On Febuary 5th, 2024... I was awarded the title "Certified Penetration Testing Specialist" after completing a 28 module course and passing the exam. This was no simple feat for me. In 2017, I started using online learning resources to learn HTML, CSS, and JS. Eventually I moved on to learning NodeJS, PHP, and Python. I've scratched the surface on multiple scripting languages but stick to Python mostly. (It tends to come in handy quite often.) In, probably 2018-19 I learned more about the Linux OS, started familiarizing myself with kali and it's many tools. Now, for my pentesting machines, Ubuntu-22.04 is my preferred flavor. I even used it for my exam... Anyways... I plan on creating writeups for machines as they are retired and posting them here.

Here are the domains of knowledge that were tested during the exam:

• Penetration testing processes and methodologies
• Information gathering & reconnaissance techniques
• Attacking Windows & Linux targets
• Active Directory penetration testing
• Web application penetration testing
• Manual & automated exploitation
• Vulnerability assessment
• Pivoting & Lateral Movement
• Post-exploitation enumeration
• Windows & Linux Privilege escalation
• Vulnerability/Risk communication and reporting

You can verify my cert using the information below at the HTB certificate validation page.

Full Name: Patrick Dylan Busby
Certificate ID: HTBCERT-35319B7E3F