Developer's Guide to Web Application Security

Introduction

Hackers could be best described as “super coders.” Like those in any other profes-

sion, hackers have distinct methodologies and processes they follow prior to any

given attack. Hackers set goals, unite, and work to achieve their goals both individu-

ally and as a team. In this chapter, we cover five distinct phases to hacking. After an

intruder has selected his victim, an attack map must be created.This attack map will

aid the hacker in understanding exactly (or as close to exactly as he actually needs to

be) how his victim’s networks, systems, and applications interoperate. After this attack

map has been established, the intruder will ...