Applied Penetration Testing

Catalog description

This upper-division course introduces ethical hacking and penetration testing methodologies. Students learn to plan and scope security assessments; conduct footprinting, scanning, and network enumeration; and identify vulnerabilities in web applications, wireless networks, and mobile platforms. Topics include techniques for bypassing intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewalls, and honeypots, as well as adversarial tactics such as denial-of-service attacks and social engineering. The course emphasizes legal and ethical considerations, including laws governing red team/blue team operations and responsible disclosure. Hands-on exercises with industry-standard tools develop practical skills in analyzing and reporting security findings.