What type of evidence can screenshots provide during a penetration test?

What type of evidence can screenshots provide during a penetration test?

• A. Visual proof of unchanged configurations
• B. Evidence of successful exploits
• C. Schematic representations of network layouts
• D. Documentation of user permissions

Answer: (B)

Screenshots can serve as compelling evidence of successful exploits during a penetration test. When a tester successfully compromises a system or application, taking a screenshot can visually document the outcome of that exploit. This might include displaying system access, unauthorized changes, or confirmation of data exfiltration, all of which represent tangible proof of the vulnerabilities that have been successfully leveraged. The other options, while relevant in certain contexts, do not align as directly with the role of screenshots in penetration testing. Visual proof of configurations may not be effectively captured in screenshots since configurations are typically text-based and may require more comprehensive documentation. Schematic representations of network layouts are more commonly created through specialized software and are not generally captured in screenshots. Documentation of user permissions is usually tabulated or detailed in reports rather than shown visually through screenshots, making that less effective as a standalone piece of evidence in this context.

Screenshots can serve as compelling evidence of successful exploits during a penetration test. When a tester successfully compromises a system or application, taking a screenshot can visually document the outcome of that exploit. This might include displaying system access, unauthorized changes, or confirmation of data exfiltration, all of which represent tangible proof of the vulnerabilities that have been successfully leveraged.

The other options, while relevant in certain contexts, do not align as directly with the role of screenshots in penetration testing. Visual proof of configurations may not be effectively captured in screenshots since configurations are typically text-based and may require more comprehensive documentation. Schematic representations of network layouts are more commonly created through specialized software and are not generally captured in screenshots. Documentation of user permissions is usually tabulated or detailed in reports rather than shown visually through screenshots, making that less effective as a standalone piece of evidence in this context.