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
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