[Review] eMAPT 2025 - Mobile Penetration Testing Certification That Updated Their Exam Format Right After I Purchased the Course

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I'll be honest, mobile security was the area I had the least experience in since I started working in cybersecurity. One day, I decided it was time to dig deeper into mobile pentesting. While searching around, I found out about a certification that many of my senior colleagues had already taken—the eMAPT by INE Security. Some even wrote reviews, which really helped me understand what it was about.

The exam format caught my attention right away. It's lab-based, where you have 7 days to actually code and hack an app. At first, I thought it wouldn't be too hard since I'd written Android apps before. I figured that with some study, I'd be able to handle it. So, I asked my team lead for approval to buy the course, and once I got the green light, I went for it immediately.

Luckily, the timing worked out perfectly. The course was on sale for $399 USD (down from $599). The package included a 3-month course and the eMAPT exam voucher. That's when the real journey began.

From the Old eMAPT to the New eMAPT 2025

The very next day after I purchased the course, I went back to check the exam outline again. To my surprise, as soon as I refreshed the page, everything had changed. The website had a brand-new layout, and the exam details looked completely different.

That's when I found out the new exam would officially start on July 10, 2025. This meant INE had completely revamped the format. Before, the exam gave you seven days to code an exploit for an app. Now, the structure is totally different: 45 multiple-choice questions + 2 real lab exercises, all to be done within 12 hours on INE's own exam platform. (If you've ever taken one of their other certs, you'll know this system.)

At that moment, my head was spinning: "This throws my whole plan out the window." I realized I'd need more prep time than I originally thought. And it wasn't just the exam that had changed. The entire course content was brand new too. From the videos, I could tell they had been recorded in May 2025, only a couple of months earlier. Everything felt fresh, relevant, and super up-to-date.

Key Highlights of the eMAPT Content

What I really like about the eMAPT course is that it's not just about learning mobile app hacking tricks. It actually trains you to think like an attacker. The course starts from the ground up, first helping you understand how mobile apps are built on both Android and iOS. From there, it goes into common vulnerabilities and the tools you'll use for pentesting things like dynamic/static analysis, Frida, Burp, Objection, and reverse APK analysis.

The content follows the OWASP Mobile Top 10, which is super practical because it shows you the most common issues you'll run into in the real world, along with how to spot and fix them.

But honestly, the best part isn't just the tools or techniques. The biggest value of this course is the mindset shift—learning how to think like a hacker, but act like a professional. In other words, not only knowing how to attack, but also how to defend and strengthen systems in a way that truly helps organizations.

Exam Format

For the exam itself, INE gives you a Debian VM (emulator) to work with. Inside, you'll find the basic tools you need and a mobile emulator with an APK already installed. As expected, the VM can't connect to the internet, so you're on your own during the test.

The exam has 45 questions in total, split across multiple choice and text-based answers. These are grouped into three main parts:

1. General - 19 Questions

   These are scenario-based questions that test your understanding of methodologies and problem-solving. For example, you might get a case like: "App A was found to have a password hardcoded in the source code. What's the impact?" The questions are often long and detailed, so you really need to read carefully. If you miss something on the first read, you'll have to go back again, which eats up time.

2. Static Analysis - 10 Questions

   In the VM, there's a "static" folder with code files. Here, you'll be asked to identify vulnerabilities directly in the code. For instance, you might see a function using weak crypto, and the question will ask which part is insecure. This section can be tricky if you've never written Android code or decompiled apps before because at first glance, the code might look perfectly normal. You'll probably need to dig deeper and do some extra analysis during the exam.

3. Dynamic & API Analysis - 16 Questions

   This part focuses on two APKs that are pre-installed in the emulator. You'll need to analyze them to find vulnerabilities or hidden information. It's a mix of dynamic and static analysis along with API pentesting. Basically, this is where you roll up your sleeves and do hands-on testing, just like in a real-world engagement.

Exam Review

Regarding the exam review, in my personal opinion, the first part (General Questions) wasn't too bad. The key here is being solid in threat modeling and methodologies. You really need to know how to apply them to different scenarios. The questions themselves aren't overly technical, but they do test how well you can think through a situation and connect the dots.

The second part (Static Analysis) was definitely tougher for me. If you've never written an Android app or decompiled one before, this section can feel overwhelming. There were moments when I stared at the code thinking, "This looks fine… I don't see any problem here." But the exam is designed to hide those gaps in plain sight. That's where I lost the most time reading, re-reading, and doing extra research just to figure out what was actually wrong. Looking back, I feel that if I had studied more Android code beforehand, this part would have been much smoother.

The final part (Pentesting the APKs) is where things got really hands-on, and I'll break it down into two pieces:

• Dynamic Analysis - This is absolutely essential. You'll need to be comfortable using Frida or Objection (both provided in the VM) to analyze the apps. If you can't do dynamic analysis properly, you won't be able to move forward with the API testing.
• API Pentesting - Personally, I found this part more approachable. If you've done web pentesting or played CTFs before, you'll feel at home. The vulnerabilities aren't overly complex; they're the kind you've probably seen before, just applied in a mobile context.

One last but super important tip: take notes constantly. Write down every command, every script, and every result. The INE VM isn't stable. If you run something heavy or unusual, it might crash. And if it does, you'll lose everything from that session. Having to restart without your notes is the kind of pain that can bring tears to your eyes. Trust me, this habit can save you in the middle of the exam.

The eMAPT Certificate Awarded After Passing the Exam: https://certs.ine.com/90fd4d98-aacc-42bc-b9b9-7b7e1a4e8b3c

Tips for the Exam

This part is all about preparing for the exam and a few small techniques that can really boost your performance. If you've gone through all the course material, I highly recommend spending time in the practice labs. Don't just follow along—experiment. Try writing your own bypass scripts, or play around with tools you've never used before. For example, practice using Frida to bypass functions in different ways. Don't stop at just one method, test out several. The more approaches you try, the more confident you'll feel when faced with unexpected scenarios in the exam.

Another crucial thing is having a solid grasp of the OWASP Mobile Top 10 vulnerabilities. At the very least, you should be able to look at an output and recognize what type of vulnerability it could indicate. This skill will save you a lot of time during the test.

When it comes to the actual exam, planning is everything. The exam is long, so if you don't allocate your time wisely, you'll find yourself scrambling. Break the test into parts and stick to a plan so you don't waste precious minutes.

And here's a big one: take detailed notes as you go. The INE VM can be a bit unstable—running heavy commands or unusual processes may cause it to crash. If that happens, all your progress in that session is gone, and you'll have to restart from scratch. Writing down every step, every command, and every script doesn't just protect you from losing work—it also helps you stay organized and keep track of what you've already done. When you come back after a crash or even just after a short break, your notes will keep you from forgetting important steps.

Recommended Vulnerable Application Labs

• https://github.com/hax0rgb/InsecureShop
• https://github.com/dineshshetty/Android-InsecureBankv2
• https://github.com/satishpatnayak/AndroGoat
• https://github.com/t0thkr1s/allsafe
• https://mas.owasp.org/crackmes/

Conclusion

Overall, eMAPT is a fantastic course for anyone who wants to dive into mobile pentesting with a strong foundation. It's especially great if you already have some background in web pentesting or CTFs, because a lot of the skills carry over.

What makes it stand out is that it's not just about learning hacking tricks for mobile apps. It's about shaping the right mindset. The course trains you to think like an attacker, but also to understand how to defend like a professional. It's not only about breaking things; it's about seeing the bigger picture of security and learning how to build systems that are stronger and safer.