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(More customer reviews)Unauthorised Access is nothing short of a manual for corporate espionage. Author Wil Allsopp, is a "penetration tester", a hired gun brought in by companies to find out how effective the security defences protecting their premises are.
While conventional penetration testing ("pentesting") involves remote hacking, typically through software vulnerabilities, physical pen-testers gain access to a company's offices or data centre with the goal of connecting to a restricted network, planting a bug or even an imitation explosive device
With ten years experience as a pen-tester, Allsopp offers superb insight into common methods used by criminals to manipulate employees, from phone calls to outright espionage. The chapter on social engineering, in particular, is guaranteed to spark paranoia and sleepless nights among even the most grizzled chief security officers.
Specific tactics he reveals include employing politeness, inducing fear, faking supplication, invoking authority, ingratiation and deference, and even sexual manipulation.
Another chapter details several successful pen-tests conducted by Allsopp and his team, including attacks on a UK power plant and a supercomputing facility conducting spatial modelling of nuclear explosions for the military. He also describes the antics of a pentester who bypassed the security of a large corporate by observing the uniform of the firm's security guard, then showing up the next day in identical costume, pulling rank and relieving the man of duty
The enjoyment Allsopp clearly derives from his work is reflected in his book; he writes with that particular tone of repressed glee common among white hat hackers. This, together with his tendency to adopt a Boy's Own adventure narrative style, makes the book very readable but occasionally somewhat glib. And at times it is hard to tell whether Allsopp is offering advice to the CSO, helping the reader start their own pen-testing company or trying to prove to a less salubrious readership how clever he is.
Indeed, many of the techniques described in Unauthorised Access are open to abuse. Allsopp gives the excuse that "the bad guys already know", before urging the reader to consider taking up lock picking as a rewarding hobby.
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Unauthorised Access: Physical Penetration Testing For IT Security TeamsThe first guide to planning and performing a physical penetration test on your computer's security
Most IT security teams concentrate on keeping networks and systems safe from attacks from the outside-but what if your attacker was on the inside? While nearly all IT teams perform a variety of network and application penetration testing procedures, an audit and test of the physical location has not been as prevalent. IT teams are now increasingly requesting physical penetration tests, but there is little available in terms of training. The goal of the test is to demonstrate any deficiencies in operating procedures concerning physical security.
Featuring a Foreword written by world-renowned hacker Kevin D. Mitnick and lead author of The Art of Intrusion and The Art of Deception, this book is the first guide to planning and performing a physical penetration test. Inside, IT security expert Wil Allsopp guides you through the entire process from gathering intelligence, getting inside, dealing with threats, staying hidden (often in plain sight), and getting access to networks and data.
Teaches IT security teams how to break into their own facility in order to defend against such attacks, which is often overlooked by IT security teams but is of critical importance
Deals with intelligence gathering, such as getting access building blueprints and satellite imagery, hacking security cameras, planting bugs, and eavesdropping on security channels
Includes safeguards for consultants paid to probe facilities unbeknown to staff
Covers preparing the report and presenting it to management
In order to defend data, you need to think like a thief-let Unauthorised Access show you how to get inside.
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