RE: Programming skills for Pen Testers

["Shenk, Jerry A" <jshenk () decommunications com>]

I wouldn't say that programming is a requirement...possibly a basic
understanding of programming and if you're really honing in hard on
something it would be handy to know that programming language.
Pen-testing is really a lot of research and a log of trying different
stuff.  If the environment you're testing is all based on MS SQL and
asp, then your C or C++ isn't really gonna be as helpful (in that
environment) as knowing how sql and asp work.

-----Original Message-----
From: johnny Mnemonic [mailto:security4thefainthearted () hotmail com] 
Sent: Friday, February 10, 2006 12:42 AM
To: pen-test () securityfocus com
Subject: Programming skills for Pen Testers 

ok we all know that in addition to good network, host and application 
security skills, programming in C is a pre-requisite for a decent pen
tester 
or at least one who wants to write their own security tools or simply
audit 
the open source code they use. My question is, despite their
similarities 
should a pen tester be concentrating on C or C++ ? That's it!

Thanks.

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Audit your website security with Acunetix Web Vulnerability Scanner:

Hackers are concentrating their efforts on attacking applications on your
website. Up to 75% of cyber attacks are launched on shopping carts, forms,
login pages, dynamic content etc. Firewalls, SSL and locked-down servers are
futile against web application hacking. Check your website for vulnerabilities
to SQL injection, Cross site scripting and other web attacks before hackers do!
Download Trial at:

http://www.securityfocus.com/sponsor/pen-test_050831
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