EC Council CPENT Exam Review & Guide
As promised earlier (albeit fashionably late!), I'm here to dish out some insider tips on how to conquer the CPENT exam on your maiden voyage and maybe snag that coveted LPT along the way. But before we plunge into the exam abyss, let's get one thing straight: this isn't a showdown between exams or an attempt to shower EC Council with confetti. Consider this a raw, unfiltered account of my journey prepping for the exam.
Little background on my exam results - I appeared for 12hours x 2 sessions exam. I was hammered even with plenty breaks, and managed to obtain 86% missing the prestigious LPT by mere 90 marks. So here, I am to make sure you get your money doubled while you appear your exam.
The course outline is always hanging out on the website, just a click away, and so is the exam format. But what should you focus on, you ask? Here's the hit list:
But before you start sweating over whether the website's outline is gospel truth or just for show, let me drop this truth bomb: while knowing every technique listed isn't mandatory, having them in your arsenal might just make your exam day a tad less harrowing.
Now, back to the main event: HOW TO GET READY -
If you're like me, prone to overthinking, you might be plagued with questions like:
a. Do I need to toss out flags like it's a CTF showdown? b. Is being RooT on every machine the golden ticket to full marks? c. What even is OT/IoT Penetration Testing? d. Double Pivoting – legit strategy or just fancy jargon?
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Post-exam enlightenment led me to believe that these resources should suffice:
THM for mastering AD Pentesting & HTB for putting those skills to the test. Plus, tackling HTB's medium boxes with a few hints can really boost your confidence and prep you for the Internal Network Pentesting section.
And no, you don't need to go full-on RooT on every system. It's a pen-testing gig, not a CTF marathon. Sure, there's a section where being RooT matters, but it's not the whole enchilada.
IoT/OT is like the exam's mischievous gremlin. Resources are scant, and practicals are as rare as unicorn sightings. THM offers some IoT labs, which should suffice, but for OT, cozy up to those CPENT labs and materials. Pro tip: dive deep into network traffic and dissect OT traffic like a detective on a mission.
Binary Exploitation – the stuff of nightmares. Pwn101 room in THM is your best bud here, helping you pen exploits like a pro and flex those mental muscles.
Pivoting/Double Pivoting might make your head spin, but fear not. THM's got your back with a nifty lab on Lateral Movement & Pivoting, making the abstract a little less bewildering.
Lastly, time management is key. Don't get bogged down, take breaks, and remember, Rome wasn't hacked in a day.
In conclusion, don't let the exam's daunting reputation get under your skin. Practice, persistence, and a sprinkle of humor might just be the recipe for success.