👉 Offensive engineering, often associated with cyber warfare and offensive cybersecurity, refers to the deliberate exploitation of vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, or software to gain unauthorized access, disrupt operations, or cause damage. This can involve techniques such as phishing attacks to steal credentials, deploying malware like ransomware or spyware, exploiting zero-day vulnerabilities (previously unknown software flaws), and conducting social engineering to manipulate individuals into divulging sensitive information. The goal is typically to compromise security, steal data, disrupt services, or create chaos, often with malicious intent. Unlike defensive engineering, which focuses on protecting systems, offensive engineering prioritizes identifying and leveraging weaknesses to achieve strategic objectives, making it a critical but ethically contentious aspect of modern cybersecurity.
