Penetration Tester (LPT)

The LPT is the certification designed for the EC-Council’s whole data security track. It is a definitive trial of a person’s practical aptitudes as a penetration tester.
To acquire this certificate, you are asked to perform a full black-box penetration testing of a network given to you by the EC-Council. This implies following the whole procedure i.e. reconnaissance, enumeration, scanning, obtaining access, and managing access and afterward really employing vulnerabilities.
It is anyhow not an easy test. Regardless you should completely archive your activities in a total, proficient penetration test report. As your report will likewise be reviewed by other penetration testing experts that as of now have EC-Council’s LPT accreditation.

7. CREST

CREST data certificate courses and body’s pen test exams are broadly recognized around numerous countries.
This test certifies and teaches quality pen testers. The non-profit organization guides the necessities of a technical data security commercial center that involves the administration of an organized and regulated assistance industry.
CREST supports the top-notch capacity, ability, and consistency in the overall technical cybersecurity section.
With the goal to counter the danger of cyber-attack, it is trained candidates in a way that helps a business to work in an aggregate way and offer top practice and information.

8. GIAC Exploit Researcher and Advanced Penetration tester

Higher-level training programs meant for a person that has job duties such as assessment of the target network, finding vulnerabilities of system and application, etc.
Candidates should have the skill to conduct advanced penetration tests and should be able to think like an attacker and fin flaws in the system.
Requirements as per the website

1 proctored exam
55-75 questions
A time limit of 3 hours
Minimum Passing Score of 67%

The objective of the test include

Must demonstrate how to bypass network access control systems
Have to develop custom fuzzing test
Must be able to write stack overflow exploits
Find out common weakness in cryptographic implementations
Must perform protocol fuzzing to trace out flaws
Must show the basic understanding in X86 processor architecture, Linux memory management, assembly, and the linking and loading process.
Have to showcase the ability in converting Python script and packet crafting using Scapy
Have to express the ability in writing shellcode in Linux operating system

9. (IACRB) Certified Penetration Tester

The Information Assurance Certification Review Board (IACRB) offers a wide range of tests. CPT is one of the tests.

An in-depth study about techniques used by black-hat hackers
Current and up-to-date ethical hacking training
Effective pen-testing methodologies
Learn about network protocol attacks
Learn about wireless security flaws
Get to know about web-app flaws
Know more about UNIX and Linux flaws

10. Certified Red Team Operations Professional (CRTOP)

Meant for people with expert-level knowledge and should perform a comprehensive assessment.
The two-hour exam will have a question from,

Red team roles and responsibilities
Red team assessment methodology
Physical reconnaissance tools and techniques
Digital reconnaissance tools and techniques
Vulnerability identification and mapping
Social engineering
Red team assessment reporting

11. CompTIA PENTEST+

CompTIA PENTEST+ is an assessment consisting of 85 penetration testing questions which you have to answer in 165-minutes. This assessment requires a deep knowledge of penetration testing. The questions deal with security vulnerabilities in desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices, and cloud environments. It also focuses on your practice skills that include analyses of Python and Bash code, vulnerabilities in apps and Bluetooth, etc.

12. CERTIFIED EXPERT PENETRATION TESTER (CEPT)

This certification includes a 2-hour assessment which has 50 multiple choice questions.wait deals with nine central subjects, but more important is the ingenuity of the applicants. The tester must have great attack simulations capabilities and should be able to find unknown cyber-weaknesses. Some of the topics you should be well versed with to take this certification are memory corruption, reverse engineering, and exploit creation in both for Linux and Window.

13. CERTIFIED PENETRATION TESTER (CPT)

To clear this certification the application must have deep knowledge of 9 bases of penetration testing, like exploits in Windows and Linux, penetration methodologies, wireless network security, and web application vulnerabilities. It is also a w hour assessment with 50 multiple-choice questions.

14. GIAC CERTIFIED INCIDENT HANDLER (GCIH)

This certification is a mix of multiple-choice and lab-based questions. There are over 100 questions to be covered in 4 hours. This assessment is a combination of penetration testing and security strategies. Some of the topics you must be well prepared with before taking this assessment are client attacks, denial-of-service attacks, and various attack modes. They should also know about various techniques and tools used by hackers. They should also know how to prevent these attacks.

15. GIAC ENTERPRISE VULNERABILITY ASSESSOR (GEVA)

This certification is mainly for those who want to get into cybersecurity for enterprise IT systems. It is a two-hour assessment with 75-question. Be prepared with topics like PowerShell scripting, network scanning, and vulnerability assessment frameworks. Applicants should also know how to resolve and report security issues.

16. GIAC ASSESSING AND AUDITING WIRELESS NETWORKS (GAWN)

This certification is a 2 hours test with 75 questions. The applicants must be proficient in detecting even the slightest gap in the security of the wireless network. They should be veterans in detecting and fighting against such attacks.

17. GIAC MOBILE DEVICE SECURITY ANALYST (GMOB)

This is a 75 questions assessment for 2 hours. The main topics it includes are tablet smartphone and app security. It requires the applicants to have knowledge of how hackers unlock mobile devices on different OS and they should also have knowledge on how to safeguard data on malware-infected devices.

18. GIAC WEB APPLICATION PENETRATION TESTER (GWAPT)

To clear this certification you should be proficient in dealing with the challenges of web apps. Basically have a clear understanding of topics like client injections, authentication attacks, cross-site request forgery, etc. It is a two-hour assessment having 75-question, which requires a deep understanding of possible attacks and penetration testing.

19. GIAC CERTIFIED PENETRATION TESTER (GPEN)

This certificate requires expertise in penetration testing, especially in its process. It is a 3-hour certification focusing on three main stages of exploit:

reconnaissance,
attack

It also focuses on a few attack styles like web application injection attacks and password attacks. The assessment is a mix of 115 multiple choice or lab-based questions.

20. GIAC EXPLOIT RESEARCHER AND ADVANCED PENETRATION TESTER (GXPN)

It deals with advanced penetration testing techniques like exploiting stack overflows, think fuzzing, and shellcode scripting. The assessment is a 3-hour test including 75 multiple choice and lab questions. The main topics dealt with in this certification attacks on Linux and Windows and network exploits. It also assesses the tester’s capability to communicate their notions and findings to business stakeholders.

Conclusion

Becoming a valued certified ethical hacker or security tester is an incredible professional goal. Also, the demand for security testers surpasses the supply, this implies that salaries and perks are plentiful. All because nowadays everybody requires the administrations of an ethical hacker to test their frameworks.
Organizations hire security testers so they can record what was discovered and fix those vulnerabilities as quickly as they can for improving company’s security.

Also, as a certified ethical hacker, you can give individual assistance to people in recovering email, documents, and data that might be unavailable due to any kind of issues.
Thus, above-mentioned security testing courses are the most sought-after certifications available today to make a fantastic career in the domain of security testing.

Know More: Salary of a Developer vs Tester? Who Earns more!

Harmful Browser Security Threats: How to Avoid Them?

Posted on December 12, 2018 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

A web browser is the most commonly used application or portal for the users to get access to the internet.
These browsers are much advanced with enhanced usability and ubiquity. An individual is exposed to various internet browsers. Each of them consists of some perceived and real benefits.

However, it is also true that none of them are actually safe from security threats. In fact, website browsers are more prone to security vulnerabilities and when users interact with websites it holds possibilities of malware and other threats in it.
Taking this into consideration, below are some most common browser security threats and how to protect your system against them:
Removing Saved Login Credentials
Bookmarks paired with saved logins for the associated sites are a very bad combination and does not really favor your system.
When such is done, a hacker with even minimal knowledge can hack it.
There are some websites that use two -factor authentication like texting OTPs to your mobile phone for access.
However, a lot of them take into use this as a one-time access code so that a person is able to confirm his/her identity on the system it is being intended to be connected from.
Deleting saved credential is not good for your browser as well as your overall system.
A cybercriminal can easily reset your important IDs and profiles on almost every website you visit. They can do this from anywhere at any time.
Once they get your IDs and passwords, they can operate them from any system of their choice.
Permission to Browser History
The browsing history of a browser is sort of a map or a tracing mechanism of what you do and which sites you visit.
It does not only tell what sites you visited but also for how long and when too.
If a criminal wish to obtain your credentials from the sites you access, he/she can easily do it, knowing which sites you accessed through the browsing history.
Cookies
Cookies that consist of stored local files and which determines the link to certain files are another common browser security threat.
Similar to the browsing history, it can also trace what site you visit and obtain the credentials.
Browser Cache
The browser cache consists of storing sections of website pages which makes accessing and loading of the sites easier and quick, every time you visit.
Such can also identify which site or portal you have accessed and what content you have gone through. It also saves your location and device discovery, making it a risky element as anyone can locate you and your device.
Autofill Information
Autofill information can be of a great threat to your browser. Browsers like Chrome and Firefox store your address information, your profiles at times and other personal information.
But are you prepared if it falls in the wrong hands? No right? Well, now the criminal is aware and informed about all your personal details.

Tips and Recommendations on How You Can Protect Yourself from These Threats

1. Saved Login Credentials
It is recommended not to save the credentials in the browser. Instead, use password managers like Password Safe and KeePass to store credentials.
Password managers operate through a central master password and help you save your website passwords securely.
You can also customize the manager to access a saved login or URL as per your convenience and security reasons.
2. Removable Browsing History
Deleting the browser cache is a way to remove risky information especially when engaged in confidential activities like online banking. This step can be performed manually in a browser or set to automatic like when closing the browser.

Another way to remain protected from this threat is using incognito mode or private browsing as there is no harvestable saved.
Note: In case of using a public system, make sure that you are operating with incognito mode.
3. Disable Cookies
The best solution for cookies threat is to disable them when using a browser.
However, it’s not exceptional as many websites rely on cookies and thus, get limited access to its functionality, once turned off.
Disabling cookies might also result in nagging prompts. Getting rid of cookies on a periodic basis can help you protect your browser beware of repetition of information by websites as a side-effect of it.
4. Reduce Browser Cache by using Incognito Mode
Protection from such threats can be achieved from incognito browsing as well as by manually clear the cache as per the requirement, especially, after a sensitive browser search.
5. Look for Standard Java Configuration
Java is a widely used language for running Windows and other operating system related codes. It is designed in such a way that the applets within it run in a separate “sandbox” environment which helps to prevent them from other application and operating system component access.
But many-a-times, these vulnerabilities allow the applets to escape the sandbox environment and cause threat.
To avoid threats related to Java, look and choose for a standard Java security configuration that works best for your browser as well as your PC and deploys these configurations through a master source such as Group Policy.
6. No Single Point of Management
Centralized controls are recommended. One should always depend on the single point of management.
This is on the grounds that you ought to dependably depend on a solitary purpose of the executives for the aggregate settings you need to build up in your association.
You likewise should have the capacity to screen these controls to guarantee they stay set up. An organization with a variety of frameworks with higgledy-piggledy internet browser settings is certifiably not a safe association.
Dynamic Directory Group Policies can be utilized for some such settings and there are outsider choices accessible also.
You would prefer not to enable clients to kill essential settings for comfort (or more regrettable), nor would you like to need to convey guidelines for them for setting different alternatives – you’ll never get to 100% consistency and you’re staking your association’s security on the respect framework, in a manner of speaking.
7. Third-Party Plugins or Extensions
Browsers often have third-party plugins or extensions introduced for different tasks, for example, JavaScript or Flash for showing or working with substance.
These two are from known quality merchants, yet there are different modules and augmentations out there from less legitimate sources and may not, in any case, offer business-related usefulness.
For such type of threats, it is recommended to allow only business-related plugins and extensions as a major aspect of an official business approach, for example, for Internet and Email Usage.
Contingent upon the browser(s) being used in your association, explore approaches to square undesired plugins or whitelist fitting plugins, so just these can be introduced.
Guarantee modules are arranged to auto-refresh or send new forms by means of concentrated components, (for example, Active Directory Group Policy or System Centre Configuration Manager).
8. Ads Popping up and Redirects
Pop-up ads are a known malevolent one which can be particularly confounding and hard to work with.

They regularly present false notices, for example, asserting your PC has an infection and encouraging you to introduce their antivirus item to evacuate it. Normally, malware is the thing that really winds up introduced. These pop-ups are dubious to close because frequently there is no “X” catch to do as such.
The best alternative is to close the program altogether or utilize the Task Manager in Windows/the execute direction in Linux to close the application.
Try not to come back to the site being referred to which set off the advertisement and run an enemy of malware sweep to decide if your framework is perfect since popup promotions can frequently be generated by malware.
Web programs are totally essential for pretty much every business. Therefore, it’s critical that IT security stars and entrepreneurs find a way to guarantee that they make a move to hinder any conceivable security openings.
This incorporates deliberately investigating and choosing a safe web browser. The security issues recorded here are generally normal. Perceiving these dangers and making a move against them is vital.

Also Read: Web Application Security Testing: Presenting the Perfect Methodology!