Enhancing Cybersecurity Skills: Key Commands and Techniques for IT Professionals

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Introduction

In today’s rapidly evolving cybersecurity landscape, IT professionals must stay ahead of emerging threats by mastering essential tools and techniques. From API security to cloud hardening, this article provides actionable insights and verified commands to strengthen your defenses.

Learning Objectives

  • Learn critical Linux/Windows commands for cybersecurity tasks.
  • Understand API security best practices and hardening techniques.
  • Explore vulnerability exploitation and mitigation strategies.

You Should Know

1. Linux Command: Checking Open Ports with `netstat`

Command:

netstat -tuln | grep LISTEN

Step-by-Step Guide:

This command lists all listening ports on a Linux system, helping identify unauthorized services.

1. Open a terminal.

2. Run `netstat -tuln` to display TCP/UDP ports.

  1. Pipe (|) the output to `grep LISTEN` to filter active listeners.

2. Windows Command: Detecting Suspicious Processes

Command:

Get-Process | Where-Object { $_.CPU -gt 90 }

Step-by-Step Guide:

This PowerShell cmdlet identifies high-CPU processes, often a sign of malware.

1. Launch PowerShell as Administrator.

  1. Execute the command to list processes consuming >90% CPU.

3. Investigate unfamiliar processes using `Task Manager`.

  1. API Security: Testing for Broken Object-Level Authorization (BOLA)

Command (cURL):

curl -X GET https://api.example.com/users/123 -H "Authorization: Bearer <token>"

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Replace `` with a valid JWT.

  1. Change the user ID (123) to test unauthorized access.
  2. If the API returns data, it’s vulnerable to BOLA.

4. Cloud Hardening: Restricting S3 Bucket Permissions

AWS CLI Command:

aws s3api put-bucket-policy --bucket my-bucket --policy file://policy.json

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Create a `policy.json` file with least-privilege access.

2. Run the command to apply the policy.

3. Verify with `aws s3api get-bucket-policy –bucket my-bucket`.

5. Vulnerability Mitigation: Patching with `apt`

Command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Update the package list: `sudo apt update`.

2. Upgrade all packages: `sudo apt upgrade -y`.

3. Reboot if kernel updates are installed.

What Undercode Say

  • Key Takeaway 1: Regular system audits using commands like `netstat` and `Get-Process` are critical for early threat detection.
  • Key Takeaway 2: API security requires proactive testing, especially for authorization flaws like BOLA.

Analysis:

The rise in API-driven attacks underscores the need for robust security practices. Combining automated tools with manual testing (e.g., cURL commands) ensures comprehensive coverage. Meanwhile, cloud misconfigurations remain a top risk, making commands like AWS S3 policy updates indispensable.

Prediction

As AI-driven attacks grow, cybersecurity training will shift toward automation and real-time threat hunting. Professionals who master both offensive and defensive commands will lead the next wave of cyber resilience.

Note: Replace placeholders (e.g., <token>, my-bucket) with actual values in commands.

IT/Security Reporter URL:

Reported By: Xavier Garced – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

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