On 5/12/05, amoeba <amoeba@amoebazone.com> wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: Dan Berberich [mailto:dan.berberich@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, May 10, 2005 4:47 AM
To: pen-test@securityfocus.com
Subject: ISO: Penetration Test Hardware Vendor
All - I'm looking to find if anyone makes specific hardware for
penetration testing. Specifically a laptop. I already know that the 'more
is the better' in configuring a COTS machine, but I'm looking to see if
anyone makes one already 'tricked-out' so to say. I'm not looking for
advice on specs, I can pretty much guess that (ie - as much RAM and
fastest processor as you can squeeze into a tiny box, oh and the biggest
HD possible, yeah and a 1600x1200 ...).
It sounds like you mean you want a pre-installed OS with penetration testing
and auditing tools? You may want to look into some of the security-oriented
linux distros which may suit your needs. They would provide you with the
"tricked-out" tools and, in the case of the Live CD distros, wouldn't
necessarily need to replace your existing daily-use OS of choice. Some of
the more security-focused distributions are quite well put together with a
full complement of forensics, pen-test, and auditing tools.
Check out:
http://distrowatch.com/search.php?category=Forensics&origin=All&basedon=All&;
desktop=All&architecture=All&status=Active
Also,
http://biatchux.dmzs.com/ F.I.R.E - the Forensic and Incident Response
Environment Live CD distro.
For live CDs for pen-testing, Security Focus has a recent article at
http://securityfocus.com/columnists/323 that lists some more.
I think the OP was talking about the hardware itself, though. Most any
laptop will do, though I suggest a wireless card with a chipset that
will work with the tools you want to use. RAM is useful in general,
but I don't know that pen-testing has particular needs. CPU is nice if
you're doing password cracking. In general, anything that will run
your OS of choice (probably Linux or OpenBSD for this sort of
application) will do what you need. I like Thinkpads because they've
really reliable for me in the past, and the newer Dells seem to be a
lot better, but YMMV.
--
Kyle Maxwell
http://caffeinatedsecurity.com
[krmaxwell@gmail.com]
