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Tag: penetration testing

41 articles

Rows of computer servers and networking equipment in a brightly-lit Japanese office server room.

AI-Driven Attacks Target Japan with Automated Hacking Tools

In a chilling October 2026 campaign, 44 AI agents were unleashed to automate a sophisticated hacking operation, complete with fake login pages and standardized reports in Japanese. This cutting-edge attack used the open-source tool CyberStrikeAI to streamline every step of the intrusion process.

Analyst 207
Technical equipment and tools surround a computer on a neutral surface in a well-lit lab setting.

Kali Linux Release Bolsters Hacking Toolkit with 6 New Tools

The latest Kali Linux release just dropped, packing a punch with six brand-new tools to supercharge your hacking toolkit, plus a fresh kernel and 126 package updates for a smoother experience. This update brings consistency across platforms, with unified build-scripts, features, and a sleek new look that feels like home.

Analyst 207
Security engineer surrounded by computer equipment and screens displaying code and vulnerability reports in a bright lab…

AI Pentesting Matches Human Skill in Vulnerability Detection

Meet Daniel Thatcher, a seasoned security research engineer with 12 years of pentesting experience, who's shaking up the game with Intruder's AI-powered pentester that's giving human skills a run for their money in vulnerability detection. He shares his insights on what works - and what doesn't - in the world of AI-driven pentesting.

Analyst 207
Cybersecurity team workspace with notes and diagrams surrounding a laptop.

Agentic Pentesting Exposes Coverage Gaps

Imagine having a powerful tool that can scan for vulnerabilities at incredible speed, but sometimes struggles to reach every corner of your system - that's what happened when agentic pentesting uncovered a major nginx-ui authentication bypass, missing 360 instances that were left without a clear verdict. By combining AI-driven dynamism with human insight, agentic pentesting offers a potent solution to bridge the gap between vulnerability discovery and exploitation.

Analyst 207
Server room with rows of computer servers, networking equipment, and a technician's workstation.

AI-Powered Pentesting Tool Exploited in South Korean Financial Data Heists

Meet ARTEX, an AI-powered pentesting tool that was originally designed for learning and research, but was repurposed by hackers to steal sensitive data from South Korean financial organizations. In a shocking campaign, attackers used ARTEX to breach security and get away with valuable information.

Analyst 207
Cybersecurity team collaborates around a laptop and notes, analyzing code and vulnerabilities in a bright, daytime workspace.

Anthropic Expands AI Access for Cyber Teams After Finding 129,000 Flaws

Anthropic is supercharging cyber teams with expanded access to its AI models, following a staggering discovery of 129,000 flaws - with over 33,000 rated critical or high-severity. The company's Cyber Verification Program now offers tiered access to advanced models like Claude Opus 5.5, empowering teams to tackle vulnerabilities head-on.

Analyst 207
Blurred password on a projector screen in a well-lit conference room.

Law Firm's CISO Exposes Weakness with Laughable Password

A law firm's chief information security officer inadvertently exposed a shocking security gap when he loudly questioned why his password, "r3@lg00dp@$$w0rd", was displayed on the screen. The incident revealed a larger problem that started with unpatched Windows servers and ended with a laughable password.

Analyst 207
Security professional walks through modern office corridor with server racks and testing devices.

Pentesting Evolves as AI Agents Close Vulnerability Gap

The vulnerability gap is widening as attackers speed up exploitation, with new vulnerabilities being weaponized in just five days, while defenders take a median of 43 days to patch - and 80% coverage is no longer enough to keep you safe.

Analyst 207
Rows of computer servers and networking equipment with interspersed brightly-lit decoy systems in a secure server room.

CISA Deploys Cyber Decoys to Disrupt Attackers

CISA is shaking things up in the cybersecurity world with a clever tactic: deploying cyber decoys to lure in and expose attackers, making it easier to detect and respond to threats. By using these low-cost, high-impact decoys, critical infrastructure owners and operators can stay one step ahead of intruders.

Analyst 207
Cybersecurity team workspace with laptop and papers, overlooking cityscape through large window.

Autonomous Penetration Testing Gains Traction in Continuous Security Validation

Autonomous penetration testing is revolutionizing continuous security validation, with Breach360 by BreachLock leading the charge, leveraging intel from over 40,000 real-world engagements to simulate real-life attacks. Traditional severity scores have limitations, and it's time to look beyond them to get a true picture of your security risk.

Analyst 207
Security analysts work amidst multiple computer screens in a monitoring room with subtle signs of disarray.

CISA Red Team Tests Expose Organizational Vulnerabilities

CISA's red team tests revealed some eye-opening vulnerabilities, with the team slipping past security operations centers undetected, gaining access to workstations, escalating privileges, and moving freely between systems. This simulated cyber attack exposed weaknesses in critical infrastructure organizations, highlighting areas for improvement in detecting and responding to threats.

Analyst 207
Cybersecurity professional working in a lab with technology and security equipment.

OpenAI Unveils GPT-5.6-Cyber, Model With Reduced Safeguards

Meet GPT-5.6-Cyber, a game-changing AI model that supercharges cybersecurity tasks like vulnerability research and penetration testing with unprecedented success rates. This powerhouse model crushes 95% of advanced exploit-chain and privilege-escalation requests, leaving its predecessor in the dust.

Analyst 207
Security professional working in modern lab with laptop displaying abstract cybersecurity interface.

OpenAI Unveils ChatGPT 5.6 Cyber for Select Security Partners

OpenAI is supercharging cybersecurity with the launch of GPT 5.6 Cyber, a cutting-edge model designed to help defenders detect and fix vulnerabilities faster than ever before. This game-changing tool is being rolled out to select security partners, empowering them to identify and tackle serious threats with unprecedented speed and accuracy.

Analyst 207
Penetration tester working at desk with laptop and notes, surrounded by whiteboard and city view.

AI Applications Expose Widespread Security Vulnerabilities

A shocking 100% of AI applications tested harbored security vulnerabilities, with prompt injection flaws being the most common and damaging threat. This critical weakness, found in 28% of tested apps, highlights a glaring vulnerability that attackers are exploiting to manipulate model inputs.

Analyst 207
Modern security operations center with people working in background, focusing on futuristic cybersecurity workstation.

Pentera Injects Validation into AI-Driven Security Workflows

Pentera is revolutionizing AI-driven security by injecting validation into workflows, empowering teams to turn disconnected risk signals into decisive action against real attack paths. By safely emulating attacker techniques, Pentera provides the evidence needed to transform guesswork into effective security measures.

Analyst 207
Cluttered tech lab with scattered devices, laptops, and tools under indoor lighting.

QuimaRAT Exposes Cross-Platform Threat Capabilities

Meet QuimaRAT, a commercialized remote access trojan package that's being sold as a malware-as-a-service, threatening security across multiple platforms with its flexible subscription tiers. This Java-based tool is marketed for a surprisingly low price, ranging from $150 for a month to $1,200 for lifetime access.

Analyst 207
Secure tech development environment with workstation, blurred laptop screen, and abstract whiteboard notes.

NCSC Offers Guidance on Thwarting Penetration Testers

Want to make life harder for hackers? The National Cyber Security Centre teamed up with penetration testers to share practical tips on building secure systems from the ground up.

Analyst 207
Frustrated infosec professional sits at cluttered desk surrounded by papers and empty coffee cups.

Infosec Pros Ditch Automated Pentesting Tools Amid AI Vulnerability Failures

Infosec pros are ditching automated pentesting tools as they fail to detect AI-driven vulnerabilities, with 78% of practitioners experiencing critical false negatives. Humans are needed to outsmart AI-era flaws that automated scanners miss.

Analyst 207
Cybersecurity workstation with Linux computer, equipment, and reference materials on a neutral background.

Kali Linux Release Bolsters Cybersecurity Arsenal with 9 New Tools

Kali Linux just got a major boost with its latest release, packing 9 new tools to supercharge your cybersecurity arsenal. This update slashes boot time by nearly 3x and trims down the initrd to just 60 MB for VM users.

Analyst 207
Diverse high school students gather around a table with laptops and cybersecurity equipment in a brightly-lit classroom.

Cybersecurity Language Excludes Talent

The language used in cybersecurity can be a major turn-off, as one panelist discovered when a high school student sniggered at the term "penetration tester" - a reaction that sparked a thought-provoking question about who this language invites into the field, and who it inadvertently shuts out. This moment highlights a broader cultural issue in cybersecurity's approach to attracting new talent.

Analyst 207
Bank lobby with a subtle hint of vulnerability on a computer screen.

Banks' Annual Testing Model Leaves 345 Days of Unvalidated Exposure

Imagine having 345 days of potential vulnerability, with hackers free to exploit your defenses while you wait for your annual security test. That's the harsh reality of the traditional annual testing model, which leaves your business exposed for nearly 11 months of the year.

Analyst 207
Person in a corporate office speaking on phone with neutral expression.

Social Engineering Exposes Vulnerability in Corporate Networks

A clever phone call can be all it takes to breach a corporate network - just ask Brandon Dixon, a former penetration tester who convinced an IT security team to hand over root access by pretending to be their boss. With a simple social engineering trick, Dixon was able to reset his "password" and gain unrestricted access to the network.

Analyst 207
Security professional stands in front of rows of server racks and workstations in a modern data center.

AI Drives Shift to Continuous Penetration Testing in Cloud Environments

The AI revolution is transforming technology like never before, and Evinova is at the forefront, shifting from annual penetration testing to continuous security validation to safeguard its cloud-native healthcare software. This bold move replaces traditional point-in-time assessments with ongoing validation, ensuring rock-solid security for its customers.

Analyst 207
Large computer screen displays complex network diagram in modern lab setting.

Frontier AI Exposes Gaps in Traditional Security Programs

Imagine having the power to replicate a full year’s worth of manual penetration testing in just three weeks - that's the reality with frontier AI, which has exposed significant gaps in traditional security programs. Palo Alto Networks and Unit 42 have revealed that advanced models like Anthropic Mythos can autonomously identify software vulnerabilities and adapt to defensive controls in near-real-time.

Analyst 207