Have you ever wondered what damage a single exposed vulnerability in an application can cause? Well, have a look at the vulnerability in Microsoft Windows that lays the foundation of most of the cyberattacks such as WannaCry, Petya and NotPetya. However, this problem did not have an impact until it was exposed to the public. This vulnerability was known to many agencies, but they kept it a secret exploited it using a tool, EternalBlue. However, this tool was leaked later and the vulnerability was exposed to the public when it became a real problem. However, it is not a good idea to put the public at risk. Thus, organizations are looking for a penetration testing company so that the system vulnerabilities are found before the cyber-attackers.

The real issue is not with a vulnerability in a system or application. The underlying problem lies with its exposure. Many security experts believe that exposing vulnerabilities to the public in the best way to resolve a problem. However, this is not a good idea for the business itself. It puts their business processes and goodwill, both at risk. So what other options do we have?’

Sell Exposed Vulnerabilities to Agencies or Law Enforcement

Intelligence agencies and law enforcement are strict about using any kind of zero-day exploit. However, a penetration testing company can help companies in securing their stature by carrying out pen-tests.  Since zero-day exploits target unknown weaknesses using unknown methods, it is important for them to have some know-how about it. If an intelligence agency begins exploiting computers left and right without knowledge, they would lose track of their actual mission. Thus, most researchers argue that using zero-day exploits does not make sense. However, for hackers, it is the best and most ethical option. They can get away from selling it to either agencies or law enforcement for a heavy price. The use cases of solid exploits include combination child labor and terrorism, etc.

Forget that A Problem Existed

Another option that an individual can choose is to forget if a problem was identified. This is also known as security through obscurity. Although it is difficult for others to find vulnerabilities, especially if they do not have the relevant knowledge. Intelligence agencies use this principle to protect their own hacking systems, and they simply do not acknowledge that they exist. They follow an approach that suggests the fewer people know about it, the lower the risk to the public. In addition, it is more likely that low-skilled hackers would be able to build their own zero-day exploit.

A penetration testing company leverages pen-tests to ensure they identify the vulnerabilities in an application before malicious hackers and prevent their system from being compromised. While an inclusive penetration testing strategy will continue to highlight all weakness in an app, it will definitely help a company to bring out the best of their testing efforts. It helps in finding out how hackers think and how to mitigate the risks of being attacked.