From: Don Parker (dparker@rigelksecurity.com)
Date: Thu Feb 12 2004 - 18:13:07 EST
I find it rather unlikely that any GIAC certified individual would not know the
difference between a syn scan and a full connect. For that matter I have met several
graduates of comp sci who were rather sad as well. The one thing that GIAC has going for
it is that it has a rather difficult certification process which proves unequivocally
that you know your material.
Cheers!
Don
-------------------------------------------
Don Parker, GCIA
Intrusion Detection Specialist
Rigel Kent Security & Advisory Services Inc
www.rigelksecurity.com
ph :613.249.8340
fax:613.249.8319
--------------------------------------------
On Feb 11, wjnorth <wjnorth@earthlink.net> wrote:
Good points all.
Here's my two cents, which will probably get me flamed, but, whatever I've
got spam.
Certs in general, in my opinion, do not offer anything other then the
recognition that someone spent enough time to study material and answer
questions, and perhaps participate in a lab environment. I've ran into so
many countless people that have certifications ranging from GSEC, CISSP,
GCIA and a ton of others, that didn't know the difference between a syn
scan and a full tcp connect, or couldn't explain some of the current public
exploits and what they do to systems, or valued ISS over nessus, and nessus
over manual methods...the list goes on and on.
That is not to say that the certs are useless, far from it, especially if
one backs it up with practical experience. Having said that, let me also
say that while I hold these sentiments against certifications I also
believe they are worth something in that it provides people the ability to
get into security or whatever field their cert is for. They aren't useless,
in my mind, but for sure nothing beats experience.
Additionally I believe some of the SANS certs hold a bit more water then
others simply due to industry acceptance, awhile back someone might have
said the same for CISSP. Regarding the OSTMM, I only recently (within the
last year) found out about them, and have been doing security for quite a
while, but apparently not long enough to run across this very interesting
methodology.
-Wes
P.S. you'll notice no letters after my name, but I could list my four year
degree to offer some credibility. ;-)
At 07:14 AM 2/9/2004 -0500, Bartholomew, Brian J wrote:
>Actually I did not, due to the fact that Track 4 was useless. I do however
>have a great respect for people who have taken the GIAC Certs as they are
>very difficult (especially the GCIA). But, as for the material covered, and
>the way it was taught, SANS Track 4 is NOT a good course to take to learn
>the basics behind pen testing. The question was asked about which to
>take...OPST or CEH (not GCIH). The answer I gave described the courses I
>had been through, including Track 4 and an "opinion" as to which of the
>classes were better.
>
>Also I would have to say that you are in the same boat as I sir since you do
>not carry the GCIH. So, your defense on that specific Track has as much
>credibility as mine if we are going off of "certifications" as you hinted in
>the previous email. I was in your shoes about a year ago and thought SANS
>was the greatest thing since sliced bread, until I took Track 4. The
>difference between Track 3 (your certification) and Track 4 (the one we are
>discussing) is too large to quantify.
>
>So, as stated in my last email, I suggest you take my advice and not waste
>your, or your company's money on SANS Track 4. Take the time and try to
>attend one of the OSTMM specific courses as they are much, much better.
>Good day to you.
>
>Brian J. Bartholomew
>US Department of State
>Bureau of Diplomatic Security
>DS/SI/ACD SA-20 Special Programs
>Ph: 571-345-2598
>Cell: 202-369-6349
>1801 North Lynn St.
>Arlington, VA 22201
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Don Parker [mailto:dparker@rigelksecurity.com]
>Sent: Monday, February 09, 2004 2:31 AM
>To: Bartholomew, Brian J; 'pen-test@securityfocus.com'
>Subject: RE: OPST vs CEH
>
>
>Hello Brian, did you actually bother to certify after taking whatever SANS
>training it
>was that you took? The SANS training is among the best out there, however
>the challenge
>starts when you do the certification process. This has not only a difficult
>"practical"
>portion, but also two demanding exams. From what I have seen of the OSTMM
>and the CEH
>neither one of them measure up. The OSTMM does seem to offer business
>training as well
>though in addition to the other obvious training. Though I would say that is
>best left
>to a place which actually specializes in business training such as a
>college.
>
>Cheers
>
>-------------------------------------------
>Don Parker, GCIA
>Intrusion Detection Specialist
>Rigel Kent Security & Advisory Services Inc
>www.rigelksecurity.com
>ph :613.249.8340
>fax:613.249.8319
>--------------------------------------------
>
>On Feb 6 , "Bartholomew, Brian J" <BartholomewBJ@state.gov> wrote:
>
>I have taken the CEH but not the OPST. The CEH is kinda simplistic, and
>pretty easy to pass. I have not taken the OPST, however, I have heard that
>it is much more in depth and more difficult to pass.
>
>I do think the course designed with the CEH exam (I took one through Intense
>school) is one of the better courses I have taken (in comparison with
>Foundstone, SANS, etc.). Those "other" courses are too mainstream and none
>of them speak of the OSTMM except for the CEH oriented classes.
>
>To sum it up...If you are looking for letters after your name and a good
>base to start with, go for the CEH (it can't hurt). If you want to take a
>more detailed, OSTMM sponsored test, take the OPST. What the hell, take
>both if you really like a challenge :)
>
>Brian J. Bartholomew
>Bureau of Diplomatic Security
>DS/SI/ACD SA-20 Special Programs
>Ph: 571-345-2598
>Cell: 202-369-6349
>1801 North Lynn St.
>Arlington, VA 22201
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: circut@hackthisbox.org [mailto:circut@hackthisbox.org]
>Sent: Friday, February 06, 2004 11:01 AM
>To: kenzo
>Cc: pen-test@securityfocus.com
>Subject: Re: OPST vs CEH
>
>
>
>I've taken the CEH class. It's pretty good, but it focuses more on hacking
>windows then it does linux or unix. The instructor and environment was
>good though. They don't really talk too much in depth about buffer
>overflows or privledge escalation on linux. But I think the class was
>worth it. NEver taken any of those other tests.
>
> -circut
>
>On Wed, 4 Feb 2004, kenzo wrote:
>
> > I'm thinking about taking one of these certs. OPST (OSSTMM PROFESSIONAL
> > SECURITY TESTER)
> > or CEH (certified ethical hacker)
> > I've read about the two, and they seem to be kind of the same thing.
> > I know that some people in here were talking about the opst, but what
>about
> > the ceh?
> > Has anyone taking the CEH or both?
> > Please let me know.
> >
> > thanks.
> >
> >
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