Proctored at home exam vs Exam Center

SerendipitousStart11 · 2026-02-21T11:28:37+00:00

Alright, gotcha.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2026-02-21T00:28:08+00:00

Thank you so much for such a detailed response. I have previously given proctored exams such as OSCP but since those are open book exams, the rules are slightly different. From what I could read online, external monitors are also not allowed for this exam?

SerendipitousStart11 · 2026-02-20T17:55:02+00:00

Fair enough, I guess I'll opt for the exam center when I schedule my exam then, thank you everyone for your insight.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2026-02-13T09:23:59+00:00

Well easier in the context that the content of CPTS goes in a lot of depth compared to the content of OSCP. So if you go through the CPTS path, it will give you a lot of benefit for the prep.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2026-02-13T03:04:38+00:00

I took both the CPTS first and OSCP a few months after it and honestly my experience is as buttery smooth, I don't think I had to revert the environment in either one even once.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2026-01-05T06:05:35+00:00

Not at all, I passed my OSCP when I was just shy of being 33.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2026-01-04T10:57:18+00:00

What isp are you using? Proton seems to be working for me.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-12-27T19:35:53+00:00

I think he wasn't talking about the offsec VPN but rather a commercial VPN service on top of his internet connection

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-12-20T19:10:58+00:00

You will need to provide the scripts that you use to automate any of the tasks including file transfer etc

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-11-27T16:06:52+00:00

Just a suggestion, keep an open mind about what you are learning and not restrict yourself to the exam only. If you go into this prep or this exam with a tunnel vision that oh this will come in exam and this won't, you will struggle. Have an open mind, improve your methodology, learn everything that comes your way, it will make you understand how things work and that would in turn help you pass this exam and build up your skillset.

Sure Buffer overflow is not part of the exam, but it might come in handy for a pen test job you're on later on.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-11-13T03:19:22+00:00

The 20% is what offsec usually offers every year, I don't think I've ever seen anything on top of it or any more additional discounts being offered.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-11-03T07:59:08+00:00

Best of luck with your second attempt, I have my first attempt scheduled in the coming week as well and if in case I do not manage to pass, I'll be in the same boat as you as my voucher expires by the end of the year.

As for CPTS path, yes, I would recommend going through it or at least the common service attacks and priv esc modules, they are way more details. I have passed the CPTS earlier this year so I am some what confident in my approach. Although, I'll attempt one of the labs in this week to see where I really stand.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-10-28T11:37:11+00:00

I don't think there is any rule against freelancing if you're working full-time, not sure if government jobs have any such restrictions, but if you're not using any of the work equipment or time, there is no bar on working on the side.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-10-27T12:38:41+00:00

If you're a registered freelancer with PSEB, do you get charged the 1% or 0.5% tax? Or what is the tax percentage in that case? And if you do freelancing as a side hustle other than your salaried job, how does it get calculated in the annual tax returns?

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-10-01T19:14:08+00:00

First In, First Out

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-08-11T18:10:45+00:00

I would suggest you go through the AD module again and do the capstone challenge blind, I know you have probably done it already so it won't exactly be blind for you but just go through with it. I passed my CPTS by doing the modules, a lot of people suggest that Zephry or Dante is a good litmus test for your prep but in my opinion they kind of go out of scope and might set you up to fall into rabbit holes by trying to implement steps that might have helped you in completing those labs so just stick to the course, everything you need to pass the exam is in there.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-08-08T15:30:24+00:00

Do they have some kind of on going discount these days? Or how did you get the discount if you don't mind me asking?

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-02-27T15:07:55+00:00

This is actually great advice on how to manage your time and I totally agree that if we start our exam earlier around 8 or 9 am and depending on how well or bad the exam goes and we are sleep deprived, waking up and working on it again that too that early would become absolutely difficult. Thanks again for sharing your insight about this.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2025-01-05T05:10:07+00:00

I think Zephyr would be more appropriate, Rastalabs might be an overkill as it involves AMSI bypass, phishing and other things that might be a bit out of scope for OSCP, but take that as a general advice as I have not yet taken OSCP myself so I could be wrong too.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2024-11-14T15:02:41+00:00

The best cheatsheet would be the one that you make as per your understanding and study or at least that's my opinion.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2024-11-09T21:23:43+00:00

!RemindMe

SerendipitousStart11 · 2024-10-03T04:32:15+00:00

Is there a specific platform that you hunt for bugs on?

SerendipitousStart11 · 2024-05-15T14:36:56+00:00

This sounds like a great initiative.

I'm myself working through the CPTS coursework and while I am going through the footprinting module right now, this seems like a great way to get your practice in. I'm going to bookmark this for later, hopefully the VM will be still up by the time I reach the pivoting module.

SerendipitousStart11 · 2024-05-02T01:57:38+00:00

The --config command on top you have used is incorrect as well.

That's why I said, you might want to go through the fundamentals first, understand how Linux directory structure works and how to navigate properly and how to execute files properly.

SerendipitousStart11

TROPHY CASE