Software as a whole is an ever-changing landscape that is almost never static. New program languages bring new possibilities to the table but they are usually a consequence of other languages becoming outdated or insecure. Information and knowledge are shared at a rapid pace thanks to the global adoption of the Internet, so it is to be expected that threat actors will find a way to use that information to their advantage. This is where outdated systems are put at risk. A loophole can be discovered years after the wide adoption of one software solution or programming language. Penetration testing, as a byproduct of this issue, serves as a problem prevention toll.
Identifying Threats based on Real-World examples
Many systems and software solutions are exploited on a daily basis. Once a cyber crime investigation is conducted, we can know how a system was exploited and how such an attack can be prevented in the future. WEBINT tools serve as information aggregators that scan the web and crawl it for useful information. They can identify potential threats that have no permanent solutions (for now) and warn the end-user about them in a timely manner. Processing and filtering such information is done with the help of artificial intelligence which provides more time for security teams to work on other important issues.
Humint and how it works
Most systems don’t only rely on the software behind them. Almost all of them have a weak link on the human side that can cause issues down the road. Such an example would be the Twitter hack that occurred in 2020. An employee that had access to confidential control panels was exploited and access to the complete system was acquired by threat actors. While the damage was kept to a minimum, such an event can cause a lot of damage to financial institutions, government bodies, and others. To make sure that a weak link is identified on time, Humint is used for identifying and securing the “Achilles heel” in your network or organization. Almost every cyber crime investigation process ends up finding out that a human weakness was exploited rather than a loophole in the software itself. Phishing and social engineering are real threats that can be used for easy information extraction if a team member isn’t prepared or educated on the subject.
How to perform a successful penetration test
Many companies that offer penetration testing are certified by regulatory bodies but not all of them have real-world experience. Corporate espionage, terrorist organizations and money laundering cartels usually have highly educated individuals doing the “hard work”. If they aren’t met with the same level of resistance on the other side, an attack will most likely be successful for the threat actors. If you are looking for a reliable solution, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Pick a team with real-world experience and high credentials
Look for true intelligence. WEBINT is just one aspect of the wide spectrum of intelligence that can be collected online
Pick teams with international experience. Not everyone uses the same techniques and you want someone with insider information
Conclusion
Penetration testing is the ultimate cybercrime prevention tool. Rather than acting after someone penetrates your system or network, it will simulate every possible attack and reveal every possible weakness in the process. Knowing the weak spots can help improve security but also keep it at the highest level possible. Successful penetration testing that is done regularly will contribute to network safety but also provide valuable information about the possible threats that can be expected. In terms of software, crime prevention is a must. Proactive security has a better long-term effect on efficiency than a swift response after a disastrous event has taken place.
