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Application & OT Security · Foundational

Post-Engagement Cleanup

Removing all tools, accounts, shells, files and configuration changes introduced during testing.

Definition

Testers must remove backdoors, created user accounts, uploaded web shells, scheduled tasks and other artifacts so the client is not left more vulnerable. Any credentials or data collected must be securely destroyed or returned per the contract. Cleanup activities should be documented in the report.

Example

Deleting a test admin account and a web shell named test.php at the end of an engagement.

Exam tip

Leaving persistence mechanisms behind is a serious professional failure; cleanup is part of the engagement lifecycle.

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