Network Threats: A Step-by-Step Attack Demonstration

This article demonstrates a simulated real-world network attack across six stages—Initial Access (spear-phishing + malicious Office macro/Hoaxshell), Ingress Tool Transfer (PowerShell, Mimikatz, WMI), Discovery, Credential Dumping, Lateral Movement/Persistence, and Data Exfiltration—using common tools and emphasizing the need for defense-in-depth and multiple detection choke points.