# How To Become A Penetration Tester: 2025 Guide

Penetration testing, or ethical hacking, is a critical skill in cybersecurity. This guide outlines the steps, certifications, and technical skills required to launch a successful career as a penetration tester.

Key Steps to Become a Penetration Tester

Learn Networking & Operating Systems: Master Linux (Kali Linux) and Windows command-line tools.
Understand Cybersecurity Fundamentals: Study vulnerabilities, exploits, and defense mechanisms.

3. Get Certified: Pursue certifications like:

CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)
CompTIA Security+

Practice Hands-On: Use platforms like Hack The Box, TryHackMe, and VulnHub.
Build a Portfolio: Document your penetration testing projects and write-ups.

🔗 Read more: StationX Penetration Testing Guide

You Should Know:

Essential Linux Commands for Penetration Testing


<h1>Network Scanning</h1>

nmap -sV -A target.com 
sudo netdiscover -r 192.168.1.0/24

<h1>Exploitation with Metasploit</h1>

msfconsole 
use exploit/multi/handler 
set payload windows/meterpreter/reverse_tcp 
exploit

<h1>Password Cracking with John the Ripper</h1>

john --wordlist=/usr/share/wordlists/rockyou.txt hashes.txt

<h1>Web App Testing with SQLmap</h1>

sqlmap -u "http://test.com/page?id=1" --dbs

Windows Commands for Security Testing


<h1>Check Open Ports</h1>

netstat -ano

<h1>Find Vulnerable Services</h1>

wmic service get name,displayname,pathname,startmode | findstr /i "auto"

<h1>Extract Password Hashes (Requires Admin)</h1>

reg save HKLM\SAM SAM.bak 
reg save HKLM\SYSTEM SYSTEM.bak

Practice Labs & Resources

Hack The Box: https://www.hackthebox.com/
TryHackMe: https://tryhackme.com/
VulnHub: https://www.vulnhub.com/

What Undercode Say

Becoming a penetration tester requires continuous learning. Start with basic networking, move to scripting (Python/Bash), and practice daily. Use tools like Wireshark, Burp Suite, and Nmap. Stay updated with cybersecurity blogs and CTF challenges.

Expected Output:

Starting Nmap 7.92 ( https://nmap.org ) 
Nmap scan report for target.com (192.168.1.1) 
PORT STATE SERVICE VERSION 
80/tcp open http Apache httpd 2.4.41 
443/tcp open ssl/http Apache httpd 2.4.41

This guide provides a structured path to enter penetration testing. Follow the steps, practice relentlessly, and earn relevant certifications to succeed. 🚀