I recently completed the Hackviser Certified Associate Penetration Tester (CAPT) certification, and I wanted to share my breakdown for anyone considering it. This course is currently free (for a limited time) and is perfect for beginners and intermediates who want hands-on experience with penetration testing.
Module Highlights
🟢 1. Introduction
- Ethical hacking mindset
- Attacker vs defender framework
- Role of a penetration tester
- Scope of pentesting in security
- Sets learning objectives clearly
👉 Takeaway: Strong ethical grounding from the start.
💻 2. Operating Systems Fundamentals
- Linux basics: shell, file system
- Windows command line & admin tasks
- System navigation for pentesting
- Dual-environment familiarity
- CLI practice across platforms
👉 Takeaway: Comfort with OS = confidence in attacks.
🔐 3. Cryptology Fundamentals
- Encoding vs hashing vs encryption
- Weak crypto implementations
- Cipher cracking labs
- Secure communication basics
- Hands-on crypto analysis
👉 Takeaway: Cryptography is central to both attack and defense.
🌐 4. Network Security & Pentesting
- Nmap scanning basics
- Metasploit introduction
- Reconnaissance & footprinting
- Mapping vulnerabilities
- Simulated network exploitation
👉 Takeaway: Recon is everything—maps the path forward.
🌍 5. Web Application Security
- SQL Injection, XSS, Command Injection
- File Inclusion vulnerabilities
- 33 modules of web exploit labs
- Attacker mindset in web apps
- Defender strategies (patches/mitigation)
👉 Takeaway: Web is the frontline—must-know for pentesters.
🧑💻 6. Privilege Escalation
- Linux escalation techniques
- Windows escalation methods
- Misconfiguration exploitation
- Horizontal vs vertical escalation
- Practical lab chaining
👉 Takeaway: Access ≠ control—escalation matters.
🔎 7. OSINT
- Public data reconnaissance
- Tools for footprinting
- Transform OSINT into exploit paths.
- Strategic vulnerability hunting
- Real-world recon scenarios
👉 Takeaway: Most hacks start with Google.
🎭 8. Social Engineering
- Phishing campaign basics
- Psychological exploitation
- Human factor in pentests
- Safe simulations
- One-module focus
👉 Takeaway: Humans are the weakest link.
🧩 9. Real-World Scenarios
- Full pentest workflow
- Network + web + OS skills combined
- Simulated attack chains
- Reporting & documentation
- Confidence-building final labs
👉 Takeaway: Practice ties theory into readiness.
Why You Should Take This
- Beginner-to-intermediate friendly
- Fully hands-on, no fluff
- A certificate adds credibility.
- Builds fundamental skills employers value
- Free right now
Top comments (1)
Hi, I have just started this, what did you get for q5 in the windows fundementals, I found two programs that both reside in c:\windows\system32\ Jaeger and Windows Notification Icon, but both comeback as wrong with or without filename at end of path. no other files are in the startup so I'm stuck and cannot progress any further, any help or hints you could give would be greatfully appreciated. Happy New Year.