OSWP review (OffSec Wireless Professional)
The OffSec Wireless Professional (OSWP) certification validates practical wireless penetration testing skills, including WPA/WPA2, WPA Enterprise, WPS, and wireless network attacks.
Introduction
I recently passed the OffSec Wireless Professional (OSWP) certification by OffSec.
Throughout the course, I explored topics including:
- Wireless reconnaissance
- WEP
- WPA/WPA2 Personal
- WPA Enterprise
- Wireless Protected Setup (WPS)
- Rogue Access Points
- Captive Portals
- Authentication hash cracking
The OffSec Wireless Professional (OSWP) certification is designed for security professionals who want to develop practical wireless penetration testing skills. It focuses on assessing the security of IEEE 802.11 wireless networks using a practical, hands on approach.
My Thoughts
Overall, I found it to be an interesting and enjoyable course.
Although wireless assessments are less common than web or Active Directory engagements, understanding how modern wireless attacks work remains an important skill for penetration testers and red team operators.
One improvement I’d like to see: The addition of integrated hands on labs throughout the PEN-210 course. The theory is well presented, but practical exercises alongside each topic would make the learning experience even stronger.
Preparation
In addition to the official course material, I used community resources and WiFi Challenge Lab to practise the techniques covered throughout the course.
The following resources were particularly useful:
These resources complemented the official course material by providing additional explanations and practical examples that helped me better understand many of the concepts covered throughout the course.
Tips
If you’re preparing for OSWP, these are a few recommendations I would give:
- Read the official Exam Guide before scheduling your exam.
- Build your own cheatsheet with commands and attack workflows.
- Practise every attack until you understand why it works.
- Spend time understanding WPA Enterprise authentication.
- Become comfortable troubleshooting Aircrack-ng tools.
- Practise documenting your findings as you work through the attacks.
My recommendation: Take the time to understand why each attack works rather than simply memorising the commands. Building your own cheatsheet, documenting your findings, and practising the different attack techniques will help you get much more out of the course.
Certification
You can verify my OSWP certification by clicking on the certificate below.
Final Thoughts
OSWP is an interesting certification for anyone interested in wireless security or looking to broaden their offensive security skill set.
Although I would have liked to see integrated hands on labs as part of the PEN-210 course, I found the content practical, well structured, and enjoyable to study. The community resources listed above were a valuable addition and helped me gain a better understanding of many of the topics covered in the course.
Overall, I’m glad I had the opportunity to complete the course and earn the OSWP certification. I would certainly recommend OSWP to anyone interested in wireless penetration testing or looking to learn more about wireless security.