1st Edition

Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Guide

By Rafay Baloch Copyright 2015
    532 Pages 835 B/W Illustrations
    by Auerbach Publications

    532 Pages 835 B/W Illustrations
    by Auerbach Publications

    532 Pages 835 B/W Illustrations
    by Auerbach Publications

    Requiring no prior hacking experience, Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Guide supplies a complete introduction to the steps required to complete a penetration test, or ethical hack, from beginning to end. You will learn how to properly utilize and interpret the results of modern-day hacking tools, which are required to complete a penetration test. The book covers a wide range of tools, including Backtrack Linux, Google reconnaissance, MetaGooFil, dig, Nmap, Nessus, Metasploit, Fast Track Autopwn, Netcat, and Hacker Defender rootkit. Supplying a simple and clean explanation of how to effectively utilize these tools, it details a four-step methodology for conducting an effective penetration test or hack.Providing an accessible introduction to penetration testing and hacking, the book supplies you with a fundamental understanding of offensive security. After completing the book you will be prepared to take on in-depth and advanced topics in hacking and penetration testing. The book walks you through each of the steps and tools in a structured, orderly manner allowing you to understand how the output from each tool can be fully utilized in the subsequent phases of the penetration test. This process will allow you to clearly see how the various tools and phases relate to each other. An ideal resource for those who want to learn about ethical hacking but don‘t know where to start, this book will help take your hacking skills to the next level. The topics described in this book comply with international standards and with what is being taught in international certifications.

    Introduction to Hacking
    Important Terminologies
         Asset
         Vulnerability
         Threat
         Exploit
         Risk
         What Is a Penetration Test?
         Vulnerability Assessments versus Penetration Test
         Pre-Engagement
         Rules of Engagement
         Milestones
         Penetration Testing Methodologies
         OSSTMM
         NIST
         OWASP
    Categories of Penetration Test
         Black Box
         White Box
         Gray Box
         Types of Penetration Tests
              Network Penetration Test
              Web Application Penetration Test
              Mobile Application Penetration Test
              Social Engineering Penetration Test
              Physical Penetration Test
         Report Writing
         Understanding the Audience
              Executive Class
              Management Class
              Technical Class
    Writing Reports
    Structure of a Penetration Testing Report
         Cover Page
         Table of Contents
         Executive Summary
         Remediation Report
    Vulnerability Assessment Summary
         Tabular Summary
    Risk Assessment
         Risk Assessment Matrix
    Methodology
         Detailed Findings
              Description
              Explanation
              Risk
              Recommendation
         Reports
    Conclusion

    Linux Basics
    Major Linux Operating Systems
    File Structure inside of Linux
    Permissions in Linux
    Special Permissions
    Users inside of Linux
         Linux Services
         Linux Password Storage
         Linux Logging
    Common Applications of Linux
    What Is BackTrack?
         How to Get BackTrack 5 Running?
         Installing BackTrack on Virtual Box
         Installing BackTrack on a Portable USB
         Installing BackTrack on Your Hard Drive
         BackTrack Basics
    Changing the Default Screen Resolution
         Some Unforgettable Basics
              Changing the Password
              Clearing the Screen
              Listing the Contents of a Directory
              Displaying Contents of a Specific Directory
              Displaying the Contents of a File
              Creating a Directory
              Changing the Directories
              Windows
              Linux
              Creating a Text File
              Copying a File
              Current Working Directory
              Renaming a File
              Moving a File
              Removing a File
         Locating Certain Files inside BackTrack
    Text Editors inside BackTrack
    Getting to Know Your Network
         Dhclient
    Services
         MySQL
         SSHD
         Postgresql
    Other Online Resources

    Information Gathering Techniques
    Active Information Gathering
    Passive Information Gathering
    Sources of Information Gathering
    Copying Websites Locally
         Information Gathering with Whois
         Finding Other Websites Hosted on the Same Server
    YouGetSignal.com
         Tracing the Location
         Traceroute
         ICMP Traceroute
         TCP Traceroute
              Usage
         UDP Traceroute
              Usage
    NeoTrace
    Cheops-ng
         Enumerating and Fingerprinting the Webservers
    Intercepting a Response
         Acunetix Vulnerability Scanner
    WhatWeb
    Netcraft
         Google Hacking
    Some Basic Parameters
         Site
    Example
    TIP regarding Filetype
         Google Hacking Database
    Hackersforcharity.org/ghdb
    Xcode Exploit Scanner
         File Analysis
         Foca
         Harvesting E-Mail Lists
         Gathering Wordlist from a Target Website
         Scanning for Subdomains
         TheHarvester
         Fierce in BackTrack
         Scanning for SSL Version
         DNS Enumeration
    Interacting with DNS Servers
    Nslookup
    DIG
         Forward DNS Lookup
    Forward DNS Lookup with Fierce
         Reverse DNS
         Reverse DNS Lookup with Dig
    Reverse DNS Lookup with Fierce
         Zone Transfers
    Zone Transfer with Host Command
    Automating Zone Transfers
         DNS Cache Snooping
    What Is DNS Cache Snooping?
         Nonrecursive Method
         Recursive Method
    What Is the Likelihood of Name Servers Allowing Recursive/Nonrecursive Queries?
    Attack Scenario
    Automating DNS Cache Snooping Attacks
         Enumerating SNMP
    Problem with SNMP
    Sniffing SNMP Passwords
    OneSixtyOne
    Snmpenum
    SolarWinds Toolset
    SNMP Sweep
    SNMP Brute Force and Dictionary
    SNMP Brute Force Tool
    SNMP Dictionary Attack Tool
    SMTP Enumeration
         Detecting Load Balancers
         Load Balancer Detector
         Determining Real IP behind Load Balancers
         Bypassing CloudFlare Protection
              Method 1: Resolvers
              Method 2: Subdomain Trick
              Method 3: Mail Servers
    Intelligence Gathering Using Shodan
    Further Reading
    Conclusion

    Target Enumeration and Port Scanning Techniques
    Host Discovery
    Scanning for Open Ports and Services
    Types of Port Scanning
    Understanding the TCP Three-Way Handshake
    TCP Flags
    Port Status Types
    TCP SYN Scan
    TCP Connect Scan
    NULL, FIN, and XMAS Scans
    NULL Scan
    FIN Scan
    XMAS Scan
    TCP ACK Scan
    Responses
    UDP Port Scan
    Anonymous Scan Types
    IDLE Scan
    Scanning for a Vulnerable Host
    Performing an IDLE Scan with NMAP
    TCP FTP Bounce Scan
    Service Version Detection
    OS Fingerprinting
    POF
    Output
         Normal Format
         Grepable Format
         XML Format
    Advanced Firewall/IDS Evading Techniques
    Timing Technique
    Wireshark Output
    Fragmented Packets
    Wireshark Output
    Source Port Scan
    Specifying an MTU
    Sending Bad Checksums
    Decoys
    ZENMAP
    Further Reading

    Vulnerability Assessment
    What Are Vulnerability Scanners and How Do They Work?
    Pros and Cons of a Vulnerability Scanner
    Vulnerability Assessment with Nmap
    Updating the Database
    Scanning MS08 _ 067 _ netapi
    Testing SCADA Environments with Nmap
         Installation
         Usage
    Nessus Vulnerability Scanner
         Home Feed
         Professional Feed
    Installing Nessus on BackTrack
    Adding a User
         Nessus Control Panel
              Reports
              Mobile
              Policies
              Users
              Configuration
         Default Policies
    Creating a New Policy
    Safe Checks
    Silent Dependencies
         Avoid Sequential Scans
    Port Range
         Credentials
         Plug-Ins
    Preferences
         Scanning the Target
    Nessus Integration with Metasploit
    Importing Nessus to Metasploit
         Scanning the Target
         Reporting
         OpenVas
    Resource
         Vulnerability Data Resources
         Exploit Databases
    Using Exploit-db with BackTrack
    Searching for Exploits inside BackTrack
    Conclusion

    Network Sniffing
    Introduction
    Types of Sniffing
         Active Sniffing
         Passive Sniffing
    Hubs versus Switches
    Promiscuous versus Nonpromiscuous Mode
    MITM Attacks
    ARP Protocol Basics
    How ARP Works?
    ARP Attacks
         MAC Flooding
              Macof
         ARP Poisoning
    Scenario—How It Works?
    Denial of Service Attacks
    Tools in the Trade
         Dsniff
    Using ARP Spoof to Perform MITM Attacks
         Usage
    Sniffing the Traffic with Dsniff
    Sniffing Pictures with Drifnet
    Urlsnarf and Webspy
    Sniffing with Wireshark
    Ettercap
    ARP Poisoning with Ettercap
    Hijacking Session with MITM Attack
    Attack Scenario
    ARP Poisoning with Cain and Abel
    Sniffing Session Cookies with Wireshark
    Hijacking the Session
    SSL Strip: Stripping HTTPS Traffic
    Requirements
         Usage
    Automating Man in the Middle Attacks
         Usage
    DNS Spoofing
         ARP Spoofing Attack
         Manipulating the DNS Records
         Using Ettercap to Launch DNS Spoofing Attack
    DHCP Spoofing
    Conclusion

    Remote Exploitation
    Understanding Network Protocols
         Transmission Control Protocol
         User Datagram Protocol
         Internet Control Messaging Protocol
    Server Protocols
         Text-Based Protocols (Important)
         Binary Protocols
              FTP
              SMTP
              HTTP
    Further Reading
    Resources
    Attacking Network Remote Services
         Overview of Brute Force Attacks
              Traditional Brute Force
              Dictionary Attacks
              Hybrid Attacks
    Common Target Protocols
    Tools of the Trade
         THC Hydra
    Basic Syntax for Hydra
         Cracking Services with Hydra
    Hydra GUI
         Medusa
    Basic Syntax
    OpenSSH Username Discovery Bug
    Cracking SSH with Medusa
         Ncrack
    Basic Syntax
    Cracking an RDP with Ncrack
         Case Study of a Morto Worm
    Combining Nmap and Ncrack for Optimal Results
         Attacking SMTP
    Important Commands
    Real-Life Example
    Attacking SQL Servers
         MySQL Servers
    Fingerprinting MySQL Version
    Testing for Weak Authentication
    MS SQL Servers
    Fingerprinting the Version
    Brute Forcing SA Account
    Using Null Passwords
    Introduction to Metasploit
    History of Metasploit
    Metasploit Interfaces
    MSFconsole
         MSFcli
         MSFGUI
         Armitage
    Metasploit Utilities
    MSFPayload
    MSFencode
    MSFVenom
    Metasploit Basic Commands
    Search Feature in Metasploit
    Use Command
    Info Command
    Show Options
    Set/Unset Command
    Reconnaissance with Metasploit
    Port Scanning with Metasploit
    Metasploit Databases
    Storing Information from Nmap into Metasploit Database
    Useful Scans with Metasploit
         Port Scanners
         Specific Scanners
    Compromising a Windows Host with Metasploit
    Metasploit Autopwn
    db _ autopwn in Action
    Nessus and Autopwn
         Armitage
    Interface
    Launching Armitage
    Compromising Your First Target from Armitage
    Enumerating and Fingerprinting the Target
    MSF Scans
    Importing Hosts
    Vulnerability Assessment
    Exploitation
    Check Feature
    Hail Mary
    Conclusion
    References

    Client Side Exploitation
    Client Side Exploitation Methods
         Attack Scenario 1: E-Mails Leading to Malicious Attachments
         Attack Scenario 2: E-Mails Leading to Malicious Links
         Attack Scenario 3: Compromising Client Side Update
         Attack Scenario 4: Malware Loaded on USB Sticks
         E-Mails with Malicious Attachments
              Creating a Custom Executable
              Creating a Backdoor with SET
              PDF Hacking
    Introduction
         Header
         Body
         Cross Reference Table
         Trailer
    PDF Launch Action
    Creating a PDF Document with a Launch Action
         Controlling the Dialog Boxes
         PDF Reconnaissance
    Tools in the Trade
         PDFINFO
              PDFINFO "Your PDF Document"
         PDFTK
    Origami Framework
    Installing Origami Framework on BackTrack
    Attacking with PDF
         Fileformat Exploits
         Browser Exploits
    Scenario from Real World
    Adobe PDF Embedded EXE
    Social Engineering Toolkit
         Attack Scenario 2: E-Mails Leading to Malicious Links
    Credential Harvester Attack
    Tabnabbing Attack
    Other Attack Vectors
    Browser Exploitation
    Attacking over the Internet with SET
    Attack Scenario over the Internet
    Using Windows Box as Router (Port Forwarding)
         Browser AutoPWN
    Why Use Browser AutoPWN?
    Problem with Browser AutoPWN
    VPS/DEDICATED Server
         Attack Scenario 3: Compromising Client Side Update
    How Evilgrade Works?
    Prerequisites
         Attack Vectors
         Internal Network Attack Vectors
         External Network Attack Vectors
         Evilgrade Console
         Attack Scenario
         Attack Scenario 4: Malware Loaded on USB Sticks
    Teensy USB
    Conclusion
    Further Reading

    Post-Exploitation
    Acquiring Situation Awareness
         Enumerating a Windows Machine
         Enumerating Local Groups and Users
         Enumerating a Linux Machine
         Enumerating with Meterpreter
              Identifying Processes
              Interacting with the System
              User Interface Command
    Privilege Escalation
         Maintaining Stability
    Escalating Privileges
         Bypassing User Access Control
         Impersonating the Token
         Escalating Privileges on a Linux Machine
    Maintaining Access
    Installing a Backdoor
    Cracking the Hashes to Gain Access to Other Services
    Backdoors
         Disabling the Firewall
         Killing the Antivirus
         Netcat
    Msfpayload/Msfencode
         Generating a Backdoor with MSFPayload
         Msfencode
    Msfvenom
         Persistence
         What Is a Hash?
         Hashing Algorithms
         Windows Hashing Methods
         LAN Manager (LM)
         NTLM/NTLM2
         Kerberos
         Where Are LM/NTLM Hashes Located?
    Dumping the Hashes
         Scenario 1—REMOTE ACCESS
         Scenario 2—LOCAL ACCESS
         OPH Crack
    References
         Scenario 3—OFFLINE SYSTEM
         OPHCrack LIVE CD
         Bypassing the Log-In
    References
    Cracking the Hashes
         BruteforceDictionary Attacks
         Password Salts
         Rainbow Tables
    John the Ripper
         Cracking LM/NTLM Passwords with JTR
         Cracking Linux Passwords with JTR
    Rainbow Crack
         Sorting the Tables
         Cracking the Hashes with rcrack
         Speeding Up the Cracking Process
         Gaining Access to Remote Services
         Enabling the Remote Desktop
         Adding Users to the Remote Desktop
    Data Mining
         Gathering OS Information
         Harvesting Stored Credentials
    Identifying and Exploiting Further Targets
         Mapping the Internal Network
         Finding Network Information
         Identifying Further Targets
         Pivoting
         Scanning Ports and Services and Detecting OS
         Compromising Other Hosts on the Network Having the Same Password
    psexec
         Exploiting Targets
    Conclusion

    Windows Exploit Development Basics
    Prerequisites
    What Is a Buffer Overflow?
    Vulnerable Application
    How to Find Buffer Overflows?
    Methodology
    Getting the Software Up and Running
    Causing the Application to Crash
    Skeleton Exploit
         Determining the Offset
         Identifying Bad Characters
    Figuring Out Bad Characters with Mona
         Overwriting the Return Address
         NOP Sledges
         Generating the ShellCode
    Generating Metasploit Module
    Porting to Metasploit
    Conclusion
    Further Resources

    Wireless Hacking
    Introduction
    Requirements
    Introducing Aircrack-ng
    Uncovering Hidden SSIDs
    Turning on the Monitor Mode
    Monitoring Beacon Frames on Wireshark
    Monitoring with Airodump-ng
    Speeding Up the Process
         Bypassing MAC Filters on Wireless Networks
         Cracking a WEP Wireless Network with Aircrack-ng
    Placing Your Wireless Adapter in Monitor Mode
    Determining the Target with Airodump-ng
         Attacking the Target
         Speeding Up the Cracking Process
         Injecting ARP Packets
         Cracking the WEP
    Cracking a WPA/WPA2 Wireless Network Using Aircrack-ng
    Capturing Packets
    Capturing the Four-Way Handshake
    Cracking WPA/WAP2
         Using Reaver to Crack WPS-Enabled Wireless Networks
    Reducing the Delay
    Further Reading
         Setting Up a Fake Access Point with SET to PWN Users
    Attack Scenario
         Evil Twin Attack
    Scanning the Neighbors
    Spoofing the MAC
    Setting Up a Fake Access Point
    Causing Denial of Service on the Original AP
    Conclusion

    Web Hacking
    Attacking the Authentication
         Username Enumeration
         Invalid Username with Invalid Password
         Valid Username with Invalid Password
         Enabling Browser Cache to Store Passwords
    Brute Force and Dictionary Attacks
    Types of Authentication
         HTTP Basic Authentication
         HTTP-Digest Authentication
         FORM-Based Authentication
         Exploiting Password Reset Feature
    Etsy.com Password Reset Vulnerability
         Attacking FORM-Based Authentication
    Brute Force Attack
         Attacking HTTP BASIC AUTH
    Further Reading
         Log-In Protection Mechanisms
         Captcha Validation Flaw
         Captcha RESET Flaw
         Manipulating User-Agents to Bypass Captcha and Other Protections
         Real-World Example
         Authentication Bypass Attacks
         Authentication Bypass Using SQL Injection
         Testing for SQL Injection Auth Bypass
         Authentication Bypass Using XPATH Injection
              Testing for XPATH Injection
         Authentication Bypass Using Response Tampering
    Crawling Restricted Links
    Testing for the Vulnerability
         Automating It with Burp Suite
    Authentication Bypass with Insecure Cookie Handling
         Session Attacks
         Guessing Weak Session ID
         Session Fixation Attacks
    Requirements for This Attack
    How the Attack Works?
         SQL Injection Attacks
         What Is an SQL Injection?
         Types of SQL Injection
              Union-Based SQL Injection
              Error-Based SQL Injection
              Blind SQL Injection
         Detecting SQL Injection
         Determining the Injection Type
         Union-Based SQL Injection (MySQL)
    Testing for SQL Injection
         Determining the Number of Columns
         Determining the Vulnerable Columns
         Fingerprinting the Database
         Enumeration Information
         Information_schema
         Information_schema Tables
         Enumerating All Available Databases
         Enumerating All Available Tables in the Database
         Extracting Columns from Tables
         Extracting Data from Columns
         Using group _ concat
         MySQL Version ≤ 5
    Guessing Table Names
         Guessing Columns
         SQL Injection to Remote Command Execution
    Reading Files
    Writing Files
         Blind SQL Injection
              Boolean-Based SQLi
         True Statement
         False Statement
         Enumerating the DB USER
         Enumerating the MYSQL Version
         Guessing Tables
         Guessing Columns in the Table
         Extracting Data from Columns
         Time-Based SQL Injection
    Vulnerable Application
    Testing for Time-Based SQL Injection
         Enumerating the DB USER
         Guessing the Table Names
         Guessing the Columns
         Extracting Data from Columns
         Automating SQL Injections with SQLMAP
         Enumerating Databases
         Enumerating Tables
         Enumerating the Columns
         Extracting Data from the Columns
         HTTP Header–Based SQL Injection
         Operating System Takeover with Sqlmap
    OS-CMD
    OS-SHELL
    OS-PWN
    XSS (Cross-Site Scripting)
    How to Identify XSS Vulnerability?
    Types of Cross-Site Scripting
    Reflected/Nonpersistent XSS
         Vulnerable Code
    Medium Security
         Vulnerable Code
    High Security
         Bypassing htmlspecialchars
    UTF-32 XSS Trick: Bypass 1
    Svg Craziness: Bypass 2
    Bypass 3: href Attribute
    Stored XSS/Persistent XSS
    Payloads
    Blind XSS
    DOM-Based XSS
         Detecting DOM-Based XSS
              Sources (Inputs)
              Sinks (Creating/Modifying HTML Elements)
         Static JS Analysis to Identify DOM-Based XSS
         How Does It Work?
         Setting Up JSPRIME
    Dominator: Dynamic Taint Analysis
    POC for Internet Explorer
    POC for Chrome
    Pros/Cons
    Cross Browser DOM XSS Detection
    Types of DOM-Based XSS
         Reflected DOM XSS
         Stored DOM XSS
         Exploiting XSS
         Cookie Stealing with XSS
         Exploiting XSS for Conducting Phishing Attacks
         Compromising Victim’s Browser with XSS
    Exploiting XSS with BEEF
    Setting Up BEEF on BackTrack
    Demo Pages
         Beef Modules
              Module: Replace HREFs
              Module: Getcookie
              Module: Tabnabbing
         BEEF in Action
    Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
    Why Does a CSRF Attack Work?
    How to Attack?
    GET-Based CSRF
    POST-Based CSRF
    CSRF Protection Techniques
    Referrer-Based Checking
    Anti-CSRF Tokens
    Predicting/Brute Forcing Weak Anti-CSRF Token Algorithm
    Tokens Not Validated upon Server
    Analyzing Weak Anti-CSRF Token Strength
    Bypassing CSRF with XSS
         File Upload Vulnerabilities
         Bypassing Client Side Restrictions
         Bypassing MIME-Type Validation
    Real-World Example
         Bypassing Blacklist-Based Protections
         Case 1: Blocking Malicious Extensions
              Bypass
         Case 2: Case-Sensitive Bypass
              Bypass
    Real-World Example
         Vulnerable Code
         Case 3: When All Dangerous Extensions Are Blocked
              XSS via File Upload
              Flash-Based XSS via File Upload
         Case 4: Double Extensions Vulnerabilities
              Apache Double Extension Issues
              IIS 6 Double Extension Issues
         Case 5: Using Trailing Dots
         Case 6: Null Byte Trick
         Case 7: Bypassing Image Validation
         Case 8: Overwriting Critical Files
    Real-World Example
    File Inclusion Vulnerabilities
    Remote File Inclusion
    Patching File Inclusions on the Server Side
         Local File Inclusion
         Linux
         Windows
         LFI Exploitation Using /proc/self/environ
         Log File Injection
         Finding Log Files: Other Tricks
         Exploiting LFI Bby Using PHP Input
         Exploiting LFI Using File Uploads
         Read Source Code via LFI
         Local File Disclosure Vulnerability
              Vulnerable Code
         Local File Disclosure Tricks
         Remote Command Execution
         Uploading Shells
         Server Side Include Injection
    Testing a Website for SSI Injection
    Executing System Commands
    Spawning a Shell
    SSRF Attacks
    Impact
         Example of a Vulnerable PHP CODE
         Remote SSRF
              Simple SSRF
              Partial SSRF
    Denial of Service
         Denial of Service Using External Entity Expansion (XEE)
         Full SSRF
              dict:// 
              gopher://
              http:// 
         Causing the Crash
    Overwriting Return Address
    Generating Shellcode
    Server Hacking
    Apache Server
         Testing for Disabled Functions
         Open _ basedir Misconfiguration
         Using CURL to Bypass Open _ basedir Restrictions
         Open _ basedir PHP 5.2.9 Bypass
    Reference
         Bypassing open _ basedir Using CGI Shell
         Bypassing open _ basedir Using Mod _ Perl, Mod _ Python
    Escalating Privileges Using Local Root Exploits
    Back Connecting
    Finding the Local Root Exploit
    Usage
    Finding a Writable Directory
    Bypassing Symlinks to Read Configuration Files
    Who Is Affected?
    Basic Syntax
         Why This Works?
         Symlink Bypass: Example 1
         Finding the Username
              /etc/passwd File
              /etc/valiases File
              Path Disclosure
         Uploading .htaccess to Follow Symlinks
         Symlinking the Configuration Files
    Connecting to and Manipulating the Database
    Updating the Password
         Symlink the Root Directory
         Example 3: Compromising WHMCS Server
    Finding a WHMCS Server
    Symlinking the Configuration File
         WHMCS Killer
         Disabling Security Mechanisms
         Disabling Mod _ Security
         Disabling Open _ basedir and Safe _ mode
         Using CGI, PERL, or Python Shell to Bypass Symlinks
    Conclusion

    Index

    Biography

    Rafay Baloch is a globally renowned cybersecurity expert and white-hat hacker with a proven record of identifying critical zero-day security vulnerabilities in numerous web applications, products, and browsers. His discoveries have been instrumental in safeguarding the privacy and security of millions of users worldwide. Baloch has received various accolades, including being named one of the “Top 5 Ethical Hackers of 2014” by Checkmarx, one of the “15 Most Successful Ethical Hackers Worldwide,” and one of the “Top 25 Threat Seekers” by SC Magazine. In addition, Reflectiz listed him among the “Top 21 Cybersecurity Experts You Must Follow on Twitter in 2021.”

     

    On March 23, 2022, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) recognized Baloch’s significant contributions to the field of cybersecurity with the Pride of Pakistan award. Baloch is also the author of “Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing Guide,” published by Taylor & Francis in 2014.

     

    Rafay has presented his research at various international cybersecurity conferences, including Black Hat, Hack In Paris, HEXCON, the 10th Information Security Conference in Greece, the CSAW Conference, and many others. He is frequently sought after for his insights and analysis on current cybersecurity topics, appearing in national and international mainstream media outlets such as Forbes, WSJ, Independent UK, BBC, Express Tribune, DAWN, and many others.

     

    Baloch has also served as  Senior Consultant for Cyber Security at the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the national telecom regulator. Currently, he runs a cybersecurity company REDSECLABS, offering cybersecurity consulting at the global level.

     

    Rafay Baloch is the founder of REDSECLABS, a company specializing in security consulting, training, and a variety of other Cyber Security-related services. The book features several sample codes and 'extra mile' exercises designed to enhance learning. To apply these concepts practically, we encourage you to visit our website at https://www.redseclabs.com. On the site, you'll find blog posts that explore these exercises and other resources mentioned throughout the books, along with showcases of our research work.

    .