Offensive Security PWK PDF 17: The Best Course for Ethical Hacking
Offensive Security PWK PDF 17: What You Need to Know
If you are interested in learning how to hack systems and networks ethically, you might have heard of Offensive Security PWK PDF 17. This is a comprehensive course that teaches you the skills and techniques of penetration testing, also known as ethical hacking. In this article, we will explain what Offensive Security PWK PDF 17 is, how to prepare for it, how to learn from it, and how to pass the exam that leads to the coveted OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) certification.
offensive security pwk pdf 17
What is Offensive Security?
Offensive Security is a company that provides training, certification, and consulting services in the field of cybersecurity. Their motto is "Try Harder", which reflects their philosophy of challenging students to learn by doing, rather than by following instructions or watching videos. Their courses are designed to simulate real-world scenarios and environments, where students have to use their creativity, persistence, and problem-solving skills to achieve their objectives.
What is PWK?
PWK stands for Penetration Testing with Kali Linux, which is one of the most popular courses offered by Offensive Security. It covers the fundamentals of penetration testing, from reconnaissance and enumeration, to exploitation and post-exploitation, to privilege escalation and persistence, to web application attacks and buffer overflows. The course also teaches students how to use Kali Linux, a Linux distribution that comes with hundreds of tools for hacking and security testing.
What is PDF 17?
PDF 17 is the latest version of the course materials for PWK. It consists of a PDF document that contains over 800 pages of detailed explanations, examples, exercises, and tips on various topics related to penetration testing. The PDF document also comes with a set of videos that demonstrate some of the concepts and techniques discussed in the text. The PDF document is updated regularly by Offensive Security to reflect the latest trends and technologies in the field.
How to Prepare for Offensive Security PWK PDF 17
Before you enroll in the PWK course, you need to make sure that you have the necessary prerequisites, equipment, and mindset to succeed. Here are some of the steps you need to take to prepare for the course:
What are the prerequisites for taking the course?
According to Offensive Security, the PWK course is suitable for anyone who has a basic understanding of networking, Linux, and Windows systems. However, they also recommend that students have some prior experience or knowledge of the following topics:
Basic programming or scripting skills in languages such as Python, Perl, Ruby, or Bash.
Basic knowledge of common web technologies and protocols, such as HTTP, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL, etc.
Basic knowledge of common security concepts and terminology, such as encryption, hashing, authentication, authorization, etc.
Basic knowledge of common hacking tools and techniques, such as Metasploit, Nmap, Burp Suite, SQLmap, etc.
If you feel that you need to brush up on any of these topics, you can find many online resources and courses that can help you learn them. For example, you can check out the following websites:
Codecademy: A platform that offers interactive courses on various programming languages and web technologies.
Cybrary: A platform that offers free courses on various cybersecurity topics and certifications.
Hack The Box: A platform that offers realistic hacking challenges and labs for practicing your skills.
How to download and install the course materials?
Once you enroll in the PWK course, you will receive an email from Offensive Security with a link to download the course materials. The course materials include the PDF document, the videos, and a virtual machine image that contains Kali Linux and all the tools you will need for the course. You will also receive a username and password to access the online student portal, where you can find additional resources and support.
To install the course materials, you will need a computer that meets the following requirements:
A 64-bit processor with at least 4 GB of RAM and 50 GB of free disk space.
A virtualization software that supports OVA files, such as VirtualBox or VMware Workstation.
A reliable internet connection with at least 10 Mbps of bandwidth.
To install the course materials, you will need to follow these steps:
Download the OVA file from the link provided by Offensive Security and save it to your computer.
Open your virtualization software and import the OVA file as a new virtual machine.
Start the virtual machine and log in with the username "root" and the password "toor".
Open a terminal and run the command "apt update && apt upgrade" to update Kali Linux and its tools.
Copy the PDF document and the videos from your computer to the virtual machine using a USB drive or a shared folder.
How to set up your lab environment and access the VPN?
The PWK course comes with access to a remote lab environment that contains over 50 machines with different operating systems, configurations, and vulnerabilities. The lab environment is designed to simulate a real-world network that you can hack legally and safely. To access the lab environment, you will need to connect to a VPN (Virtual Private Network) that is provided by Offensive Security.
To set up your lab environment and access the VPN, you will need to follow these steps:
Download the VPN pack from the online student portal and save it to your computer.
Extract the VPN pack to a folder on your computer. You will find a file named "oscp-username.ovpn", where username is your student username.
Copy the file "oscp-username.ovpn" to your Kali Linux virtual machine using a USB drive or a shared folder.
Open a terminal and run the command "openvpn oscp-username.ovpn" to connect to the VPN. You will be prompted for your student password.
Once connected, you will be assigned an IP address in the range of 10.11.x.x. You can use this IP address to communicate with other machines in the lab network.
How to use Kali Linux and its tools?
How to use Metasploit and its modules?
Metasploit is a framework that contains a collection of tools and modules for exploiting various vulnerabilities and performing post-exploitation tasks. Metasploit can help you automate and streamline your penetration testing process, as well as discover new attack vectors and techniques.
To use Metasploit and its modules, you will need to follow these steps:
Open a terminal and run the command "msfconsole" to launch Metasploit.
Use the command "search" to find modules that match your criteria. For example, you can search by name, type, platform, author, CVE number, etc.
Use the command "use" to select a module that you want to use. For example, you can use "use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue" to select the module that exploits the EternalBlue vulnerability in Windows SMB.
Use the command "show options" to see the options and parameters that you need to configure for the module. For example, you will need to set the target IP address, the payload type, the port number, etc.
Use the command "set" to assign values to the options and parameters. For example, you can use "set RHOSTS 10.11.1.5" to set the target IP address to 10.11.1.5.
Use the command "run" or "exploit" to execute the module and launch the attack. If successful, you will get a shell or a meterpreter session on the target machine.
Use the command "background" to put the session in the background and return to Metasploit. You can use the command "sessions" to see all your active sessions and switch between them.
How to use Nmap and its scripts?
Nmap is a tool that allows you to scan networks and hosts for open ports, services, operating systems, vulnerabilities, and other information. Nmap can help you identify potential targets and discover their weaknesses and exposures.
To use Nmap and its scripts, you will need to follow these steps:
Open a terminal and run the command "nmap" followed by some options and arguments. For example, you can use "nmap -sV -sC -p- 10.11.1.0/24" to scan all ports on all hosts in the 10.11.1.0/24 subnet and detect their services and run default scripts.
Wait for Nmap to finish scanning and display the results. You will see a list of hosts and their open ports, services, versions, banners, scripts output, etc.
Analyze the results and look for interesting or vulnerable services or hosts. For example, you might find a web server running an outdated version of Apache or a Windows machine with SMB open.
Use Nmap scripts to perform more advanced or specific scans or attacks on your targets. Nmap scripts are written in Lua and can extend Nmap's functionality and automate various tasks. You can find hundreds of scripts in the /usr/share/nmap/scripts/ directory or online at https://nmap.org/nsedoc/.
Use the option "--script" followed by a script name or a category name to run a script or a group of scripts on your targets. For example, you can use "--script vuln" to run all vulnerability detection scripts or "--script smb-vuln-ms17-010.nse" to run a specific script that checks for the EternalBlue vulnerability in SMB.
How to Learn from Offensive Security PWK PDF 17
The PWK course is designed to teach you how to think like a hacker and develop your own methodology for penetration testing. The course materials provide you with a solid foundation of knowledge and skills, but they are not meant to be exhaustive or comprehensive. You are expected to do your own research and practice on topics that interest you or challenge you.
To learn from Offensive Security PWK PDF 17, you will need to follow these tips:
What are the main topics covered in the course?
The course covers five main topics that are essential for any penetration tester:
Enumeration and information gathering
This topic covers the techniques and tools for discovering and collecting information about your targets, such as their IP addresses, open ports, services, operating systems, users, passwords, etc. This information can help you identify potential vulnerabilities and attack vectors.
Exploitation and post-exploitation
This topic covers the techniques and tools for exploiting the vulnerabilities that you find in your targets, such as buffer overflows, SQL injection, file inclusion, command injection, etc. This can allow you to gain access to the target system or network and execute commands or payloads. This topic also covers the techniques and tools for maintaining and extending your access, such as creating backdoors, installing rootkits, pivoting, tunneling, etc.
Privilege escalation and persistence
This topic covers the techniques and tools for elevating your privileges on the target system or network, such as exploiting misconfigurations, weak passwords, unpatched software, etc. This can allow you to access more resources and data on the target. This topic also covers the techniques and tools for ensuring that your access is not detected or removed by the target's defenses, such as hiding your files, processes, network traffic, etc.
Web application attacks and SQL injection
This topic covers the techniques and tools for attacking web applications and databases, such as exploiting common web vulnerabilities, bypassing authentication and authorization mechanisms, manipulating input and output data, etc. This can allow you to compromise the web server or the database server and access sensitive information or execute commands.
Buffer overflows and shellcode development
This topic covers the techniques and tools for creating and exploiting buffer overflows, which are a type of memory corruption vulnerability that can allow you to execute arbitrary code on the target system. This topic also covers the techniques and tools for developing shellcode, which is a type of code that can be injected into a vulnerable program or process and perform various tasks.
How to Pass the Offensive Security PWK PDF 17 Exam
The PWK course is not only a learning experience but also a preparation for the OSCP exam. The OSCP exam is a practical exam that tests your ability to perform a penetration test on a simulated network with multiple machines of varying difficulty levels. The exam is 24 hours long and requires you to document and report your findings in a professional manner.
To pass the Offensive Security PWK PDF 17 exam, you will need to follow these guidelines:
What are the exam requirements and format?
The exam requirements and format are as follows:
You must have completed the PWK course and have a valid lab access.
You must schedule your exam at least 72 hours in advance through the online student portal.
You must have a webcam and a microphone to verify your identity and monitor your activity during the exam.
You must connect to the exam network using a VPN connection provided by Offensive Security.
You must hack as many machines as possible in the exam network within 24 hours.
You must document your steps and findings in a comprehensive report using the template provided by Offensive Security.
You must submit your report within 24 hours after the end of the exam through the online student portal.
You must score at least 70 points out of 100 to pass the exam.
How to plan and manage your time during the exam?
The exam is a challenging and stressful experience that requires you to plan and manage your time wisely. Here are some tips to help you do that:
Before the exam, review the course materials and practice your skills on the lab machines or other platforms.
Before the exam, prepare your tools and scripts that you will use during the exam. Make sure they work properly and are organized in a way that you can find them easily.
Before the exam, set up your workspace in a comfortable and quiet place where you will not be disturbed or distracted.
During the exam, start with a quick scan of all the machines in the exam network to identify their IP addresses, open ports, services, operating systems, etc.
the easiest and most valuable ones first and save the hardest and least valuable ones for later.
During the exam, use a systematic and methodical approach to enumerate and exploit each target. Don't rely on automated tools or scripts alone. Try to understand the underlying logic and mechanism of each vulnerability and exploit.
During the exam, document your steps and findings as you go along. Don't wait until the end of the exam to write your report. Use screenshots, code snippets, commands, outputs, etc. to support your claims.
During the exam, take breaks regularly to rest your eyes, stretch your body, drink water, eat snacks, etc. Don't burn yourself out or lose focus.
During the exam, monitor your progress and time. Keep track of how many points you have scored and how much time you have left. Adjust your strategy accordingly.
During the exam, don't panic or give up. If you encounter a problem or a challenge that you can't solve, try to find another way or move on to another target. Remember that you only need 70 points to pass.
How to document and report your findings?
The documentation and reporting of your findings is a crucial part of the exam and the penetration testing process. It demonstrates your professionalism, communication skills, and analytical skills. It also provides valuable information and recommendations to your clients or employers.
To document and report your findings, you will need to follow these steps:
Download the report template from the online student portal and save it to your computer.
Open the report template with a word processor such as Microsoft Word or LibreOffice Writer.
Fill in the report template with your information and findings. The report template consists of several sections, such as:
Executive Summary: A brief overview of the objectives, scope, methodology, results, and conclusions of the penetration test.
Introduction: A detailed description of the objectives, scope, methodology, limitations, and assumptions of the penetration test.
Findings: A list of all the vulnerabilities and issues that you found on each target machine, along with their severity level, impact, proof of concept, remediation suggestions, and references.
Conclusion: A summary of the main findings and recommendations of the penetration test.
Appendix: Any additional information or data that supports your findings or report.
Proofread and edit your report for clarity, accuracy, grammar, spelling, punctuation, etc.
Save your report as a PDF file with a file name that follows this format: "OSCP-username-OS-ID.pdf", where username is your student username and OS-ID is a unique identifier that is provided by Offensive Security.
Submit your report through the online student portal within 24 hours after the end of the exam.
How to deal with common challenges and pitfalls?
The exam is not an easy task and you might face some common challenges and pitfalls that can affect your performance or result. Here are some of them and how to deal with them:
Lack of preparation: If you are not well prepared for the exam, you might struggle with some topics or skills that are required for the exam. To avoid this, you should review the course materials and practice your skills on the lab machines or other platforms before taking the exam.
Lack of research: If you are not familiar with some vulnerabilities or exploits that you encounter during the exam, you might waste time or miss opportunities to score points. To avoid this, you should do your own research on topics that interest you or challenge you during the course or before taking the exam.
Lack of creativity: If you rely on automated tools or scripts alone to perform your penetration test, you might miss some vulnerabilities or exploits that require manual intervention or customization. To avoid this, you should try to think like a hacker and develop your own methodology for penetration testing.
, you might feel frustrated or discouraged and give up. To avoid this, you should remember that the exam is designed to test your skills and mindset, not your knowledge or luck. You should try harder and find another way or move on to another target.
Lack of time management: If you don't plan and manage your time wisely during the exam, you might run out of time or miss some targets or points. To avoid this, you should prioritize your targets based on their difficulty level and point value, use a systematic and methodical approach to enumerate and exploit each target, document your steps and findings as you go along, take breaks regularly, monitor your progress and time, and adjust your strategy accordingly.<