I needed a second attempt for the TCM PNPT exam because I underestimated the importance of enumeration. I skimmed through it the first time, and that was a big mistake. Enumeration is the key! If you don’t get that part right, everything else becomes much harder. The Practical Network Penetration Tester (PNPT) exam by TCM Security is one of the best hands-on penetration testing certifications out there. Unlike traditional multiple-choice exams, it simulates a real-world pentest engagement, requiring critical thinking, exploitation skills, and a well-documented report. It’s a challenge, but if you prepare properly, it’s very doable. To prepare, I started with the Practical Ethical Hacking (PEH) course, which lays the foundation. It covers networking, Active Directory exploitation, OSINT, web attacks, and post-exploitation techniques. Everything in the PNPT exam is based on what’s taught in PEH, so taking the time to understand these concepts is essential. I also went through the Exter...
Password security is more important than ever. With cyber threats on the rise, it's crucial to understand how passwords can be cracked. This blog post explores password security, discusses the power of Hashcat in cracking passwords, and provides tips for keeping your passwords safe. Passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your personal and professional data. Despite their importance, many people still use weak or easily guessable passwords, making them prime targets for hackers. A strong password is critical to safeguarding sensitive information and preventing data breaches. Understanding Password Complexity When it comes to password complexity, the goal is simple: to create passwords that are hard for hackers to crack but easy enough for us to remember. But what exactly makes a password complex? Let's take a look at an example: "asdajh982743!@#!(hb91@YH#". At first glance, it seems pretty complex with its mix of letters, numbers, and sp...