What does using packing tools and multi-stage payloads achieve in penetration testing?

Using packing tools and multi-stage payloads primarily serves to obfuscate and conceal the payload, making it more difficult for intrusion detection systems and security tools to identify and analyze the malicious content. This technique involves compressing or encrypting the payload, which hides its true function and reduces its signature visibility.

Furthermore, multi-stage payloads allow for a more complex attack strategy. They can execute in stages, with the initial payload potentially delivering further stages that contain the actual malicious functionality. This layering makes it harder for security measures to catch the attack early on, as they may only see the first benign or less conspicuous stage of the payload.

On the other hand, while improved functionality and cross-platform execution can be beneficial characteristics of certain malware, they are not the primary benefits achieved through the use of packing tools and multi-stage payloads. Enhancing network speed is also unrelated to this context, as the primary aim of these techniques focuses on stealth and evasion rather than optimizing performance.