Security News > 2020 > February > Iowa Drops Trespassing Charges Against Penetration Testers

Iowa prosecutors have dropped trespassing charges against a pair of penetration testers who were contracted to test the electronic and physical security of three judicial facilities.

"The arrests raise national awareness on the quiet war being waged against cybercrime, and the critical role red team penetration testing plays in defending the integrity of public and private sector commerce."

The contract included scope for application and network penetration tests, as well as a variety of social engineering attacks, including phishing and physical access tests at the Dallas County Courthouse, one in Polk County as well as the Judicial Branch Building.

The penetration testers accessed the Dallas County courthouse by using a plastic cutting board to undermine a lock, Ars Technica reported in November 2019.

The rules reportedly mandate that all penetration testing contracts must undergo a legal review before being finalized, and that law enforcement must be notified before a scheduled test is due to take place.

News URL

https://www.inforisktoday.com/iowa-drops-trespassing-charges-against-penetration-testers-a-13676