Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting networks, devices, and data from unauthorized access or criminal use. It involves the art of ensuring the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information and systems. This field aims to safeguard systems, networks, and programs from digital attacks, which are typically targeted at gaining unauthorized access or making unauthorized changes to sensitive information

The Three Pillars of Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity aims to ensure the:

• Confidentiality of data - only authorized users can access the data.

• The integrity of data - the data has not been altered or compromised.

Availability of networks and systems - they are accessible when needed.

Common Cybersecurity Threats

Some common cyber threats include:

• Phishing - Fraudulent emails or messages designed to steal information. Phishing attacks try to acquire sensitive information such as usernames, passwords, and credit card details by masquerading as a trustworthy entity. Phishing emails often contain malicious attachments or links that install malware once opened. Spear phishing targets specific individuals within an organization, while whaling targets senior executives.

• Malware - Malicious software like viruses, ransomware or spyware. Malware refers to any malicious software designed to damage or disrupt a system. Malware is one of the most common cyber threats organizations face. It attacks can infect systems through phishing emails, malicious websites, and USB drives.

• Social engineering - Manipulating people into revealing sensitive information.

• Code Injection and SQL Injection Attacks - Code injection attacks manipulate input to an interpreter to change how the code itself behaves, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary commands.

  SQL injection attacks specifically target data-driven applications by inserting malicious SQL code and modifying the intended SQL queries. This enables attackers to read sensitive data from the database.

• Data breaches - Unauthorized access to sensitive data

Penetration Testing Stages

Penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking, is a proactive approach to identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities in a system or network. The process typically involves several phases to ensure a thorough assessment. Here are the common phases of a penetration test:

1. Reconnaissance

   This phase involves gathering information about the target system. It can be done actively by directly interacting with the system or passively by using publicly available information.

   • Objective: Gather as much information as possible about the target system or network.

   • Activities: Use open-source intelligence (OSINT), DNS queries, network scans, and social engineering techniques to collect information about the target.

2. Scanning

   In this phase, tools are used to identify open ports, network services and vulnerabilities in the target system.

   • Objective: Identify live hosts, open ports, and services running on the target system.

   • Activities: Conduct port scanning, service version detection, and network mapping to create a blueprint of the target environment.

3. Gaining Acces

   The vulnerabilities identified during scanning are assessed to determine if they can be exploited.

   • Objective: Exploit vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to the target system.

   • Activities: Attempt to exploit known vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or weaknesses in the system's defenses. This phase may involve the use of malware, exploits, or social engineering.

4. Maintaining Acces

   This stage aims to see if the vulnerability can be used to achieve a persistent presence in the exploited system long enough for a bad actor to gain in-depth access.

   • Objective: Establish a persistent presence in the target environment.

   • Activities: Create backdoors, establish remote access, or exploit vulnerabilities that allow for continued access to the system even after the initial penetration.

5. Analysis (post-exploitation)

   • Objective: Evaluate the impact of the successful exploits and identify potential areas for further exploitation.

   • Activities: Review the compromised system for sensitive data, assess the effectiveness of security controls, and gather information for the final report.

Conclusion

In conclusion, analyzing the collected information in the context of cybersecurity involves organizing, examining, and deriving insights from the data to identify vulnerabilities, threats, and risks. The analysis helps in improving the overall security posture and implementing effective measures to safeguard computer systems, networks, and data from unauthorized access or malicious activities.

Our upcoming articles will explore the applications and resources essential for understanding hacking. I will share the tools and methods I've learned for executing penetration tests, providing a comprehensive guide to applied cybersecurity. Get ready for an immersive journey into the captivating realm of practical cybersecurity.