Vanildo Pedro

Building adversary-style cybersecurity labs | Founder @ Empire Cybersecurity

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Every machine you fail to compromise teaches more than the ones you breeze through.

Failure is data, not evidence you don't belong. Document failures like wins: what you tried, why it failed, what you'd change.

That log becomes your most valuable resource.

#cybersecurity

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

If you want to work in offensive security, Linux cannot be optional.

Most servers run it. Most tools are built for it. Most attack infrastructure runs on it.

Install it. Break it. Fix it. Break it again. That cycle is the education.

Foundations are not boring. They're leverage

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

You got a shell, now what?

Stabilize access.
Confirm user context.
Validate system details.
Check network configuration.
Look for pivot paths.
Enumerate locally.
Document everything.
Plan next steps.

The shell isn’t the goal. It’s the starting point.
#pentesting #CTF #infosec

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Most people think pentesting is typing commands in a dark terminal. It’s not.

Reality:
80% reading, researching, documenting.
5% exploitation.
The rest is patience.
Shells come after enumeration, not before.

#pentesting #infosec #cybersecurity #EmpireCyberLabs

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Empire CyberLabs

🖥️ 13 Machines (Easy to Extreme)
🔐 7 Challenges (Forensic, OSINT, Crypto, Rev)
🏰 2 Master Labs (Full Active Directory environments)
🌐 2 Surface Labs (Web Application)
📊 Ranking

https://t.co/6ZN8X2UtY9
#cybersecurity #pentesting #CTF #EmpireCyberLabs

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Phantom Master Lab is live.

Structured internal progression, different access levels across systems, discover, pivot, document, progress toward domain compromise.

3 machines, 7 flags. 1,075 points. Intermediate.

#ActiveDirectory #EmpireCyberLabs

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

In real internal assessments, one credential is rarely enough.

Gain access. Enumerate. Discover. Pivot. Repeat.

Credential chaining is discipline, not luck.

Real networks require documentation, patience, and structured progression.

New Master Lab Tomorrow.

#EmpireCyberLabs

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

https://t.co/QVFcpL1jMQ

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

DevForge Surface Lab.

Developer collaboration platform, code repositories, CI/CD workflows, high-value targets.

Assess developer platforms from an attacker’s perspective. Credential exposure. Access control weaknesses. Misconfiguration-driven attack paths.

#EmpireCyberLabs

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Developers who understand attackers build better software.

Code repositories, CI/CD pipelines, project tools. High-value targets.

Misconfigurations lead to credential leaks, supply chain risk, and lateral movement.

A new Surface drops tomorrow.

#EmpireCyberLabs #webappsec

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Building enterprise labs requires more than deploying a single machine.

Configuring domains. Testing policy changes. Validating remote management. Breaking and rebuilding trust relationships.

While Genesis runs, development continues.

#EmpireCyberLabs

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

@Phnxio Assembly, and that was a nightmare.

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

In cybersecurity, most professionals lean one way.
Offensive or Defensive?

🔴 Offensive (Red Team / Pentest / Bug Bounty)
🔵 Defensive (Blue Team / SOC / IR)
🟣 Both
🟢 Still exploring

Where do you stand?

#cybersecurity #redteam #blueteam #infosec

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

https://t.co/YRYWPfBsJE

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Genesis Master Lab is LIVE.

Multiple machines, full Active Directory environment, realistic corporate network.

Genesis marks the beginning of our Master Labs series.

For Valentine’s Day, Genesis is available in the Master tier at no cost.

#pentesting #redteam #EmpireCyberLabs

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Getting past the perimeter is critical. Understanding what that access actually means is what defines the impact.

Genesis Master Lab launches tomorrow, built as a complete environment, not a single box.

Free access available.

#Pentesting #RedTeam #EmpireCyberLabs

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

https://t.co/7NHfgUp1yb

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

OSINT is often underestimated. Deletion does not always mean disappearance. Digital traces tend to linger longer than people expect.

Digital Footprints focuses on identifying what was left behind.

If you enjoy this kind of investigation, it’s a good place to start.

#OSINT #CTF

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Web application security still comes down to fundamentals.

Web apps are part of most modern environments, so understanding how they work, why vulnerabilities exist, and how to follow a repeatable methodology matters more than tools.

#webappsec #bugbounty #infosec

[Vanildo Pedro @icex64]

Not every day needs to be productive to be useful.
Some days are just about keeping things stable and moving forward.