Penetration Testing Basics
Learn the fundamentals of penetration testing and its methodologies. This is a foundational concept in information security and ethical hacking that professional developers rely on daily. The explanations below are written to be beginner-friendly while covering the depth and nuance that comes from real-world Cybersecurity experience. Take your time with each section and practice the examples
45 min•By Priygop Team•Last updated: Feb 2026
Penetration Testing Phases
- Reconnaissance: Information gathering
- Scanning: Identify open ports and services
- Enumeration: Gather detailed information
- Vulnerability Assessment: Find security weaknesses
- Exploitation: Attempt to exploit vulnerabilities
- Reporting: Document findings and recommendations
Testing Types
- Black Box: No prior knowledge of system
- White Box: Full knowledge of system
- Gray Box: Limited knowledge of system
- External: Testing from outside network
- Internal: Testing from inside network