Professional Pen Testing for Web Applications

There is no such thing as "perfect security" when it comes to keeping all systems intact and functioning properly. Good penetration (pen) testing creates a balance that allows a system to be secure while simultaneously being fully functional. With this book, you'll learn how to become an effective penetrator (i.e., a white hat or ethical hacker) in order to circumvent the security features of a Web application so that those features can be accurately evaluated and adequate security precautions can be put in place.

After a review of the basics of web applications, you'll be introduced to web application hacking concepts and techniques such as vulnerability analysis, attack simulation, results analysis, manuals, source code, and circuit diagrams. These web application hacking concepts and techniques will prove useful information for ultimately securing the resources that need your protection.

What you will learn from this book
* Surveillance techniques that an attacker uses when targeting a system for a strike
* Various types of issues that exist within the modern day web application space
* How to audit web services in order to assess areas of risk and exposure
* How to analyze your results and translate them into documentation that is useful for remediation
* Techniques for pen-testing trials to practice before a live project

Who this book is for

This book is for programmers, developers, and information security professionals who want to become familiar with web application security and how to audit it.

Wrox Professional guides are planned and written by working programmers to meet the real-world needs of programmers, developers, and IT professionals. Focused and relevant, they address the issues technology professionals face every day. They provide examples, practical solutions, and expert education in new technologies, all designed to help programmers do a better job.

Andres Andreu, CISSP-ISSAP, GSEC currently operates neuroFuzz Application Security LLC (http://www.neurofuzz.com), and has a strong background with the U.S. government. He served the United States of America in Information Technology and Security capacities within a “3-Letter” federal law enforcement agency. The bulk of his time there was spent building the IT Infrastructure and working on numerous intelligence software programs for one of the largest Title III Interception Operations within the continental U.S. He worked there for a decade and during that time he was the recipient of numerous agency awards for outstanding performance.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, graduating Summa Cum Laude with a 3.9 GPA from the American College of Computer and Informational Sciences. Mr. Andreu specializes in software, application, and Web services security, working with XML security, TCP and HTTP(S) level proxying technology, and strong encryption. He has many years of experience with technologies like LDAP, Web services (SOA, SOAP, and so on), enterprise applications, and application integration.