Adversarial Testing

Adversarial testing is a security-focused testing methodology that simulates real-world attacks on software systems to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses. It involves techniques like penetration testing, fuzzing, and red teaming to probe for flaws that malicious actors could exploit. The goal is to improve system resilience by uncovering security issues before they can be used in actual attacks.

Also known as: Penetration Testing, Red Teaming, Security Testing, Ethical Hacking, Offensive Security

Why learn Adversarial Testing?

Developers should learn adversarial testing to build more secure applications, especially in industries like finance, healthcare, or government where data breaches have severe consequences. It is crucial for compliance with standards like ISO 27001 or PCI-DSS, and for identifying vulnerabilities in critical systems such as APIs, web applications, or IoT devices before deployment.

Learning Resources

• docs: OWASP Testing Guide
• book: Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking
• course: Introduction to Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing on Coursera
• tutorial: Adversarial Testing Techniques by PortSwigger