Comprehensive Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking Guide
1. Introduction to Cybersecurity
- Definition of cybersecurity and its importance in the modern world.
- Major domains of cybersecurity: network security, application security, cloud security, forensics.
- Common cyber threats: Malware, ransomware, DDoS, phishing, insider threats, supply chain
attacks.
- Cybersecurity frameworks: NIST, ISO 27001, CIS Controls.
- Legal and ethical considerations in cybersecurity: GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS, Indian IT Act.
- Cybersecurity career paths: Ethical hacker, SOC analyst, security engineer, forensic investigator.
2. Penetration Testing (Ethical Hacking) - Detailed Breakdown
- 1. Reconnaissance (OSINT & Information Gathering):
- - Passive OSINT: WHOIS lookups, Google dorking, SHODAN searches.
- - Active OSINT: Scanning subdomains, fingerprinting web applications.
- 2. Scanning & Enumeration:
- - Identifying open ports using Nmap, Masscan.
- - Banner grabbing and service enumeration.
- - Detecting vulnerabilities using Nessus, OpenVAS.
- 3. Exploitation Techniques:
- - Using Metasploit for automated exploitation.
- - Manually exploiting buffer overflows and code injections.
- 4. Privilege Escalation & Post-Exploitation:
- - Kernel exploits, misconfigured services.
- - Dumping credentials using Mimikatz.
- 5. Maintaining Access & Covering Tracks:
- - Creating backdoors, using rootkits.
- - Clearing logs, timestomping.
3. Network Security
- Understanding TCP/IP protocols and packet structures.
- Deep packet analysis using Wireshark and tcpdump.
- Firewall and IDS/IPS configurations (Snort, Suricata).
- Wireless security attacks: WPA2 cracking, Evil Twin, Wi-Fi pineapple.
- Man-in-the-middle attacks: ARP spoofing, SSL stripping.
- Zero Trust Security Model: Implementation and best practices.
4. Web Security (OWASP Top 10 & Advanced Exploits)
- Detailed breakdown of OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities.
- SQL Injection: Manual exploitation, automated tools, prevention.
- XSS (Cross-Site Scripting): Stored, Reflected, DOM-based attacks.
- CSRF (Cross-Site Request Forgery): Exploiting and mitigating CSRF.
- SSRF (Server-Side Request Forgery): How attackers gain internal access.
- Web Application Firewalls (WAF): Bypassing and countermeasures.
5. Digital Forensics & Incident Response (DFIR)
- 1. Disk Forensics:
- - Imaging drives using Autopsy, FTK Imager.
- - File system analysis, metadata extraction.
- 2. Memory Forensics:
- - Investigating RAM dumps with Volatility.
- - Identifying malware persistence in memory.
- 3. Network Forensics:
- - Capturing and analyzing network traffic.
- - Detecting malicious exfiltration attempts.
- 4. Incident Response:
- - Developing an IR playbook.
- - Analyzing logs, mitigating security breaches.
6. Cybersecurity Certifications & Study Guide
- CEH: Covers ethical hacking techniques, penetration testing.
- OSCP: Advanced hands-on penetration testing, exploit development.
- CISSP: Security governance, risk management, cryptography.
- CHFI: Digital forensics, cybercrime investigations.
- Security+: Covers fundamental security practices.
7. Security Assignments & Professional Assessments
- 1. Defining Scope:
- - Identifying systems to test, setting up engagement rules.
- 2. Information Gathering:
- - Using active and passive reconnaissance methods.
- 3. Exploitation:
- - Gaining access, leveraging privilege escalation methods.
- 4. Reporting & Documentation:
- - Writing a professional security assessment report.
8. Hands-on Cybersecurity Projects
- Building a personal pentesting lab with virtual machines.
- Developing an automated vulnerability scanner using Python.
- Simulating phishing attacks for security awareness training.
- Investigating malware-infected systems for forensic analysis.
- Conducting an internal security audit on a small business network.
9. Advanced Red Teaming & Attack Simulations
- Understanding adversary tactics and threat modeling.
- Bypassing EDR solutions and endpoint security tools.
- Weaponizing PowerShell and C2 frameworks for security operations.
- Conducting physical security penetration testing.
- Developing and testing zero-day exploits.
10. Final Notes & Learning Resources
- Recommended cybersecurity books, blogs, online courses.
- Participating in Capture the Flag (CTF) competitions.
- Best cybersecurity forums and communities.
- Staying updated with emerging security threats.
