Perry Williams | CMPSC

UAPB_ACM

Cyber threats are evolving—but who’s making sure systems stay secure? Penetration Testers are the ethical hackers on the front lines, simulating attacks to uncover vulnerabilities before cybercriminals do. From testing corporate networks to securing critical infrastructure, they help organizations stay one step ahead in the ever-changing world of cybersecurity!

Skills Needed

• Conduct Security Audits: Simulate attacks to test defenses
• Identify and Exploit Vulnerabilities
• Use Hacking tools like Kali Linux, Metasploit, and Nmap

Common Tools

• Network Scanning Tools: Nmap, Wireshark, Shodan
• Web Application testing: Burp Suite & SQL map
• Password Cracking & Exploitation: John the Ripper, Hashcat, Metasploit Framework
• Social Engineering & OSINT: theHarvester, Maltego, Social-Engineer Toolkit

Classes to Take at UAPB

• CSEC-2300 Intro to Cybersecurity
• CSEC-3322 Software Security
• CSEC-3312 Applied Cryptography
• CPSC-3201-Data Structures

Career Facts

• Government and defense Job Growth ~ 30%
• Average Entry Level Salary ~ 96,000
• Top Industries
• Tech and cyber firms
• Finance & Banking
• Healthcare

Helpful Links

Coursera Courses: https://www.coursera.org/search?query=ethical%20hacking

More information on Penetration Testers: https://www.coursera.org/articles/how-to-become-a-penetration-tester

Hands-on Practice: https://www.hackthebox.com/