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    Security Testing for Beginners

    Start your security testing journey with this beginner-friendly guide. Learn fundamental security concepts and practical testing techniques for AI-generated applications.

    Everyone Can Learn Security Testing

    Security testing is not just for experts. With AI-generated code becoming common, developers at all levels need basic security testing skills. This guide teaches fundamentals anyone can learn, even without prior security experience.

    Beginner Security Testing Checklist

    Follow these 10 steps to start testing application security. Critical steps teach essential skills every developer should know.

    Step 1

    Understand the application

    Critical

    Map out user flows, authentication, data handling, and critical features before testing security.

    Step 2

    Learn about OWASP Top 10

    Critical

    Study the most critical web application security risks and how they manifest in real applications.

    Step 3

    Set up testing environment

    Critical

    Create a safe testing environment separate from production to practice security testing safely.

    Step 4

    Test authentication first

    Critical

    Start with login security: test weak passwords, session management, and password reset flows.

    Step 5

    Check authorization

    Critical

    Verify users can only access their own data by trying to access other user IDs or resources.

    Step 6

    Test input validation

    Try entering special characters, scripts, or SQL in all input fields to test for injection vulnerabilities.

    Step 7

    Review error messages

    Trigger errors intentionally and check if error messages expose sensitive system information.

    Step 8

    Inspect client-side code

    Use browser developer tools to inspect JavaScript for hardcoded credentials or sensitive data.

    Step 9

    Test with automated tools

    Run beginner-friendly scanners like OWASP ZAP or browser extensions to find common issues.

    Step 10

    Document your findings

    Keep notes on vulnerabilities found, steps to reproduce, and potential impact for remediation.

    Start With These Topics

    Authentication Testing

    High

    Learn to test login systems, password policies, and session management for common security issues.

    Basic XSS Testing

    High

    Understand how to test for cross-site scripting by injecting JavaScript in input fields.

    Authorization Bypass

    Critical

    Learn to test if users can access data they should not have permission to view or modify.

    Sensitive Data Exposure

    High

    Check for exposed API keys, credentials, or personal information in client-side code.

    Related Resources

    Penetration Testing Guide

    More advanced manual testing techniques

    Automated Security Testing

    Learn to use automated security scanners

    Security Testing Tools

    Beginner-friendly security testing tools

    Common Security Flaws

    Most common vulnerabilities in AI-generated code

    Start Testing in Minutes

    VibeEval makes security testing accessible for everyone. Run your first security scan without needing security expertise or complex tool configuration.

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