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Labs

Network Attacks: Command and Control

In this lab you will practice how to establish command and control with a Windows Endpoint. You will be exposed to two commonly used tools: PoshC2 and Empire. When you are finished, you will have the skills to use these two C2 frameworks to establish command and control.

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Lab Info
Rating
(53)
Level
Beginner
Last updated
Aug 05, 2025
Duration
1h 15m

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Table of Contents
  1. Challenge

    Getting Started in the Lab Environment

    Here are the initial instructions and explanation of the lab environment. Read this while your environment is busy creating itself from nothing. Yes, this violates physics; we know. How fun!

  2. Challenge

    Tunneling Your C2 Communication

    In this challenge you will explore how to setup a C2 communications channel over https using the PoshC2 framework.

  3. Challenge

    Using Non-Standard Ports for C2 Communication

    As you solidify your skills on establishing command and control, in this challenge you will work with Empire. This time you will leverage a non-standard port to establish a C2 channel.

  4. Challenge

    The Last Challenge

    Welcome to the final challenge! This is your last chance to experiment in the environment. Clicking Finish Lab will end this little world that flittered into existence just for you.

About the author

Rishalin Pillay has over 12 years of cybersecurity experience and has acquired a vast amount of skills consulting for Fortune 500 companies while taking part in projects performing tasks in network security design, implementation, and vulnerability analysis. He holds many certifications that demonstrate his knowledge and expertise in the cybersecurity field. He is an author and content contributor to a number of books.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

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On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.

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