Specialized Attacks: Hardware Product Testing from Pluralsight

This course will teach you to access firmware, analyze it and then reverse engineer it to identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities in the device.

Are you a pentester who wants to move on from network, application, and cloud testing? Are you an aspiring product tester who wants to advise clients on how to better protect a new device before it goes to market? Then this course is for you. In this course, Specialized Attacks: Hardware Product Testing, you’ll learn to obtain firmware and reverse engineer it to highlight weaknesses and vulnerabilities. First, you’ll explore the different ways to access a device’s firmware, ranging from searching the internet to extracting it directly from the device’s memory. Next, you’ll discover how to analyze a binary file to understand its structure and content. Finally, you’ll learn how to reverse engineer the firmware to identify sensitive information and software vulnerabilities. When you’re finished with this course, you’ll have the skills and knowledge to obtain, analyze, and reverse engineer firmware to identify hardware weaknesses and vulnerabilities in order to better protect them.

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Overview

Security Testing Hardware

Obtaining Firmware

Analyzing Firmware

Where Next?

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Covers specialized testing for hardware products, which is a unique and growing field

Taught by Matthew Lloyd Davies, who is known for his expertise in hardware product testing and firmware analysis

Examines how to obtain and analyze firmware, which is essential for effective hardware product testing

Provides hands-on experience through a reverse engineering example, allowing learners to apply the concepts they learn

Covers various aspects of hardware product testing, including obtaining firmware, analyzing firmware, and identifying vulnerabilities

Requires learners to have prior knowledge of computer hardware and software, which may limit accessibility for beginners

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 Specialized Attacks: Hardware Product Testing with these activities:

Attend Hardware Security Conferences

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Attending conferences allows you to connect with experts and stay updated on industry trends.

Browse courses on Networking

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Research upcoming conferences
Register and attend relevant sessions

Extract Firmware

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Practice extracting firmware to build a deeper understanding of the process.

Browse courses on Hardware Security

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Identify target device and locate firmware
Use appropriate tools to extract firmware
Verify extracted firmware

Analyze Firmware Structure

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Follow guided tutorials to enhance your ability to analyze firmware structure.

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Review binary file formats and structures
Use tools to analyze firmware structure

Four other activities

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Participate in Hardware Hacking Workshops

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Hands-on practice in workshops enhances your firmware analysis skills.

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Identify and register for relevant workshops
Attend workshops and actively participate

Discuss Firmware Reversing Techniques

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Exchanging ideas with peers can broaden your perspective on firmware reversing techniques.

Browse courses on Reverse Engineering

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Join study groups or online forums
Participate in discussions and share insights

Learn Advanced Firmware Reversing Techniques

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Exploring advanced techniques can deepen your understanding and prepare you for complex scenarios.

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Identify resources for advanced firmware reversing techniques
Follow tutorials and experiment with different methods

Document Firmware Vulnerabilities

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Documenting vulnerabilities helps you comprehend and retain your findings.

Browse courses on Hardware Security

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Identify and analyze potential vulnerabilities
Create a detailed report documenting findings

Career center

Learners who complete Specialized Attacks: Hardware Product Testing will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Hardware Security Engineer

A Hardware Security Engineer identifies and addresses security risks in hardware and embedded systems. This course will help Hardware Security Engineers learn to extract and analyze firmware. By learning the basics of reverse engineering, this course may also help Hardware Security Engineers develop a deeper understanding of the systems they secure.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hardware Security Engineer

Cybersecurity Engineer

Cybersecurity Engineers protect computer systems and networks from cyber attacks. This course may help Cybersecurity Engineers obtain and analyze firmware. By learning the basics of reverse engineering, this course could also help Cybersecurity Engineers develop a deeper understanding of how malicious actors might exploit security weaknesses.

See salaries and explore the career path for Cybersecurity Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineer

Embedded Systems Engineers develop and maintain embedded systems, which are computer systems designed to perform specific tasks within a larger system. This course will help Embedded Systems Engineers analyze firmware. By learning the basics of reverse engineering, this course will also help Embedded Systems Engineers identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities in embedded systems.

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Security Consultant

Security Consultants advise clients on how to improve their security posture. This course may help Security Consultants obtain and analyze firmware, which can help them identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities in their clients' systems.

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Software Engineer

Software Engineers design, develop, and maintain software systems. This course may help Software Engineers analyze firmware. By learning the basics of reverse engineering, this course will also help Software Engineers understand how malicious actors might exploit security weaknesses.

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Product Security Engineer

Product Security Engineers ensure that products are secure by design. This course will teach Product Security Engineers how to extract and analyze firmware. By learning the basics of reverse engineering, this course will also help Product Security Engineers identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities in products.

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Information Security Analyst

Information Security Analysts protect organizations from cyber attacks. This course may help Information Security Analysts obtain and analyze firmware. By learning the basics of reverse engineering, this course could also help Information Security Analysts develop a deeper understanding of how malicious actors might exploit security weaknesses.

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Security Researcher

Security Researchers identify and develop solutions to security vulnerabilities. This course may help Security Researchers obtain and analyze firmware. By learning the basics of reverse engineering, this course could also help Security Researchers develop a deeper understanding of how malicious actors might exploit security weaknesses.

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Penetration Tester

Penetration Testers find and exploit vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. This course may help Penetration Testers obtain and analyze firmware, which can help them identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities in their clients' systems.

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Compliance Auditor

Compliance Auditors ensure that organizations comply with security regulations. This course may help Compliance Auditors understand the security implications of firmware and how to identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

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Computer Forensic Analyst

Computer Forensic Analysts investigate computer systems and networks to find evidence of cyber crime. This course may help Computer Forensic Analysts obtain and analyze firmware, which could help them identify malicious activity.

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Vulnerability Analyst

Vulnerability Analysts identify and assess security vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. This course may help Vulnerability Analysts obtain and analyze firmware. By learning the basics of reverse engineering, this course may also help Vulnerability Analysts develop a deeper understanding of how malicious actors might exploit security weaknesses.

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Risk Analyst

Risk Analysts assess the risks to an organization's security posture. This course may help Risk Analysts understand the security implications of firmware and how to identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

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Security Architect

Security Architects design and implement security solutions for organizations. This course may help Security Architects understand the security implications of firmware and how to identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

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Quality Assurance Engineer

Quality Assurance Engineers ensure that software products meet quality standards. This course may help Quality Assurance Engineers understand the security implications of firmware and how to identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities.

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