XyverInecurity Podcast - Not A Penetration Tester And Don't Want To Be

How do you make the jump from doing CTFs with a guide to not using one? You get comfortable being lost and do not give into doubt, rage, or fear.

You Should Know:

Transitioning from guided Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges to independent problem-solving requires a shift in mindset and practical skills. Below are key steps, commands, and techniques to help you progress in cybersecurity without relying on guides.

1. Embrace the Unknown

Mindset Shift: Accept that confusion is part of the learning process.
Command to Try: Use `man` (manual) pages in Linux to explore tools:
```
man nmap 
```

2. Build a Methodology

A structured approach helps when you’re stuck:

Reconnaissance:
```
nmap -sV -A target_ip 
```
Enumeration:
```
dirb http://target_url 
```

Exploitation:

msfconsole 
use exploit/multi/handler 
set payload linux/x86/meterpreter/reverse_tcp

3. Practice Without Guides

Use VulnHub/HTB Machines: Download vulnerable VMs and solve them blind.

Key Linux Commands:

grep -Ri "password" /var/www/html  Search for passwords in web directories

4. Debugging & Problem-Solving

Check Logs:
```
tail -f /var/log/apache2/error.log 
```
Networking Checks:
```
netstat -tulnp  List open ports 
```

5. Automate Repetitive Tasks

Bash Scripting Example:

!/bin/bash 
for ip in $(seq 1 254); do ping -c 1 192.168.1.$ip | grep "bytes from"; done

6. Learn from Failures

Analyze Why an Exploit Failed:
```
strace -f ./vulnerable_program 
```

7. Stay Updated

Follow Security Blogs: (Replace with actual URLs if needed)
Krebs on Security
The Hacker News

8. Windows Commands for Pentesting

User Enumeration:
```
net user 
```
Service Checks:
```
sc query 
```

What Undercode Say:

Moving beyond guided CTFs requires persistence, hands-on practice, and a systematic approach. Use Linux/Windows commands to explore, exploit, and learn. The key is to embrace uncertainty and refine techniques through repetition.