Which of the following penetration testing phases involves reconnaissance or data gathering?
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A. B. C. D.B.
The correct answer is B. Pre-attack phase.
Penetration testing, also known as pen testing, is a simulated cyber attack that is conducted on an organization's information system to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in its security measures. Penetration testing is typically performed in five phases:
The pre-attack phase is the first phase of the penetration testing process. This phase involves gathering information about the target system, including its network architecture, operating systems, applications, and security controls. This phase is critical to the success of the pen testing process because it helps the penetration tester identify potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited during the attack phase.
The reconnaissance phase is the second phase of the penetration testing process. This phase involves collecting more detailed information about the target system, including IP addresses, network topologies, system configurations, and user account information. This information is collected using various tools and techniques, such as network scanning, port scanning, and social engineering.
The attack phase is the third phase of the penetration testing process. This phase involves attempting to exploit the vulnerabilities that were identified during the pre-attack and reconnaissance phases. This phase is typically performed using automated tools and manual techniques to simulate a real-world cyber attack.
The post-attack phase is the fourth phase of the penetration testing process. This phase involves analyzing the results of the attack phase, identifying any successful attacks, and documenting the vulnerabilities that were exploited.
The out-attack phase is the final phase of the penetration testing process. This phase involves providing recommendations for improving the organization's security posture and addressing the vulnerabilities that were identified during the testing process.
In summary, the reconnaissance or data gathering phase is part of the pre-attack phase in the penetration testing process. This phase is critical to the success of the pen testing process because it helps the penetration tester identify potential vulnerabilities that can be exploited during the attack phase.