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Burp Suite for Beginners

Intro to Penetration Testing

Saurabh Dhingra

1. Learn how to intercept HTTP traffic using Burp Proxy

2. Learn how to modify requests in the Burp proxy

3. Learn how to reissue requests with Burp Repeater

To achieve this, we will test an application with known vulnerabilities using the feature of Burp Suite like Proxy, interceptor and repeater.

This project is unique because it covers the topic with multiple hands-on sessions, and all examples are close to real-world application

Read more

1. Learn how to intercept HTTP traffic using Burp Proxy

2. Learn how to modify requests in the Burp proxy

3. Learn how to reissue requests with Burp Repeater

To achieve this, we will test an application with known vulnerabilities using the feature of Burp Suite like Proxy, interceptor and repeater.

This project is unique because it covers the topic with multiple hands-on sessions, and all examples are close to real-world application

To be successful in this project, you will need some basic understanding of how a web application or web service works, dedicated time to follow the instructions and implement the learnings

Enroll now

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What's inside

Syllabus

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for beginners with little to no experience in penetration testing
Provides hands-on sessions to enhance practical skills
Covers techniques for attacking web applications using Burp Suite
Focuses on real-world applications, making the learning more practical

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Reviews summary

Burp suite for beginners: intro to penetration testing

According to learners, this course is a highly effective introduction to Burp Suite, particularly beneficial for those new to penetration testing. Students consistently praise the instructor's clear and concise explanations, which help demystify complex topics. The course stands out for its strong hands-on approach, utilizing a guided project format with real-world examples that significantly solidify learning. While it provides a solid foundational understanding and practical skills, some reviewers with prior experience found the content too basic or slow-paced. Occasional feedback also mentioned minor lab environment issues, though recent reviews remain largely positive, suggesting the course maintains high quality.
Equips learners with essential skills for next steps in pen testing.
"I feel much more confident in using Burp Suite for basic web app testing now."
"Still, a solid foundation is provided."
"Good course for beginners... Solid foundation for next steps."
"I walked away with usable skills."
The instructor provides understandable and well-paced explanations.
"The instructor explained concepts clearly and the hands-on labs using Burp Suite were incredibly helpful."
"The instructor is very clear and concise. The step-by-step guidance made complex topics easy to grasp."
"The instructor's pace was perfect, and the real-world examples were spot on."
Provides practical, real-world exercises crucial for skill development.
"The hands-on labs using Burp Suite were incredibly helpful. I feel much more confident..."
"I particularly enjoyed the hands-on labs, they really solidified the learning."
"The practical exercises are the best part. I learned a lot about Burp Suite's core functionalities."
Highly effective for those new to penetration testing and Burp Suite.
"This course was absolutely fantastic for a beginner! ...Highly recommend for anyone starting out in pen testing."
"Excellent course for getting familiar with Burp Suite. ...Perfect for absolute beginners."
"As a complete beginner, this course was exactly what I needed. It demystified Burp Suite and gave me practical skills."
Some users reported occasional difficulties with the lab setup or performance.
"My only minor critique is that sometimes the lab environment could be a bit slow, but that's a platform issue, not the course itself."
"The labs often have issues and aren't well explained. I found myself confused and frustrated."
"Also, the lab setup was a bit finicky for me. Disappointed."
Content might be too introductory for learners with prior experience.
"If you have any prior experience with web proxies or even basic networking, this might feel a bit slow or too introductory."
"I was hoping for a bit more challenge or advanced features..."
"I wish there were more advanced topics or challenges, but it's called 'for beginners' so I guess it delivers on that."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Burp Suite for Beginners: Intro to Penetration Testing with these activities:
Connect with Experienced Penetration Testers
Seeks guidance from seasoned professionals to enhance your learning journey in penetration testing.
Browse courses on Penetration Testing
Show steps
  • Attend industry events or join online communities
  • Reach out to individuals with penetration testing expertise
  • Establish relationships and request mentorship
Review HTTP headers
Reinforces your understanding of HTTP headers, a fundamental aspect of web security and penetration testing.
Browse courses on HTTP Headers
Show steps
  • Revisit concepts of HTTP request and response headers
  • Review common header fields, such as Content-Type, Location, and Set-Cookie
  • Explore tools for analyzing HTTP headers, such as Wireshark or HTTPie
Practice using Burp Suite Proxy to intercept HTTP traffic
Intercepting HTTP traffic is a fundamental skill for penetration testers. This activity will give you hands-on practice with Burp Suite Proxy, a powerful tool for intercepting and analyzing HTTP traffic.
Show steps
  • Set up Burp Suite Proxy
  • Configure your browser to use Burp Suite Proxy
  • Visit a website and observe the HTTP traffic being intercepted
Eight other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all 11 activities
Explore Burp Suite's Proxy Features
Provides hands-on experience with Burp Suite's proxy capabilities, enhancing your understanding of web traffic interception.
Browse courses on Burp Suite
Show steps
  • Follow a tutorial on setting up Burp Suite as a proxy
  • Intercept and examine HTTP requests and responses using Burp's proxy
  • Use the proxy to modify and replay requests
Follow a tutorial on Burp Suite Repeater
Burp Suite Repeater is a powerful tool for reissuing HTTP requests. This activity will guide you through a tutorial on how to use Burp Suite Repeater to modify and reissue HTTP requests.
Show steps
  • Find a tutorial on Burp Suite Repeater
  • Follow the steps in the tutorial
  • Experiment with different ways to modify and reissue HTTP requests
Analyze HTTP Traffic
Develops your ability to dissect and interpret HTTP traffic, a crucial skill for penetration testers.
Browse courses on Network Analysis
Show steps
  • Use a network analyzer, such as Wireshark or tcpdump, to capture HTTP traffic
  • Analyze captured packets to identify request and response headers, payloads, and status codes
  • Practice identifying potential security vulnerabilities or anomalies in HTTP traffic
Document Your Penetration Testing Process
Solidifies your understanding of penetration testing methodology and improves your communication skills.
Browse courses on Penetration Testing
Show steps
  • Summarize the steps involved in your penetration testing process
  • Outline the tools and techniques used
  • Prepare a report detailing your findings and recommendations
Test a Web Application with Burp Suite
Provides practical experience in conducting penetration tests against a web application using Burp Suite.
Browse courses on Burp Suite
Show steps
  • Set up a vulnerable web application, such as OWASP's WebGoat
  • Use Burp Suite to perform automated and manual security checks
  • Identify and exploit vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive data or escalate privileges
Attend Penetration Testing Workshops
Provides specialized knowledge and practical experience in specific aspects of penetration testing.
Browse courses on Penetration Testing
Show steps
  • Identify workshops aligned with your learning goals
  • Attend workshops led by industry experts
  • Participate actively and apply newly acquired skills
Participate in CTF Challenges
Sharpens your penetration testing skills through real-world challenges in CTF competitions.
Show steps
  • Register for CTF competitions focused on penetration testing
  • Analyze challenges involving web applications, network exploitation, or binary analysis
  • Collaborate with peers or seek guidance from mentors to solve challenges
Create a Video Tutorial on Burp Suite
Deepens your understanding of Burp Suite and enhances your communication skills while sharing knowledge with others.
Browse courses on Burp Suite
Show steps
  • Identify a specific Burp Suite feature or workflow to cover
  • Prepare a script or outline for your tutorial
  • Record yourself demonstrating the steps using Burp Suite
  • Edit and finalize your video tutorial
  • Publish your tutorial on a platform like YouTube or a personal blog

Career center

Learners who complete Burp Suite for Beginners: Intro to Penetration Testing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Penetration Tester
Penetration Testers are responsible for evaluating the security of computer systems and networks by simulating attacks. This course provides a solid foundation in penetration testing techniques using Burp Suite, which can help you develop the skills needed to succeed in this role. You will learn how to intercept and modify HTTP traffic, reissue requests, and use other Burp Suite features to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications.
See salaries and explore the career path for Penetration Tester
Security Analyst
Security Analysts are responsible for identifying and mitigating security risks. This course can help you build a foundation in penetration testing and web application security, which are essential skills for Security Analysts. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you identify and mitigate security risks more effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst
Cybersecurity Engineer
Cybersecurity Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining cybersecurity systems. This course can help you build a foundation in penetration testing and web application security, which are essential skills for Cybersecurity Engineers. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you design and implement more secure cybersecurity systems.
See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Engineer
Web Developer
Web Developers are responsible for designing, developing, and maintaining websites. This course can help you build a foundation in penetration testing and web application security, which are essential skills for Web Developers. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you develop more secure websites.
See salaries and explore the career path for Web Developer
Network Engineer
Network Engineers are responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining computer networks. This course may be useful for Network Engineers who want to learn more about penetration testing and web application security. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you design and implement more secure networks.
See salaries and explore the career path for Network Engineer
Security Consultant
Security Consultants are responsible for providing security advice and guidance to organizations. This course can help you build a foundation in penetration testing and web application security, which are essential skills for Security Consultants. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you provide more effective security advice and guidance.
See salaries and explore the career path for Security Consultant
Information Security Analyst
Information Security Analysts are responsible for protecting an organization's information and systems from security threats. This course can help you build a foundation in penetration testing and web application security, which are essential skills for Information Security Analysts. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you protect an organization's information and systems more effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst
Forensic Analyst
Forensic Analysts are responsible for investigating and analyzing computer crimes. This course may be useful for Forensic Analysts who want to learn more about penetration testing and web application security. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you investigate and analyze computer crimes more effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Analyst
Compliance Officer
Compliance Officers are responsible for ensuring that an organization complies with all applicable laws and regulations. This course may be useful for Compliance Officers who want to learn more about penetration testing and web application security. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you ensure that an organization complies with all applicable laws and regulations more effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Compliance Officer
Risk Manager
Risk Managers are responsible for identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks. This course may be useful for Risk Managers who want to learn more about penetration testing and web application security. You will learn how to use Burp Suite to find and exploit vulnerabilities in web applications, which can help you identify, assess, and mitigate risks more effectively.
See salaries and explore the career path for Risk Manager

Reading list

We've selected six books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Burp Suite for Beginners: Intro to Penetration Testing.
Cover image
Ethical Hacking and Web Hacking Handbook and Study...
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of web application security and testing techniques, covering topics such as HTTP, web application architectures, and common vulnerabilities. It serves as a valuable reference for both beginners and experienced penetration testers.
Ethical Hacking and Web Hacking Handbook and Study...
Paperback
Check
Ethical Hacking and Web Hacking Handbook and Study...
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Art of Software Security Assessment
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to software security assessment, covering topics such as threat modeling, vulnerability analysis, and testing. It offers a high-level perspective and adds depth to the course material.
Art of Software Security Assessment, The:...
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
CISO Survey and Report 2013
Save
This document provides a comprehensive guide to web application security testing. It covers various testing methodologies, tools, and techniques, and serves as an essential reference for experienced testers.
CISO Survey and Report 2013
Paperback
Check
CISO Survey and Report 2013
Kindle Edition
Check
Cover image
The Hacker Playbook 3
Save
Provides a comprehensive guide to penetration testing, covering various techniques and tools used by ethical hackers. It offers valuable insights and practical advice, complementing the course material.
The Hacker Playbook 3: Practical Guide To...
Paperback
$$
The Hacker Playbook 3: Practical Guide To...
Kindle Edition
$$
Cover image
Attack and Defend Computer Security Set
Save
Provides a collection of recipes for common web security testing scenarios. It covers tools and techniques for identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities, making it a useful reference for experienced testers.
Attack and Defend Computer Security Set
Kindle Edition
$$$
Cover image
Computer Security
Save
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer security principles and practices. It covers a wide range of topics, including web application security and penetration testing, and serves as a foundational reference.
Computer Security
Paperback
Check
Computer Security
Kindle Edition
Check

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Course image
Effort
2 Hours
Level
Introductory
Via
Coursera
Institution
Coursera Project Network
Instructor
Saurabh Dhingra
Language
English
Traffic lights
Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Suitable for beginners with little to no experience in penetration testing
Provides hands-on sessions to enhance practical skills
Covers techniques for attacking web applications using Burp Suite
Focuses on real-world applications, making the learning more practical
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