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Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by wvh on Monday May 22, 2017 @09:22AM (#14393321)
I used to be in security auditing. I don't know about market saturation – that would depend heavily on your location, as it often requires some face-to-face discussion – but I think for security the saturation is less relevant than your credentials. Once a company decides to spend some money on outside security, they tend to go for a name-company with good credentials and certifications such as approval for PCI-DSS compliance checking. Once you provide the needed services, your name needs comes up as one of the go-to companies. Reputation and word-of-mouth are pretty important. For instance in the CC and banking sector companies are very aware whose services are being used by other companies. No company wants to give a good chunk of money away on something as sensitive and invasive as security checks without being sure they're receiving quality service and not some random script-kiddie with an automated security scanner.

If your company (or the company you want to work for) floats up as one of the top security firms in your region, you will probably get a lot of business. If you start from zero with no reputation, you're going to have fight hard to get your name on the map.

Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by quadcore on Monday May 22, 2017 @10:11AM (#14393674)
Naive question: what if you just hack your prospect, without causing unrecoverable damages and show them you've hacked them, do they hire you?

EDIT: ok thats illegal but isnt it in the interest of the prospect to hire you more than seeing you in jail? Also, I was wondering if there were some loopholes or field practices one can use to hack for being hired? Something like: "I may have hacked you, do you wanna hire me?"

Just curious, because it seems to me every company should welcome that. I might be wrong.

Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by erichurkman on Monday May 22, 2017 @10:20AM (#14393752)
If you want to try that route, there's an ethical way: look for companies with vulnerability disclosure programs on HackerOne or Bugcrowd.

Being well-written in your interactions with companies on those platforms would go a long way in improving your credibility.

Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by martenmickos on Tuesday May 23, 2017 @03:24AM (#14399483)
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by elyrly on Tuesday May 23, 2017 @03:27PM (#14404403)
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by g-clef on Monday May 22, 2017 @10:17AM (#14393725)
Not only is hacking them illegal, but trying to sell them services after that could easily be seen as an attempt at blackmail. It's a profoundly bad idea.
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by n33nj4 on Monday May 22, 2017 @10:16AM (#14393714)
Almost certainly no. If they have a bug bounty program they will pay out through that, but attacking a company of any sort that does not have an open program is a good way to get prosecuted.
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by wvh on Monday May 22, 2017 @10:40AM (#14393930)
I've done this long ago to one of the companies I had worked for before – as in pointing out major holes, not taking over anything – but I think it's not a good idea if you don't have any previous relationship at that company and don't know anybody there. It's a huge risk. It doesn't give people a good feeling to be criticised, or to notice others are sneaking around their livelihoods... Imagine someone sneaking around your car to check if any doors are open. Even if you just want to helpfully point something out, you have given people a bad vibe that is surely not going to help you to get hired.
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by phaus on Monday May 22, 2017 @02:04PM (#14395675)
I'm a security analyst at an MSSP with hundreds of large companies as customers. The typical response would be to press charges and try to send you to prison.
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by hdhzy on Monday May 22, 2017 @10:20AM (#14393747)
What if you beat up a person, lightly, to show them they are weak, and then offer your body building / fighting training, do they hire you? :)
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by quadcore on Monday May 22, 2017 @10:28AM (#14393810)
Well in that case, unrecoverable damages are caused whereas in many ways you can hack - or penetrate - without causing any damage. I guess.
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by hdhzy on Monday May 22, 2017 @10:45AM (#14393975)
What if you break into someone's home at night, unnoticed and ask if they want an advice on how to stay safe, do they hire you? No damages made!
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by simonswords82 on Monday May 22, 2017 @11:24AM (#14394321)
A more accurate analogy is that you contact the home owner and advise them that their home is at risk of being broken in to because of whatever security they're lacking. No need to actually break in to the home, just point out the vulnerabilities.
Re:Ask HN: How saturated is the market for offensive securit... by hdhzy on Monday May 22, 2017 @01:40PM (#14395489)
Okay but you need to check if they are vulnerable. I think the owner wouldn't be happy with people fiddling with his locks to check if he is vulnerable.

The correct solution is the same as for pentesting: ask for permission first.