CompTIA PenTest+ Certification Course Outline

Module 1: Introduction to Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

• Understanding Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing
• What is the Difference Between Ethical Hacking and Nonethical Hacking?
• Understanding the Current Threat Landscape
• Exploring Penetration Testing Methodologies
• Penetration Testing Methods

Module 2: Planning and Scoping a Penetration Testing Assessment

• Explaining the Importance of the Planning and Preparation Phase
• Understanding the Legal Concepts of Penetration Testing
• Learning How to Scope a Penetration Testing Engagement Properly
• Learning the Key Aspects of Compliance-Based Assessments

Module 3: Information Gathering and Vulnerability Identification

• Understanding Information Gathering and Reconnaissance
• Understanding the Art of Performing Vulnerability Scans
• Understanding How to Analyse Vulnerability Scan Results

Module 4: Social Engineering Attacks

• Understanding Social Engineering Attacks
• Phishing
• Pharming
• Malvertising
• Spear Phishing
• SMS Phishing
• Voice Phishing
• Whaling
• Elicitation, Interrogation, and Impersonation (Pretexting)
• Social Engineering Motivation Techniques Shoulder Surfing
• USB Key Drop and Social Engineering

Module 5: Exploiting Wired and Wireless Networks

• Exploiting Network-Based Vulnerabilities
• Exploiting Wireless and RF-Based Attacks and Vulnerabilities

Module 6: Exploiting Application-Based Vulnerabilities

• Overview of Web Applications for Security Professionals
• How to Build Your Own Web Application Lab
• Exploiting Authentication-Based Vulnerabilities
• Exploiting Authorisation-Based Vulnerabilities
• Understanding Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Vulnerabilities
• Understanding Cross-Site Request Forgery Attacks
• Understanding Clickjacking
• Exploiting Security Misconfigurations
• Exploiting File Inclusion Vulnerabilities
• Exploiting Insecure Code Practices

Module 7: Exploiting Local Host and Physical Security Vulnerabilities

• Exploiting Local Host Vulnerabilities
• Understanding Physical Security Attacks

Module 8: Performing Post-Exploitation Techniques

• Maintaining Persistence After Compromising a System
• Understanding How to Perform Lateral Movement
• Understanding How to Cover Your Tracks and Clean Up Systems After a Penetration Testing Engagement

Module 9: Penetration Testing Tools

• Understanding the Different Use Cases of Penetration Testing Tools and
• How to Analyse Their Output
• Penetration Testing–Focused Linux Distributions
• Common Tools for Reconnaissance and Enumeration
• Encapsulation and Tunnelling Using DNS and Other Protocols Like NTP
• Common De-compilation, Disassembling, and Debugging Tools
• Leveraging Bash, Python, Ruby, and PowerShell in Penetration Testing Engagements

Module 10: Understanding How to Finalise a Penetration Test

• Explaining Post-Engagement Activities
• Surveying Report Writing Best Practices
• Understanding the Importance of a Quality Report
• Discussing Best Practices of Writing a Penetration Testing Report
• Understanding Report Handling and Communications Best Practices