The word "hacking" is registered as a word of bad act among people. But do you know that people are getting paid thousands of dollars in legal ways for Hacking?
Well, read more to know about it and how you can adopt a career in Hacking if you are interested in it.
Hacking is defined as "the process of modifying and manipulating computer hardware, software, or data to accomplish a goal that may violate the security policy of an information system. Hacking may be done with or without the permission or knowledge of the system owner."
But, Ethical Hacking is a new but important field in the IT industry. It is a way to find and fix vulnerabilities in computer systems without breaking the law. Ethical hackers earn a living by using their skills to help companies and individuals protect themselves against malicious attacks.
Ethical Hacking is a practice that allows you to discover security problems in your system without causing any harm to it. It is also called ethical Hacking or penetration testing. Ethical hackers and penetration testers use the same techniques as malicious attackers, but they do not cause any damage to systems or networks. They only test the security of systems and networks by trying to bypass security mechanisms and access information that they should not have access to.
The goal of ethical Hacking is to find potential problems before they happen so you can fix them before they become a problem for your business.
Table of contents
What is ethical Hacking?
Ethical Hacking is the practice of testing a computer system or network to see if it can be breached or compromised. Ethical hackers use their skills to help organizations identify security flaws before they are exploited by malicious actors. This ensures that companies do not suffer any financial losses due to cybercrime.
People who have completed ethical hacking courses typically work for security firms that offer services such as penetration testing or vulnerability assessments. These professionals usually work remotely from their homes or offices, but some companies may require them to set up temporary offices inside the corporate premises for an extended period of time, depending on the scope of work required by the client.
The role of ethical hackers
preventing hostile attackers' access to and theft of private data
detecting flaws in their employer's networks and systems
assisting in the establishment of defenses to secure or "harden" such vulnerable points
putting effort into establishing secure networks to prevent security breaches
assisting their business in gaining the confidence of clients and investors by protecting data and assets
How to practice ethical Hacking?
You should start by learning about the field of Ethical Hacking, which involves using your knowledge of computers and technology in order to secure systems and networks. You can learn about this field by reading books and articles about it online or by taking classes at local colleges or universities.
Once you have learned about ethical Hacking, consider taking an entry-level job in the field. This will give you hands-on experience with hacking techniques that will help you become more comfortable with them, as well as give you an idea of how much money you can expect to earn in this line of work.
After you have gained some experience working as an ethical hacker, consider going back to school for additional training so that you can advance professionally within this industry. Some types of training include:
* Network, security certification program, offered through Cisco Systems Inc., which focuses on using hardware devices like routers or switches to protect networks against attacks from hackers;
* Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification offered through Knowledge Kafe.
The value of ethical hacking courses and the role of an ethical hacker is becoming increasingly important as organizations become more reliant on technology for their business operations. As many companies rely heavily on computers to manage their day-to-day operations and store sensitive data such as customer records or financial information online, these businesses need someone who can protect them from cyber criminals who might try stealing this information by attacking their systems remotely through the internet.
Future for ethical Hacking
It is simple to understand why there is such a strong demand for cybersecurity experts in general and ethical hackers in particular, given the continual wave of criminality. By 2021, according to industry watchdog Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity positions open globally. Due to a lack of talent, the cybersecurity labor market is thought to have a zero percent unemployment rate.
The demand for cybersecurity professionals is so high because of the complexity of modern attacks and defenses. In order to protect a computer system from intrusion, an effective defense strategy must be designed using input from multiple disciplines that include business analysts and legal experts, as well as developers and security researchers.
Even if you are a talented hacker, you need to know how to use your skills wisely if you want to stay out of trouble with law enforcement agencies around the globe.
So, if you are a beginner in this field, you must know types of hacking and which are ethical and legal.
Types of ethical Hacking
White hat hackers
A white-hat hacker is a cybersecurity expert hired to identify attackable flaws in software, hardware, and networks, report on those flaws, and frequently assist in securing such weak points.
The white-hat hacker's job is to protect your business from cyberattacks. They do this by finding weaknesses in your IT infrastructure, exposing them, and recommending ways to fix them before they can be used against you.
In order to do this, they need access to your systems, so they may ask you for remote access or physical access to systems so they can evaluate them firsthand. If you're not comfortable with this, there are other ways for the white-hat hacker to do their job. They can use software like Metasploit or other penetration testing tools that allow them to remotely test for vulnerabilities without needing any kind of physical access.
Black hat hackers
The black-hat Hacking is outlawed. They are known for illegally breaking into victims' networks to disrupt systems, steal or destroy data, conduct espionage, or sometimes engage in some malicious mischief just to prove they can.
The best way to protect your business is by educating yourself with an ethical hacking course on the latest security threats and how they affect your business. This will help you know what to look out for and where the most vulnerable points of entry may be.
If you are a company owner or manager, it is important that you understand that it is not enough just to have a firewall in place; there are other things you need to consider, such as encryption techniques and intrusion detection systems (IDS). It's also important that you keep up with all software updates because these often contain patches for security vulnerabilities.
Gray hat hackers
The gray-hat ethical Hacking is a unique type of hacker who combines key traits of white- and black-hat counterparts. They probe a system for vulnerabilities without malicious intent but also without the owner's knowledge or permission.
Gray hats are motivated by curiosity, ego, and thrill-seeking, but they also want to help organizations understand their security weaknesses so that they can be corrected. They are not only interested in finding flaws but also in fixing them. This is why they work with companies instead of against them to help them improve their security measures rather than exploit them for personal gain.
Green hat hackers
Green-hat hackers are the ones who could be your next best friend. They're typically amateurs, novices, and newcomers who are eager and intrigued about Hacking but lack advanced technical skills and education. Many of these folks are interested in expanding their skills and becoming more deeply involved in the world of Hacking.
If you're a green-hat hacker, you may have noticed that there are some people out there who aren't very nice. They'll try to take advantage of you and use your inexperience against you. But there's also a whole community of people who want to help you learn more about security and become better at what you do.
How to become an ethical hacker?
This field is growing rapidly, and there are plenty of opportunities for qualified individuals to enter it. If you want to become an ethical hacker, you'll need to be well-versed in the world of coding. Not only does this mean learning how to code, but it also means learning as many different technologies as you can. This will give you a better understanding of the fundamentals of computer science and help you understand how every piece of software interacts with each other.
Learning about fundamental operating system concepts and networking fundamentals will also help you understand how everything works together, which is crucial when trying to break into someone else's system. Finally, take time to learn security markup so that you can use it on your own systems.
By studying these skills, you'll be able to break down complex problems into smaller parts that are easier for you to solve, which will come in handy when trying to hack into someone else's system.
Skill required for ethical Hacking
Programming
Software programming abilities are used by ethical hackers to create code that they may employ to evaluate computer security. These experts frequently employ coding languages like C and Python. In order to keep information regarding computer security and operate effectively, they may also use database systems.
Network designing
Network design is often a skill that ethical hackers have. All shapes and sizes of computer networks may be built, maintained, and troubleshot by them. Knowledge of various network protocols, networking gear, software, and security protocols are prerequisites for this position.
Problem-solving
Ethical hackers use problem-solving talents to identify flaws in current software and hardware products and to resolve difficult security challenges. They can assess the network or website security of a business with the use of these talents.
Communication
For careers in ethical hacking, verbal and written communication skills are also important. Communication between ethical hackers frequently takes place over the phone, email, or in person. They might organize meetings, create code for computer security testing, and obtain data from database systems. They might also work with other team members.
Research
Research is frequently carried out by ethical hackers to assist in putting computer security measures in place for their organization or client. They might look into the most recent hacking attempts and figure out how to avoid them. To assess computer systems, they could also employ specialized equipment and software.
Math
Because they frequently employ them to develop challenging algorithms and encryption keys that help shield data from hackers' attacks, math abilities are crucial for ethical hackers. They may also analyze traffic patterns and compute network capacity and bandwidth.
Where do ethical hackers work?
Hardware business
Ethical hackers are also employed by hardware businesses to find and fix security problems. In this instance, the product that is vulnerable is hardware, like a router or firewall, which may be attacked by hackers using the software.
Software companies
Ethical hackers are frequently used by software businesses to verify their software for flaws before release. Because software utilizes computer systems and networks and could permit illegal access to a company's systems or private customer data, it is frequently the target of hacker assaults.
Financial institutions
Banks and other financial institutions use ethical hackers to attempt to circumvent security measures and discover security weaknesses. Computer systems used by banks and internet banking options are two examples.
Law firms
To ensure that confidential information is protected, law firms may also use ethical hackers to evaluate the security of their computer systems and network.
Government bodies
To discover fresh methods through which a hacker can obtain access to government computer systems, certain government agencies employ ethical hackers. When looking for security holes, the ethical hacker may attempt to circumvent security measures and offer solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is ethical Hacking a legal job?
Yes, ethical Hacking is a legal job. The word "hacker" has become a synonym for "computer criminal" in the last few decades, but it wasn't always that way. The first hackers were, as their name suggests, people who enjoyed exploring and tinkering with computer systems. They were curious about what made them tick and how they could be made to work better.
Ethical Hacking is the process of testing the security of a system in order to find vulnerabilities and improve it. Ethical hackers are hired by companies to test their systems, networks, and software for weaknesses that can be exploited by cybercriminals. They use different methods to try and hack into these systems, including using automated software bots or manually testing security points on websites such as login pages and email accounts.
There are several factors that determine whether or not ethical Hacking is legal: who owns the system, what kind of data you're accessing, and what state you live in. If any of these questions are unclear or complicated, it's best to consult an attorney before proceeding with any kind of white-hat activities.