Penetration testing is one of those odd jobs you typically hear little about—it is like a black art, and can come with not only smoke and mirrors but, for the pen tester, any number of trap doors and blind alleys. Bits and pieces of penetration testing have made it into the mainstream media, culminating in the classic hacker-fave film Sneakers, starring Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, and a host of other stars. And while plenty seems to be written about hacking and gaining access to systems, there has been nothing written that really speaks to the art of penetration testing.
Like most other high tech jobs portrayed in the movies, pen testing is not as glamorous as most people think. Oh sure, there are exciting moments, such as when the first system belonging to the target is penetrated, but it is actually hard work. Comparatively, a typical intruder's job is easy.