Practical Exam — Real Android Application in a Live Lab
You interact with actual software in a controlled environment. The exam tests what you can do, not what you've memorized.
CAED (Certified Android Exploit Developer) is a hands-on, practical exam. No multiple choice. You get a real Android application in a lab environment and a time limit. Exploit the vulnerabilities. Document the impact. Pass by doing the work. Other certs test memory. CAED tests skill. You're given a real Android application in a controlled lab — find the vulnerabilities, exploit them, document the impact. Prep curriculum included with your MHL subscription.
Start CAED Certification → Get CAED Certified →The problem with most security certifications
Most security certifications are theory exams. You memorize frameworks, pass multiple choice questions, add a badge to LinkedIn. Hiring managers who actually work in mobile security see through these instantly — they know a multiple-choice cert doesn't prove you can exploit an Android app.
The market needs a mobile security credential that tests exploitation skill, not just pattern recognition. And you need a certification your resume can't be challenged on.
CAED is a practical exam.
You're given a real Android application in a controlled lab environment. Find the vulnerabilities. Exploit them. Document the impact. You pass by demonstrating skill, not by memorizing answers. MHL's full subscription includes the CAED prep curriculum — the same platform you use to practice is the platform you're examined on.
What CAED certifies
CAED was designed to certify the skill gap that employers actually care about — hands-on mobile exploitation capability.
You interact with actual software in a controlled environment. The exam tests what you can do, not what you've memorized.
Assessed on findings quality, exploitation depth, and documentation clarity. Prove your skill directly.
Android App Security, iOS App Security, AFE exploitation course, and CAED-specific prep material — all on one subscription.
Unlike broad security certs, CAED is purpose-built for mobile: Android exploitation, dynamic analysis, native vulnerability assessment.
CAED certifies the skill gap employers actually care about. Listing it signals hands-on mobile exploitation capability that's difficult to fake.
No separate course fees, no hidden exam prep materials. Subscribe, prepare, certify. Exam fee billed separately at time of scheduling.
How the exam works
Work through Android App Security, iOS App Security, and AFE at your own pace. Labs available 24/7.
Book a proctored exam slot. Fully remote — no travel needed. Exam fee billed at scheduling.
You receive a target Android application and objectives. Exploit vulnerabilities in a live lab environment within the time limit. Document your findings.
Pass the exam and receive a digital credential verifiable by employers. Add it to your LinkedIn profile.
CAED vs. alternatives
| Feature | CAED (MHL) | SANS SEC575 | CEH | eMAPT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Exam format | Hands-on lab | Multiple choice | Multiple choice | Practical |
| Mobile-specific | ✓ Android focus | Broad mobile | General security | Android only |
| Exploitation in scope | ✓ | Partial | ✗ | Partial |
| Virtual lab environment | ✓ Browser-based | Physical device | N/A | Student-managed |
| Prep included in one sub | ✓ | Separate course fee | Separate course | Separate course |
| Price | <$0.66/day sub + exam fee | $8,000+ | $1,000+ | ~$200 exam fee |
What CAED holders say
I had [other cert] on my resume. After CAED I started getting callbacks specifically about mobile security roles. Interviewers actually asked about the practical exam format.
The exam was hard. That's the point. Passing it means something.
Common questions
CEH is broad and theory-heavy — not mobile-specific. OSCP focuses on network/web infrastructure exploitation, not Android apps. eMAPT is closer but focuses on app analysis without deep native exploitation. CAED is purpose-built for mobile security researchers and pentesters: Android exploitation, native vulnerability analysis, and the AFL++ fuzzing techniques that matter in actual mobile vuln research.
You should be comfortable with Android app structure, dynamic analysis with Frida, and basic exploitation concepts. MHL's subscription prep path — Android App Security, iOS App Security, and AFE — builds exactly the prerequisite stack. If you can complete the AFE exploitation labs, you're ready to attempt CAED.
You're given a real Android application in an MHL lab environment and a defined time window. The task is to find, exploit, and document vulnerabilities in that application. Scoring is based on findings, exploitation evidence, and report quality — not a multiple-choice answer key.
CAED is a newer credential, but it's purpose-built to fill a recognized gap: there's no widely-accepted practical mobile security cert. Listing CAED signals hands-on exploitation capability that's difficult to fake and straightforward to verify. Security teams hiring mobile researchers increasingly recognize what the format means.
Yes. The MHL subscription includes full CAED prep curriculum — Android App Security, iOS App Security, AFE, and CAED-specific preparation content. The lab environment you practice in is the same platform you'll be examined on. No surprises.
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CAED proves you have it — practically, not theoretically. Start your prep today with free Android and iOS security labs included in your MHL subscription.
Subscription includes full prep curriculum. Exam fee billed separately at time of scheduling.