token.im钱包下载地址|ethical hacking

作者: token.im钱包下载地址
2024-03-08 21:07:48

通俗解释一下:道德黑客 - 知乎

通俗解释一下:道德黑客 - 知乎切换模式写文章登录/注册通俗解释一下:道德黑客通俗解释今早刷朋友圈,阿俗看到一个词:「道德黑客」,虽然我很早就知道这个词的含义,但每次看到都感觉特别扭。你想啊:有的人管专门破坏电脑系统的黑客叫「电脑黑客」有的人管善于渗透网络的黑客叫「网络黑客」有的人管专门研究智能汽车安全的叫「汽车黑客」以此类推,「道德黑客」是不是听起来就像是玩弄、败坏道德的黑客?但它的真实含义恰恰相反,是指「善意的,做好事的黑客」。那为什么要叫「道德黑客」呢?这个说法是英文「Ethical Hacker」直接翻译过来的,Ethical 的意思是:合乎伦理、符合道德规范的。所幸没有翻译成「伦理黑客」(Ethics是伦理学的意思)要不然就更诡异了。之所以我觉得「道德黑客」这个翻译不好,是因为在英文语境里,Ethical 是一个形容词,而且偏向褒义,人们只要一看见「Ethical Hacker」就能大概领会到它的含义,就像中国人一看见「侠盗」就立刻能知道:虽然这个人是个「盗」,但是他肯定是做好事的,不是坏人。但是「道德」在中文里更常用作名词,是中性词,和 Ethical 的观感还不太一样,所以「道德黑客」听起来怪怪的。---由于「道德黑客」这个词确实不太好用,所以用的人并不太多,更常见的替代说法是「白帽黑客」或者「白帽子」。但「白帽黑客」的叫法也有一个缺点:如果一个人从来没听过「白帽黑客」,很可能无法立刻领悟真实含义,你必须再向他解释:这个世界上的黑客分成三种,白帽,黑帽,灰帽。白帽是做好事的,黑帽是做坏事的,灰帽是手段独特但游走在法律的边缘从不触碰……然后对方才恍然大悟,索得斯内!不仅沟通成本很高,还经常让人迷惑。比如「白帽黑客」的白帽有可能被误以为是指「穆斯林」常戴的白色号帽。再比如,世界上最出名的黑客技术分享大会就叫「BlackHat Conference」翻译过来就是「黑帽大会」,logo也是一个黑帽人。如果按照「黑帽子就是干坏事的黑客」定义,那Blackhat就是世界上最大,技术水平最高的坏蛋集会。但实际并不是,Blackhat大会的主要目的还是用黑客技术让世界更好,而不是更坏。由于各种原因,除了黑白灰,市面上还常常能看到「各色帽子的黑客」。微软公司招集黑客帮他们寻找软件漏洞,然后管这些人叫「蓝帽子」黑客。有的网络比赛或者颁奖,也会用各种颜色的帽子。红帽子:金帽子:有时还会撞色,前面提到微软用了「蓝帽」,国内有个影响力挺大的比赛也用的「蓝帽」:而蓝帽子在其他领域,本身也有别的含义:前面提到过一个「红帽杯」,但同时又有一个很出名的IT公司和操作系统叫「红帽」在工地上,黄色帽子是工人,红色是管理人员,蓝色是技术人员,白色是监理。总之,各种帽子搞来搞去,就把人搞懵了。不知道下一次是不是要整出个「绿帽黑客」来。你还别说, 阿俗查了一下,网上真有「绿帽黑客」的说法,看起来像是营销号编的,「绿帽」指代「新手黑客」:也不知道网络安全初学者们接不接受「绿帽黑客」的说法。所以到头来,阿俗建议干脆就不要按照英文直接翻译,把Ethical Hacker翻译成什么「道德黑客」。直接意译成「善意黑客」或者「正义的黑客」都行,或者长一点叫「讲武德的黑客」、「被正道的光照耀的黑客」,起码让人一看能领会其中含义,简单干净卫生又无痛。把一个英文词汇直译过来,不做任何本土化,看似省力,其实成本还挺高,只是平摊到了每个人头上,让人不察觉。发布于 2022-03-24 18:40黑客组织黑客文化黑客 (Hacker)​赞同​​添加评论​分享​喜欢​收藏​申请

What Is Ethical Hacking? | Coursera

Is Ethical Hacking? | Coursera

For IndividualsFor BusinessesFor UniversitiesFor GovernmentsExploreOnline DegreesDegreesOnline DegreeExplore Bachelor’s & Master’s degreesMasterTrack™Earn credit towards a Master’s degreeUniversity CertificatesAdvance your career with graduate-level learningFind your New CareerBrowseTop CoursesLog InJoin for FreeListITNetworks and SecurityWhat Is Ethical Hacking?What Is Ethical Hacking?Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on Mar 6, 2024Unlike malicious hackers, ethical hackers have the permission and approval of the organization which they’re hacking into. Learn how you can build a career from testing the security of the network to fight cybercrime and enhance information security.It is predicted that cybercrime will globally cost an estimated $10.5 trillion every year in damages by 2025 [1]. They also predict that ransomware alone will cost victims $265 billion every year by 2031. The present threat of cybercrime combined with the shortage of experienced information security professionals has created a crisis for businesses, organizations, and governmental entities.However, the need to combat cybercrime also presents a unique opportunity for a career path. We’ve rounded up some key points to consider if you’re thinking of going into ethical hacking. What is ethical hacking?Ethical hacking is the practice of performing security assessments using the same techniques that hackers use, but with proper approvals and authorization from the organization you're hacking into. The goal is to use cybercriminals’ tactics, techniques, and strategies to locate potential weaknesses and reinforce an organization’s protection from data and security breaches. Ethical hacking vs. hacking: What’s the difference?Hackers, who are often referred to as black-hat hackers, are those known for illegally breaking into a victim’s networks. Their motives are to disrupt systems, destroy or steal data and sensitive information, and engage in malicious activities or mischief. Black-hat hackers usually have advanced knowledge for navigating around security protocols,  breaking into computer networks, and writing the malware that infiltrates systems. Ethical hackers, commonly called white-hat hackers, use many of the same skills and knowledge as black-hat hackers but with the approval of the company that hires them. These information security professionals are hired specifically to help find and secure vulnerabilities that may be susceptible to a cyber attack. Ethical hackers will regularly engage in assessing systems and networks and reporting those findings.Here are some of the differences:Ethical hackersBlack-hat hackersIncrease security frameworkReduce security and steal dataDevelop strong security and structuresAccess accounts and data without permissionDevelop systems like ad blockers and firewalls and regularly update and maintain security systemsSteal valuable data and break into restricted data areasTypes of hackers Black-hat hackers are always the outlaws, the hackers with malicious intentions. But over time ethical hackers have shifted into a variety of roles other than white-hat hackers. Some of the roles include red teams that work in an offensive capacity, blue teams that work as a defense for security services, and purple teams that do a little of both:

Red teams may pose as a cyberattacker to assess a network or system's risk and vulnerabilities in a controlled environment. They examine potential weaknesses in security infrastructure and also physical locations and people.Blue teams are aware of the business objectives and security strategy of the organization they work for. They gather data, document the areas that need protection, conduct risk assessments, and strengthen the defenses to prevent breaches. These ethical hackers may introduce stronger password policies, limit access to the system, put monitoring tools in place, and educate other staff members so that everyone's on the same page.Purple teams bring red and blue teams together and encourage them to work together to create a strong loop of feedback and reach the goal of increasing the organization's security overall.Read more: Red Team vs. Blue Team in CybersecurityBenefits of ethical hackingNew viruses, malware, ransomware, and worms emerge all the time, underscoring the need for ethical hackers to help safeguard the networks belonging to government agencies, defense departments, and businesses. The main benefit of ethical hacking is reducing the risk of data theft. Additional benefits include:

Using an attacker’s point of view to discover weak points to fixConducting real-world assessments to protect networksSafeguarding the security of investors' and customers' data and earning their trustImplementing security measures that strengthen networks and actively prevent breachesCareer opportunities in ethical hackingAs an ethical hacker, you might work as a full-time employee or as a consultant. You could find a job in nearly any type of organization, including public, private, and government institutions. You could work in financial institutions like banks or payment processors. Other potential job areas include ecommerce marketplaces, data centers, cloud computing companies, entertainment companies, media providers, and SaaS companies. Some common job titles you'll find within the ethical hacking realm include:

Penetration testerInformation security analystSecurity analystVulnerability assessorSecurity consultantInformation security managerSecurity engineerCertified ethical hackerRead more: 4 Ethical Hacking Certifications to Boost Your CareerJob outlook and salaryThe US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates that jobs like information security analysts may grow by 32 percent between 2022 and 2032, an average rate significantly higher than the 8 percent for all other careers [2]. As an ethical hacker, you have a variety of job opportunities available to you, from entry-level to management.Not only is there a strong demand for ethical hackers, but this career path has strong earning potential. The average annual salary for ethical hackers in the US is $108,831, according to Glassdoor [3]. However, the salary differs depending on where you live, the company you work for, your level of experience, and the certifications you hold can all impact your potential salary.Educational requirements for ethical hackingThere’s no single degree you need to become an ethical hacker, but having a strong background of experience and expertise is a must. Many ethical hackers earn a bachelor’s degree at a minimum.Hiring managers want to see that you're proficient in a variety of operating systems, firewalls, and file systems. You'll need strong coding skills and a solid foundation in computer science. Along with strong technical skills, good ethics and analytical thinking are key skills to cultivate. Common fields of study for a bachelor's degree include:

Computer scienceNetwork engineeringInformation securityShould I get a master’s degree?When you work in cybersecurity, having a master's isn't always required, but many employers prefer the added specialization. Earning your master’s degree can help give you a stronger competitive edge in the job market and allow you to deepen your knowledge and gain hands-on experience.Alternatives to getting a degreeIf you already have a degree but want to pivot to gain additional skills in ethical hacking, then attending an ethical hacking or cybersecurity bootcamp could be an alternative to getting a degree. Many bootcamps have ties to big tech organizations, giving you increased networking opportunities and chances to make lasting professional connections.Another option is to earn a certification. One of the core certifications to consider is the Certified Ethical Hacker credential issued by the EC-Council. Other popular certifications include:

CompTIA Security+ covers a broad range of knowledge about troubleshooting and problem-solving a variety of issues, including networking, mobile devices, and security.Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is offered by (ISC)² and demonstrates your proficiency in designing, implementing, and managing cybersecurity programs.Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) is offered by ISACA and is designed to prove your expertise in risk management, information security governance, incident management, and program development and management.GIAC certifications are available in focus areas like cyber defense, cloud security, offensive operations, and digital forensics and incident response.Read more: 10 Popular Cybersecurity CertificationsNext stepsReady to develop your skills for a career in cybersecurity? The Google Cybersecurity Professional Certificate is your gateway to exploring job titles like security analyst, SOC (security operations center) analyst, and more. Upon completion, you’ll have exclusive access to a job platform with over 150 employees hiring for entry-level cybersecurity roles and other resources that will support you in your job search. Article sources1. Forbes. “Cybercrime To Cost The World $10.5 Trillion Annually By 2025, https://cybersecurityventures.com/cybercrime-damage-costs-10-trillion-by-2025/.”  Accessed December 13, 2023.2. US Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Information Security Analysts, https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/information-security-analysts.htm.” Accessed December 13, 2023.3. Glassdoor. “How much does an Ethical Hacker make?, https://www.glassdoor.com/Salaries/ethical-hacker-salary-SRCH_KO0,14.htm.” Accessed December 13, 2023.View all sourcesKeep readingUpdated on Mar 6, 2024Written by:CCoursera StaffEditorial TeamCoursera’s editorial team is comprised of highly experienced professional editors, writers, and fact...This content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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What is Ethical Hacking? | Ethical Hacker in Cyber Security

What is Ethical Hacking? | Ethical Hacker in Cyber Security

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ETHICAL HACKING

Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH)

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Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (C|HFI)

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What is Ethical Hacking

January 19, 2024

The Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) credentialing and provided by EC-Council is a respected and trusted ethical hacking course in the industry. Since the inception of Certified Ethical Hacker in 2003, the credential has become one of the best options for industries and companies across the world. The C|EH exam is ANSI 17024 compliant, adding value and credibility to credential members. It is also listed as a baseline certification in the US Department of Defense (DoD) Directive 8570 and is a NSCS Certified Training.

Today, you can find Certified Ethical Hackers working with some of the finest and largest companies across industries like healthcare, financial, government, energy and much more!

An Ethical Hacker Answers the Following Questions:

What kind of vulnerabilities does an attacker see?

What information or system would a hacker most want access?

What can an attacker do with the information?

How many people notice the attempted hack?

What is the best way to fix the vulnerability?

Ethical hackers learn and perform hacking in a professional manner, based on the direction of the client, and later, present a maturity scorecard highlighting their overall risk and vulnerabilities and suggestions to improve.

Importance of Ethical Hacking?

In the dawn of international conflicts, terrorist organizations funding cybercriminals to breach security systems, either to compromise national security features or to extort huge amounts by injecting malware and denying access. Resulting in the steady rise of cybercrime. Organizations face the challenge of updating hack-preventing tactics, installing several technologies to protect the system before falling victim to the hacker.New worms, malware, viruses, and ransomware are primary benefit are multiplying every day and is creating a need for ethical hacking services to safeguard the networks of businesses, government agencies or defense.

Government agencies and business organizations today are in constant need of ethical hackers to combat the growing threat to IT security. A lot of government agencies, professionals and corporations now understand that if you want to protect a system, you cannot do it by just locking your doorsJay BavisiCEO of EC-Council

Benefits of Ethical Hacking?

The primary benefit of ethical hacking is to prevent data from being stolen and misused by malicious attackers, as well as:

Discovering vulnerabilities from an attacker’s POV so that weak points can be fixed.

Implementing a secure network that prevents security breaches.

Defending national security by protecting data from terrorists.

Gaining the trust of customers and investors by ensuring the security of their products and data.

Helping protect networks with real-world assessments.

Practice ethical hacking to Ensure Safe Stay at Home

Types of Ethical Hacking?

It is no big secret that any system, process, website, device, etc., can be hacked. In order to understand how the hack might happen and what the damage could be, ethical hackers must know how to think like malicious hackers and know the tools and techniques they are likely to use.

Web Application Hacking

System Hacking

Web Server Hacking

Hacking Wireless Network

Social Engineering

Types of Hacking/Hackers

Hackers are of different types and are named based on their intent of the hacking system. Broadly, there are two main types in hacking/hacker – White-Hat hacker and Black-Hat hacker. The names are derived from old Spaghetti Westerns, where the good guy wears a white hat and the bad guy wears a black hat.

White Hat Hacker

Ethical hackers or white hat hackers do not intend to harm the system or organization but they do so, officially, to penetrate and locate the vulnerabilities, providing solutions to fix them and ensure safety.

Black Hat Hacker

Contrary to an ethical hacker, black hat hackers or non-ethical hackers perform hacking to fulfill their selfish intentions to collect monetary benefits.

Gray Hat Hacker

Grey hat hackers are the combination of white and black hat hackers. They hack without any malicious intention for fun. They perform the hacking without any approval from the targeted organization.

Read more About the Types of Hackers

Core Concepts of System Hacking

Download The Ethical Hacker’s Guide to Hacking Webservers

Download The Ethical Hacker’s Guide to System Hacking

Phases of Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking is a process of detecting vulnerabilities in an application, system, or organization’s infrastructure that an attacker can use to exploit an individual or organization. They use this process to prevent cyberattacks and security breaches by lawfully hacking into the systems and looking for weak points. An ethical hacker follows the steps and thought process of a malicious attacker to gain authorized access and test the organization’s strategies and network.

An attacker or an ethical hacker follows the same five-step hacking process to breach the network or system. The ethical hacking process begins with looking for various ways to hack into the system, exploiting vulnerabilities, maintaining steady access to the system, and lastly, clearing one’s tracks.

The five phases of ethical hacking are:

1. Reconnaissance

First in the ethical hacking methodology steps is reconnaissance, also known as the footprint or information gathering phase. The goal of this preparatory phase is to collect as much information as possible. Before launching an attack, the attacker collects all the necessary information about the target. The data is likely to contain passwords, essential details of employees, etc. An attacker can collect the information by using tools such as HTTPTrack to download an entire website to gather information about an individual or using search engines such as Maltego to research about an individual through various links, job profile, news, etc.Reconnaissance is an essential phase of ethical hacking. It helps identify which attacks can be launched and how likely the organization’s systems fall vulnerable to those attacks.

Footprinting collects data from areas such as:

TCP and UDP services

Vulnerabilities

Through specific IP addresses

Host of a network

In ethical hacking, footprinting is of two types:

Active: This footprinting method involves gathering information from the target directly using Nmap tools to scan the target’s network.

Passive: The second footprinting method is collecting information without directly accessing the target in any way. Attackers or ethical hackers can collect the report through social media accounts, public websites, etc.

2. Scanning

The second step in the hacking methodology is scanning, where attackers try to find different ways to gain the target’s information. The attacker looks for information such as user accounts, credentials, IP addresses, etc. This step of ethical hacking involves finding easy and quick ways to access the network and skim for information. Tools such as dialers, port scanners, network mappers, sweepers, and vulnerability scanners are used in the scanning phase to scan data and records. In ethical hacking methodology, four different types of scanning practices are used, they are as follows:

Vulnerability Scanning: This scanning practice targets the vulnerabilities and weak points of a target and tries various ways to exploit those weaknesses. It is conducted using automated tools such as Netsparker, OpenVAS, Nmap, etc.

Port Scanning: This involves using port scanners, dialers, and other data-gathering tools or software to listen to open TCP and UDP ports, running services, live systems on the target host. Penetration testers or attackers use this scanning to find open doors to access an organization’s systems.

Network Scanning: This practice is used to detect active devices on a network and find ways to exploit a network. It could be an organizational network where all employee systems are connected to a single network. Ethical hackers use network scanning to strengthen a company’s network by identifying vulnerabilities and open doors.

3. Gaining Access

The next step in hacking is where an attacker uses all means to get unauthorized access to the target’s systems, applications, or networks. An attacker can use various tools and methods to gain access and enter a system. This hacking phase attempts to get into the system and exploit the system by downloading malicious software or application, stealing sensitive information, getting unauthorized access, asking for ransom, etc. Metasploit is one of the most common tools used to gain access, and social engineering is a widely used attack to exploit a target.Ethical hackers and penetration testers can secure potential entry points, ensure all systems and applications are password-protected, and secure the network infrastructure using a firewall. They can send fake social engineering emails to the employees and identify which employee is likely to fall victim to cyberattacks.

4. Maintaining Access

Once the attacker manages to access the target’s system, they try their best to maintain that access. In this stage, the hacker continuously exploits the system, launches DDoS attacks, uses the hijacked system as a launching pad, or steals the entire database. A backdoor and Trojan are tools used to exploit a vulnerable system and steal credentials, essential records, and more. In this phase, the attacker aims to maintain their unauthorized access until they complete their malicious activities without the user finding out.Ethical hackers or penetration testers can utilize this phase by scanning the entire organization’s infrastructure to get hold of malicious activities and find their root cause to avoid the systems from being exploited.

5. Clearing Track

The last phase of ethical hacking requires hackers to clear their track as no attacker wants to get caught. This step ensures that the attackers leave no clues or evidence behind that could be traced back. It is crucial as ethical hackers need to maintain their connection in the system without getting identified by incident response or the forensics team. It includes editing, corrupting, or deleting logs or registry values. The attacker also deletes or uninstalls folders, applications, and software or ensures that the changed files are traced back to their original value.

In ethical hacking, ethical hackers can use the following ways to erase their tracks:

Using reverse HTTP Shells

Deleting cache and history to erase the digital footprint

Using ICMP (Internet Control Message Protocol) Tunnels

These are the five steps of the CEH hacking methodology that ethical hackers or penetration testers can use to detect and identify vulnerabilities, find potential open doors for cyberattacks and mitigate security breaches to secure the organizations. To learn more about analyzing and improving security policies, network infrastructure, you can opt for an ethical hacking certification. The Certified Ethical Hacking (CEH v12) provided by EC-Council trains an individual to understand and use hacking tools and technologies to hack into an organization legally.

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At its core, the VAPT includes three certifications

CND: Certified Network Defender

The Certified Network Defender (CND) certification program focuses on creating network administrators who are trained in protecting, detecting, and responding to threats on a network. The course contains hands-on labs based on major network security tools and techniques which will provide network administrators real-world expertise on current network security technologies and operations. For more details on the CND program, visit the course page.

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CEH: Certified Ethical Hacker

In its 12th version, the Certified Ethical Hacker provides comprehensive training, hands-on learning labs, practice cyber ranges for engagement, certification assessments, cyber competitions, and opportunities for continuous learning into one comprehensive program curated through our new learning framework: 1. Learn 2. Certify 3. Engage 4. Compete. For more details on the C|EH program visit the course page.

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CEH (Practical): Certified Ethical Hacker

C|EH Practical is a six-hour exam that requires you to demonstrate the application of ethical hacking techniques such as threat vector identification, network scanning, OS detection, vulnerability analysis, system hacking, web app hacking, etc. to solve a security audit challenge. This is the next step after you have attained the Certified Ethical Hacker certification. For further information on C|EH (Practical), visit the course page.

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Certified Ethical Hacker (Master)

C|EH (Master) is the world’s first performance-based ethical hacking industry readiness certification, that is verified, online, live, and proctored.C|EH Master is the next evolution for the world-renowned Certified Ethical Hacker credential and a logical ‘next step’ for those holding the prestigious certification. Earning the C|EH Master designation is your way of saying, “I learned it, I understood it, and I proved it.”EC-Council will award the C|EH (Master) certification to you if you clear the C|EH certification and the C|EH (Practical) credential.Become a C|EH (Master) by clearing the C|EH (Practical) exam here

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At the advanced level, the VAPT certification track includes three certifications

C|TIA: Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst

The Certified Threat Intelligence Analyst (CTIA) program was developed in collaboration with cybersecurity and threat intelligence experts across the globe to help organizations identify and mitigate business risks by converting unknown internal and external threats into known threats. It is a comprehensive, specialist-level program that teaches a structured approach for building effective threat intelligence. Visit the course page to learn more about the C|TIA program.

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CPENT: Certified Penetration Testing Professional

The C|PENT program is a comprehensive course that encompasses an innovative and multi-disciplinary curriculum to help Cyber Professionals polish their skills and gain proficiency in performing effective penetration tests in real-world enterprise network environments.The program covers advanced windows attacks, how to pen test IoT and OT systems, bypassing filtered networks, how to write your own exploits, single and double pivoting to gain access to hidden networks, how to conduct advanced privilege escalation as well as binary exploitation.Through performance-based cyber challenges on live Cyber Range, C|PENT Cyber Range provides a hands-on and comprehensive practice based on real-world scenarios to help you gain an edge on penetration tests. The program’s curriculum is designed to help you become a world-class Certified Penetration Tester. If you desire to pursue this program, and ready to take the most difficult cyber challenge, you can visit our Course page to learn more about the CPENT program.

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LPT (Master): Licensed Penetration Tester (Master)

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什么是道德黑客?| IBM

什么是道德黑客?| IBM

什么是道德黑客?

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什么是道德黑客?

道德黑客攻击是指友方使用黑客技术,试图发现、了解和修复网络或计算机系统的安全漏洞。道德黑客具有与恶意黑客相同的技能,使用相同的工具和策略,但他们的目标始终是在不损害网络或用户的情况下提高网络安全性。

在许多方面,道德黑客行为就像是对真实世界的网络攻击进行排练。组织雇用道德黑客对其计算机网络发动模拟攻击。在模拟攻击中,道德黑客展示实际网络罪犯如何入侵网络,以及入侵后可以或可能做什么。组织的安全分析师可以据此消除漏洞、加强安全系统、保护敏感数据。

术语“道德黑客行为”和“渗透测试”有时可以互换使用。但是渗透测试(下文会讨论)只是道德黑客使用的方法之一。道德黑客还可以评估漏洞,分析恶意软件,或提供其他信息安全服务。

报告

2023 年《数据泄露的代价》报告

阅读报告

道德黑客的道德准则

道德黑客遵循严格的道德准则,以确保他们的行为对公司有利而无害。许多培训或认证道德黑客的组织,如国际电子商务顾问局等都发布了自己的正式书面道德准则。虽然不同黑客和不同组织所规定的道德准则可能有所不同,但一般准则是:

道德黑客获得他们所攻击的公司的许可:道德黑客受雇于他们所攻击的组织或与其合作。他们与公司一起定义活动的范围,包括黑客攻击何时发生、黑客可以测试哪些系统和资产,以及他们可以使用哪些方法。

道德黑客不会造成任何伤害:道德黑客不会对入侵的系统造成任何实际损害,也不会窃取发现的任何敏感数据。当白帽黑客攻击网络时,他们只是为了展示真正的网络犯罪分子可能会使用的手段。

道德黑客对发现的情况或数据保密:道德黑客与合作公司分享他们收集的有关漏洞和安全系统的信息,而且只与合作公司分享。他们还协助合作公司利用这些发现加强网络防御。

道德黑客遵守法律要求:道德黑客仅使用合法的方法来评估信息安全。他们不与黑帽黑客来往或参与恶意黑客攻击。

道德黑客与其他类型的黑客

相对于这种道德准则,还有另外两种类型的黑客。

彻头彻尾的恶意黑客

恶意黑客有时被称为“黑帽黑客”,他们出于个人利益、网络恐怖主义或其他原因实施网络犯罪。他们侵入计算机系统以窃取敏感信息、窃取资金或扰乱运营。

不道德的道德黑客

有时称为“灰帽黑客”,他们使用不道德的方法,甚至违法行为来达到道德的目的。例如他们未经许可攻击网络或信息系统以测试漏洞,或公开利用供应商将予以修复的软件漏洞。虽然出于善意,但他们的行为也可能向恶意攻击者提供新的攻击向量。

道德黑客技能和证书

道德黑客是一条合法的职业路径。大多数道德黑客都拥有计算机科学、信息安全或相关领域的学士学位。他们往往了解常见的编程和脚本语言,例如 python 和 SQL。他们熟练掌握恶意黑客使用的工具和方法,包括 Nmap 等网络扫描工具、Metasploit 等渗透测试平台以及 Kali Linux 等黑客攻击专用操作系统,并不断提高自身技能。

像其他网络安全专业人员一样,道德黑客通常会获得证书以证明他们的技能和遵守道德的承诺。许多人参加道德黑客课程或参加特定于该领域的认证计划。一些最常见的道德黑客认证包括:

道德黑客认证 (CEH):CEH 由国际网络安全认证机构国际电子商务顾问局提供,是最广泛认可的道德黑客认证之一。

CompTIA PenTest+:该认证侧重于渗透测试和漏洞评估。

SANS GIAC 渗透测试员 (GPEN):与 PenTest+ 一样,SANS Institute 的 GPEN 认证可验证道德黑客的渗透测试技能。

道德黑客实践

道德黑客提供一系列服务

渗透测试

渗透测试是模拟的安全漏洞。渗透测试人员模仿恶意黑客未经授权访问公司系统。当然,渗透测试人员不会造成任何实际伤害。他们利用测试结果帮助公司抵御真正的网络犯罪分子攻击。

渗透测试分三个阶段:

1. 搜索

在情报收集阶段,渗透测试人员收集有关计算机、移动设备、Web 应用程序、Web 服务器以及公司网络上其他资产的信息。因为渗透测试人员在此期间绘制网络的整个足迹图,所以这个阶段有时称为“足迹图”阶段。

渗透测试人员使用手动和自动方法进行检测。他们可能会搜索员工的社交媒体资料和 GitHub 页面以获取线索。他们可能使用 Nmap 等工具扫描开放端口,使用 Wireshark 等工具检查网络流量。如果公司允许,他们可能会使用社交工程策略诱骗员工共享敏感信息。

2. 发起攻击

渗透测试人员了解了网络的轮廓,以及可以利用的漏洞后,就会入侵系统。渗透测试人员可能会尝试各种攻击,具体取决于渗透测试的范围。一些最常测试的攻击包括:  

– SQL 注入:渗透测试人员试图通过在输入字段中输入恶意代码来让网页或应用程序泄露敏感数据。

– 跨站脚本攻击:渗透测试人员试图在公司网站中植入恶意代码。

– 拒绝服务攻击:渗透测试人员试图通过虚假流量对服务器、应用程序和其他网络资源进行洪泛攻击,致使服务器、应用程序和其他网络资源处于瘫痪的状态。

– 社会工程:渗透测试人员使用网络钓鱼、诱饵、借口或其他策略来诱骗员工做出危害网络安全的行为。

在攻击过程中,渗透测试人员探索恶意黑客如何利用现有漏洞,以及在进入网络后如何移动。他们找出黑客可以访问的数据和资产类型。他们还测试现有的安全措施是否可以检测或阻止他们的活动。

攻击结束后,渗透测试人员会掩盖自己的踪迹。这样做有两个目的。首先,可以展示网络犯罪分子如何隐藏在网络中。其次,可以防止恶意黑客秘密跟随道德黑客进入系统。

3. 报告

渗透测试人员记录他们在黑客攻击期间的所有活动,然后向信息安全团队提交报告,概述他们利用的漏洞、访问的资产和数据以及如何绕开安全系统。道德黑客还提出重视和解决这些问题的建议。

漏洞评估

漏洞评估类似于渗透测试,但并没有达到利用漏洞的程度。在漏洞评估中,道德黑客使用手动和自动方法来查找、分类和优先处理系统中的漏洞;然后向公司分享他们的发现。

恶意软件分析

一些道德黑客专门从事勒索软件和恶意软件类别的分析工作。他们研究新的恶意软件版本,以了解其工作原理,并与公司和更广泛的信息安全社区分享他们的结论。

风险管理

道德黑客还协助高级战略性风险管理。他们能够识别新型和新兴威胁,分析威胁如何影响公司的安全状况,并帮助公司制定对策。

道德黑客的优势

虽然评估网络安全的方法有很多,但道德黑客可以帮助公司从攻击者的角度了解网络漏洞。道德黑客获得许可入侵网络后,可以向公司展示恶意黑客如何利用操作系统、应用程序、无线网络和其他资产的漏洞。这些信息可以帮助公司发现最关键的漏洞,及时堵住这些漏洞。

从道德黑客的角度也可能发现内部安全分析师可能遗漏的内容。例如,道德黑客正面攻击防火墙、加密算法、入侵检测系统 (IDS)、扩展检测系统 (XDR) 和其他对策。因此他们确切地知道这些防御措施在实践中的作用及不足之处,而公司并不会遭受数据泄露的危害。

道德黑客产品

渗透测试

IBM X-Force Red 提供针对应用程序、网络、硬件和人员的渗透测试,发现和修复漏洞,保护最重要的资产免受攻击。

探索渗透测试服务

进攻性安全服务

进攻型安全服务(包括渗透测试、漏洞管理和对手模拟)可用于帮助识别、优先处理和修复覆盖整个数字和物理生态系统的安全缺陷。

深入了解进攻型安全服务

IBM Security Randori Recon

管理数字足迹的扩展范围,降低误判从而更精准地锁定目标,快速提高组织的网络灾备能力。

探索 IBM Security Randori Recon

道德黑客资源

IBM Security 2023 年 X-Force 威胁情报指数

《2023 年 IBM Security® X-Force® Threat Intelligence 指数》为首席信息安全官 (CISO)、安全团队和企业领导提供了切实可行的洞察,帮助企业了解威胁参与者如何发动攻击,以及他们能如何主动采取措施保护企业。

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浏览 2023 年《数据泄露的代价》报告的全面调查结果。该报告提供了有关企业所面临威胁的宝贵洞察成果,以及升级网络安全和最大程度减少损失的实用建议。

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安全运营中心 (SOC)

安全运营中心统一和协调所有网络安全技术和运营,从而提高组织的威胁检测、响应和预防能力。

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防御深度学习黑客攻击

IBM 研究人员发现了新的威胁,针对称为深度生成模型 (DGM) 的不同类型的 AI 模型开发了可行的防御措施。深度生成模型是新兴的 AI 技术,能够合成复杂高维导管的数据。

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什么是网络安全解决方案?

计算机网络安全是互联网络安全的一个领域,重点是保护计算机网络免受网络威胁。计算机网络安全可保护网络基础架构、资源和流量的完整性,阻止攻击并最大程度地减少对财务和运营的影响。

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什么是攻击面管理?

攻击面管理 (ASM) 可以持续发现、分析、修复和监控构成组织攻击面的网络安全漏洞和潜在攻击媒介。

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网络安全威胁变得更加先进和持久,要求安全分析人员付出更多努力来筛选无数的警报和事件。X-Force 可让企业安全团队高枕无忧,以便企业能够抵御网络攻击并继续业务运营。

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What is ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking is the use of hacking techniques by friendly parties in an attempt to uncover, understand and fix security vulnerabilities in a network or computer system. 

Ethical hackers have the same skills and use the same tools and tactics as malicious hackers, but their goal is always to improve network security without harming the network or its users.

In many ways, ethical hacking is like a rehearsal for real-world cyberattacks. Organizations hire ethical hackers to launch simulated attacks on their computer networks. During these attacks, the ethical hackers demonstrate how actual cybercriminals break into a network and the damage they could do once inside.

The organization’s security analysts can use this information to eliminate vulnerabilities, strengthen security systems and protect sensitive data.

The terms "ethical hacking" and "penetration testing" are sometimes used interchangeably. However, penetration tests are only one of the methods that ethical hackers use. Ethical hackers can also conduct vulnerability assessments, malware analysis and other information security services.

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Ethical hackers' code of ethics

Ethical hackers follow a strict code of ethics to make sure their actions help rather than harm companies. Many organizations that train or certify ethical hackers, such as the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC Council), publish their own formal written code of ethics. While stated ethics can vary among hackers or organizations,  the general guidelines are:

Ethical hackers get permission from the companies they hack: Ethical hackers are employed by or partnered with the organizations they hack. They work with companies to define a scope for their activities including hacking timelines, methods used and systems and assets tested. 

Ethical hackers don't cause any harm: Ethical hackers don't do any actual damage to the systems they hack, nor do they steal any sensitive data they find. When white hats hack a network, they're only doing it to demonstrate what real cybercriminals might do. 

Ethical hackers keep their findings confidential: Ethical hackers share the information they gather on vulnerabilities and security systems with the company—and only the company. They also assist the company in using these findings to improve network defenses.

Ethical hackers work within the confines of the law: Ethical hackers use only legal methods to assess information security. They don't associate with black hats or participate in malicious hacks.

Ethical hackers versus other types of hackers

Relative to this code of ethics, there two other types of hackers.

Outright malicious hackers

Sometimes called ‘black hat hackers,’ malicious hackers commit cybercrimes with for personal gain, cyberterrorism or some other cause. They hack computer systems to steal sensitive information, steal funds, or disrupt operations.

Unethical ethical hackers

Sometimes called ‘gray hat hackers’ (or misspelled as ‘grey hat hackers’) these hackers use unethical methods or even work outside the law toward ethical ends. Examples include attacking a network or information system without permission to test an exploit, or publicly exploiting a software vulnerability that vendors will work on a fix. While these hackers have good intentions, their actions can also tip off malicious attackers to new attack vectors.

Ethical hacking skills and certificates

Ethical hacking is a legitimate career path. Most ethical hackers have a bachelor's degree in computer science, information security, or a related field. They tend to know common programming and scripting languages like python and SQL.

They’re skilled—and continue to build their skills—in the same hacking tools and methodologies as malicious hackers, including network scanning tools like Nmap, penetration testing platforms like Metasploit and specialized hacking operating systems like Kali Linux.

Like other cybersecurity professionals, ethical hackers typically earn credentials to demonstrate their skills and their commitment to ethics. Many take ethical hacking courses or enroll in certification programs specific to the field. Some of the most common ethical hacking certifications include:

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): Offered by EC-Council, an international cybersecurity certification body, CEH is one of the most widely recognized ethical hacking certifications.

CompTIA PenTest+: This certification focuses on penetration testing and vulnerability assessment.

SANS GIAC Penetration Tester (GPEN): Like PenTest+, the SANS Institute's GPEN certification validates an ethical hacker's pen testing skills.

Ethical hacking in practice

Ethical hackers offer a range of services.

Penetration testing

Penetration tests, or "pen tests," are simulated security breaches. Pen testers imitate malicious hackers that gain unauthorized access to company systems. Of course, pen testers don't cause any actual harm. They use the results of their tests to help defend the company against real cybercriminals.

Pen tests occur in three stages:

1. Reconnaissance

During the recon stage, pen testers gather information on the computers, mobile devices, web applications, web servers and other assets on the company's network. This stage is sometimes called "footprinting" because pen testers map the network's entire footprint. 

Pen testers use manual and automated methods to do recon. They may scour employees' social media profiles and GitHub pages for hints. They may use tools like Nmap to scan for open ports and tools like Wireshark to inspect network traffic. If permitted by the company, they may use social engineering tactics to trick employees into sharing sensitive information.

2. Staging the attack

Once the pen testers understand the contours of the network—and the vulnerabilities they can exploit—they hack the system. Pen testers may try a variety of attacks depending on the scope of the test. Some of the most commonly tested attacks include:   

– SQL injections: Pen testers try to get a webpage or app to disclose sensitive data by entering malicious code into input fields.

– Cross-site scripting: Pen testers try planting malicious code in a company's website.

– Denial-of-service attacks: Pen testers try to take servers, apps and other network resources offline by flooding them with traffic.

– Social engineering: Pen testers use phishing, baiting, pretexting, or other tactics to trick employees into compromising network security. 

During the attack, pen testers explore how malicious hackers can exploit existing vulnerabilities and how they can move through the network once inside. They find out what kinds of data and assets hackers can access. They also test whether existing security measures can detect or prevent their activities.

At the end of the attack, pen testers cover their tracks. This serves two purposes. First, it demonstrates how cybercriminals can hide in a network. Second, it keeps malicious hackers from secretly following the ethical hackers into the system.

3. Reporting

Pen testers document all their activities during the hack. Then, they present a report to the information security team that outlines the vulnerabilities they exploited, the assets and data they accessed and how they evaded security systems. Ethical hackers make recommendations for prioritizing and fixing these issues as well. 

Vulnerability assessments

Vulnerability assessment is like pen testing, but it doesn't go as far as exploiting the vulnerabilities. Instead, ethical hackers use manual and automated methods to find, categorize and prioritize vulnerabilities in a system. Then they share their findings with the company. 

Malware analysis

Some ethical hackers specialize in analyzing ransomware and malware strains. They study new malware releases to understand how they work and share their conclusions with companies and the broader information security community. 

Risk management

Ethical hackers may also assist with high-level strategic risk management. They can identify new and emerging threats, analyze how these threats impact the company’s security posture and help the company develop countermeasures.  

Benefits of ethical hacking

While there are many ways to assess cybersecurity, ethical hacking can help companies understand network vulnerabilities from an attacker's perspective. By hacking networks with permission, ethical hackers can show how malicious hackers exploit various vulnerabilities and help the company discover and close the most critical ones.

An ethical hacker's perspective may also turn up things that internal security analysts might miss. For example, ethical hackers go toe-to-toe with firewalls, cryptography algorithms, intrusion detection systems (IDSs), extended detection systems (XDRs) and other countermeasures. As a result, they know exactly how these defenses work in practice—and where they fall short—without the company suffering an actual data breach. 

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Penetration testing

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Offensive security services include penetration testing, vulnerability management and adversary simulation to help identify, prioritize and remediate security flaws that cover your entire digital and physical ecosystem.

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IBM Security X-Force Threat Intelligence Index 2023

The IBM Security® X-Force® Threat Intelligence Index 2023 offers CISOs, security teams and business leaders actionable insights to help understand how threat actors wage attacks and how they can proactively protect organizations.

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Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023

Explore the comprehensive findings from the Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023. This report provides valuable insights into the threats that you face, along with practical recommendations to upgrade your cybersecurity and minimize losses.

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Security Operations Center (SOC)

A security operations center improves an organization's threat detection, response and prevention capabilities by unifying and coordinating all cybersecurity technologies and operations.

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Defenses against deep learning hack attacks

IBM Researchers have discovered new threats and developed actionable defenses for a different type of AI model called deep generative models (DGMs). DGMs are an emerging AI tech capable of synthesizing data from complex, high-dimensional manifolds.

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What are network security solutions?

Network security is the field of cybersecurity focused on protecting computer networks from cyber threats. Network security safeguards the integrity of network infrastructure, resources and traffic to thwart attacks and minimize their financial and operational impact.

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What is attack surface management?

Attack surface management (ASM) is the continuous discovery, analysis, remediation and monitoring of the cybersecurity vulnerabilities and potential attack vectors that make up an organization’s attack surface.

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Widespread hybrid cloud adoption and permanent remote workforce support have made it impossible to manage the enterprise attack surface. IBM Security Randori Recon uses a continuous, accurate discovery process to uncover shadow IT. Randori keeps you on target with fewer false positives, and improves your overall resiliency through streamlined workflows and integrations with your existing security ecosystem.

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Table of Contents

What is an ethical hacker?

What are the key concepts of ethical hacking?

How are ethical hackers different than malicious hackers?

What skills and certifications should an ethical hacker obtain?

What problems does hacking identify?

What are some limitations of ethical hacking?

Definition

Ethical hacking involves an authorized attempt to gain unauthorized access to a computer system, application, or data. Carrying out an ethical hack involves duplicating strategies and actions of malicious attackers. This practice helps to identify security vulnerabilities which can then be resolved before a malicious attacker has the opportunity to exploit them.

Penetration Testing: A Buyer's Guide

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What is an ethical hacker?

Also known as “white hats,” ethical hackers are security experts that perform these security assessments. The proactive work they do helps to improve an organization’s security posture. With prior approval from the organization or owner of the IT asset, the mission of ethical hacking is opposite from malicious hacking. 

What are the key concepts of ethical hacking?

Hacking experts follow four key protocol concepts:

Stay legal. Obtain proper approval before accessing and performing a security assessment.

Define the scope. Determine the scope of the assessment so that the ethical hacker’s work remains legal and within the organization’s approved boundaries.

Report vulnerabilities. Notify the organization of all vulnerabilities discovered during the assessment. Provide remediation advice for resolving these vulnerabilities.

Respect data sensitivity. Depending on the data sensitivity, ethical hackers may have to agree to a non-disclosure agreement, in addition to other terms and conditions required by the assessed organization. 

How are ethical hackers different than malicious hackers?

Ethical hackers use their knowledge to secure and improve the technology of organizations. They provide an essential service to these organizations by looking for vulnerabilities that can lead to a security breach.

An ethical hacker reports the identified vulnerabilities to the organization. Additionally, they provide remediation advice. In many cases, with the organization’s consent, the ethical hacker performs a re-test to ensure the vulnerabilities are fully resolved. 

Malicious hackers intend to gain unauthorized access to a resource (the more sensitive the better) for financial gain or personal recognition. Some malicious hackers deface websites or crash backend servers for fun, reputation damage, or to cause financial loss. The methods used and vulnerabilities found remain unreported. They aren’t concerned with improving the organizations security posture.  

What skills and certifications should an ethical hacker obtain?

An ethical hacker should have a wide range of computer skills. They often specialize, becoming subject matter experts (SME) on a particular area within the ethical hacking domain.

All ethical hackers should have:

Expertise in scripting languages.

Proficiency in operating systems.

A thorough knowledge of networking.

A solid foundation in the principles of information security.

Some of the most well-known and acquired certifications include:

EC Council: Certified Ethical Hacking Certification

Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) Certification

CompTIA Security+

Cisco’s CCNA Security

SANS GIAC

What problems does hacking identify?

While assessing the security of an organization’s IT asset(s), ethical hacking aims to mimic an attacker. In doing so, they look for attack vectors against the target. The initial goal is to perform reconnaissance, gaining as much information as possible.

Once the ethical hacker gathers enough information, they use it to look for vulnerabilities against the asset. They perform this assessment with a combination of automated and manual testing. Even sophisticated systems may have complex countermeasure technologies which may be vulnerable.

They don’t stop at uncovering vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers use exploits against the vulnerabilities to prove how a malicious attacker could exploit it.

Some of the most common vulnerabilities discovered by ethical hackers include:

Injection attacks

Broken authentication

Security misconfigurations

Use of components with known vulnerabilities

Sensitive data exposure

After the testing period, ethical hackers prepare a detailed report. This documentation includes steps to compromise the discovered vulnerabilities and steps to patch or mitigate them.

What are some limitations of ethical hacking?

Limited scope. Ethical hackers cannot progress beyond a defined scope to make an attack successful. However, it’s not unreasonable to discuss out of scope attack potential with the organization.  

Resource constraints. Malicious hackers don’t have time constraints that ethical hackers often face. Computing power and budget are additional constraints of ethical hackers.

Restricted methods. Some organizations ask experts to avoid test cases that lead the servers to crash (e.g., Denial of Service (DoS) attacks). 

Resources to manage your AppSec risk at enterprise scale

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Kali Linux | Penetration Testing and Ethical Hacking Linux Distribution

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Contact UsKali LinuxThe most advanced Penetration Testing Distribution. Ever.The most advancedPenetration Testing DistributionKali Linux is an open-source, Debian-based Linux distribution geared towards various information security tasks, such as Penetration Testing, Security Research, Computer Forensics and Reverse Engineering.Download

Documentation The Industry StandardKali Linux is not about its tools, nor the operating system. Kali Linux is a platform.Make Your Job EasierYou can take any Linux and install pentesting tools on it, but you have to set the tools up manually and configure them. Kali is optimized to reduce the amount of work, so a professional can just sit down and go.Kali EverywhereA version of Kali is always close to you, no matter where you need it. Mobile devices, Containers, ARM, Cloud providers, Windows Subsystem for Linux, Pre-built Virtual Machine, Installer Images, and others are all available.CustomizationWith the use of metapackages, optimized for the specific tasks of a security professional, and a highly accessible and well documented ISO customization process, it's always easy to generate an optimized version of Kali for your specific needs.DocumentationWhether you are a seasoned veteran or a novice, our documentation will have all the information you will need to know about Kali Linux. Multiple tips and “recipes” are available, to help ease doubts or address any issues. All documentation is open, so you can easily contribute.CommunityKali Linux, with its BackTrack lineage, has a vibrant and active community. There are active Kali forums, IRC Channel, Kali Tools listings, an open bug tracker system, and even community provided tool suggestions.

All the tools you needThe Kali Linux penetration testing platform contains a vast array of tools and utilities. From information gathering to final reporting, Kali Linux enables security and IT professionals to assess the security of their systems.Find out all about Kali's ToolsAircrack-ngBurp SuiteHydraJohn the RipperMaltegoMetasploit FrameworkNmapRespondersqlmapWiresharkCrackMapExecFFUFEmpireStarkillerKali EverywhereUndercover ModeUsing Kali in an environment where you don't want to draw attention to yourself? Kali Undercover is the perfect way to not stand out in a crowd.Kali NetHunterA mobile penetration testing platform for Android devices, based on Kali Linux. Kali NetHunter is made up of an App, App Store, Kali Container and KeXWin-KeXWin-KeX provides a full Kali Desktop Experience for Windows WSL. Applications started via Kali's panel will share the desktop with Microsoft Windows applications.ARMCheap & low powered devices, which make for great leave behind devices. Modern ARM based laptops provide high speed with long battery life as an assessment platform.Bare MetalSingle or multiple boot Kali, giving you complete control over the hardware access (perfect for in-built WiFi and GPU), enabling the best performance.CloudHosting providers which have Kali Linux pre-installed, ready to go, without worrying about looking after the infrastructure.ContainersUsing Docker or LXD, allows for extremely quick and easy access to all of Kali's tools, without the overhead of a isolated virtual machine.MobileA mobile penetration testing platform for Android devices, based on Kali Linux. Kali NetHunter consists of an NetHunter App, App Store, Kali Container, and KeX.USBKali in your pocket, ready to go with Live Boot. Your Kali, always with you, without altering the host OS, plus allows you to benefit from hardware access.Virtual MachinesVMware & VirtualBox pre-built images ready to go. Allowing for a Kali install as bare as possible, with additional features such as snapshots, without altering the host OS. And we have vagrant images too.WSLWSL is included out of the box with modern Windows. You can then start to use Kali (and Win-Kex) without any installing any extra software.Choose the desktop you preferXfceXfce is a lightweight desktop environment for UNIX-like operating systems. It aims to be fast and low on system resources, while still being visually appealing and user friendly.Xfce consists of separately packaged parts that together provide all functions of the desktop environment, but can be selected in subsets to suit user needs and preferences. This is Kali's default desktop environment.GNOME ShellEvery part of GNOME Shell has been designed to make it simple and easy to use. The Activities Overview is an easy way to access all your basic tasks. A press of a button is all it takes to view your open windows, launch applications, or check if you have new messages. Having everything in one place is convenient and means that you don't have to learn your way through a maze of different technologies.KDE PlasmaPlasma is made to stay out of the way as it helps you get things done. But under its light and intuitive surface, it's a powerhouse. So you're free to choose ways of usage right as you need them and when you need them.With Plasma the user is king. Not happy with the color scheme? Change it! Want to have your panel on the left edge of the screen? Move it! Don't like the font? Use a different one! Download custom widgets in one click and add them to your desktop or panel.Latest news from our blogKali Linux 2024.1 Release (Micro Mirror)Hello 2024! Today we are unveiling Kali Linux 2024.1. As this is our the first release of the year, it does include new visual elements! Along with this we also have some exciting new mirrors to talk about, and of course some package changes - both new tools and upgrades to existing ones. 28 February 2024

Kali Linux DEI PromiseLast month we were privileged to be invited by GitLab to participate in the introduction of GitLab’s DEI Badging integration. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) badging is an initiative that the Community Health Analytics in Open Source Software (CHAOSS) project created to acknowledge and encourage open source projects’ efforts.

Since we first heard of this initiative we have been very excited for the launch. 29 January 2024

The great non-free-firmware transitionTL;DR: Dear Kali user, when you have a moment, check your /etc/apt/sources.list, and add non-free-firmware if ever it’s missing.

Programmatically speaking:

kali@kali:~$ sudo sed -i 's/non-free$/non-free non-free-firmware/' /etc/apt/sources.list Long story now.

As you might know already, Kali Linux is a Debian-based Linux distribution. As such, it inherits a number of things from Debian, and in particular, the structure of the package repository. 22 January 2024

Kali Linux 2023.4 Release (Cloud ARM64, Vagrant Hyper-V & Raspberry Pi 5)With 2023 coming to an end and before the holiday season starts, we thought today would be a good time to release Kali 2023.4. Whilst this release may not have the most end-user features in it again, there are a number of new platform offerings and there has still been a lot of changes going on behind-the-scenes for us, which has a positive knock-on effect resulting in a benefit for everyone. 05 December 2023LIGHT

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What Is Ethical Hacking?

What Is Ethical Hacking?

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What Is Ethical Hacking?

10/05/2021

By Codecademy Team

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When the term “hacker” was created, it described the engineers who developed code for mainframe computers. Now, it means a skilled programmer who attempts to gain unauthorized access to computer systems and networks by taking advantage of vulnerabilities in the system. Hackers write scripts to penetrate systems, crack passwords, and steal data.

Even though hacking has become a term that most often describes malicious and unethical activities, it doesn’t have to be. A hacker can still use these skills for good.

Ahead, we’ll take a look at ethical hacking and show you how you can start your journey to becoming an Ethical Hacker. And if you want more details, check out our free Introduction to Ethical Hacking course. You’ll learn more about the differences between ethical and unethical hacking, the tools and strategies Ethical Hackers use to find and address security vulnerabilities, and how to decide if the field is right for you.

What do Ethical Hackers do?

Ethical hacking is also known as white hat hacking or penetration testing. It can be an exciting career because Ethical Hackers spend their workday learning how computer systems work, discovering their vulnerabilities, and breaking into them with no fear of being arrested.

Unlike malicious hackers, who are typically motivated by financial gain, Ethical Hackers aim to help companies (and society as a whole) keep their data safe. Companies hire Ethical Hackers to find the vulnerabilities in their systems and update the flawed software so no one else can use the same technique to break in again.

As an Ethical Hacker, you’ll either be able to break into a system and then fix it or try to break into a system and not be able to. Either result is a win for the Ethical Hacker and the company because the company’s network is secure in the end.

Find vulnerabilities

Vulnerabilities are flaws or bugs in software that can be taken advantage of to gain unauthorized access to a network or computer system. Common vulnerabilities include:

Outdated software

Misconfigured systems

A lack of data encryption

Some vulnerabilities are easy to test for because the bugs have already been documented. In these cases, all the Penetration Tester has to do is scan the system to see if the bug exists on the system and update the software with a patch to remove the flaw.

Other vulnerabilities may still be unknown, and the Penetration Tester will use scripts and other tools to push the system to the limit and see if any bugs shake loose.

Demonstrate methods used by hackers

Ethical Hackers can also take on the role of a teacher. Many companies know little about cybersecurity threats and how their actions can either prevent a threat or help the hacker steal data.

Ethical Hackers hold classes on cybersecurity and warn team members of new threats as they’re discovered. Education is especially effective against phishing and other social engineering-type cyber attacks that require the target of the attack to take action to make it possible.

When people are aware of a potential threat, there’s a greater chance it can be stopped before it infects a system.

Help prevent cyber attacks

Ethical Hackers also work with other security team members to create a more secure infrastructure.

Ethical Hackers know what kind of threats are out there and can help the team choose the tools and security policies that can prevent threats they may not even know about yet. They can also help set up systems for backup and recovery, which can be used in a worst-case scenario.

What are the key principles of ethical hacking?

The line between black hat (or malicious) hacking and white hat (or ethical) hacking can seem blurry. After all, there’s also gray hat hacking, which sits between the two.

As an Ethical Hacker, here are some principles you should follow:

Obey the law: Hacking is only ethical if you have permission to perform a security assessment of the system you’re hacking.

Know the scope of the project: Stay within the boundaries of the agreement you have with the company. Know exactly what you’re supposed to test and only test those systems.

Report all vulnerabilities: Report any vulnerabilities you find and suggest ways to fix them.

Respect any sensitive data: A Penetration Tester will often test systems that hold sensitive data and will have to sign a non-disclosure agreement.

What kind of jobs can an Ethical Hacker get?

Companies of all sizes and industries are concerned about their network security. As long as security breaches still happen and companies still have sensitive data, Ethical Hackers will be in demand, so the job market looks good for them well into the future.

Some larger enterprises have Ethical Hackers on staff who run security tests and penetration tests all day long. In other companies, ethical hacking may only be part of the job while you spend most of your time configuring networks and setting up new systems.

An Ethical Hacker can have many titles. Here are a few of them:

Penetration Tester

Security Analyst

Ethical Hacker

Certified Ethical Hacker

Security Consultant

Security Engineer

Security Architect

Information Security Analyst

Information Security Manager

How to become an Ethical Hacker

Most Ethical Hackers, Penetration Testers, and white hat hackers get into ethical hacking because they’re curious about how the internet and information security works. One thing an ethical hacker needs to know is cybersecurity.

Our Introduction to Cybersecurity course will teach you how to identify and protect yourself against common cybersecurity threats. Once you know what type of threats there are, you can use similar techniques to test the security of computer systems and networks. For ethical hacking, you’ll also want to be familiar with networks (wired and wireless) and operating systems (especially Windows and Linux.)

Once you’ve got the basics of cybersecurity down, check out our free Introduction to Ethical Hacking course to learn more about the tools and techniques you’ll use on the job. Then, look for opportunities to start building your experience.

Since an Ethical Hacker also deals with software vulnerabilities and may need to write scripts to help with the job, you’ll also need to learn a few programming languages. Our Learn Python 3 course will teach you a great language for writing penetration scripts and other tools to help you hack.

Other courses you might consider are Learn the Command Line and Learn Bash Scripting since many ethical hacking tools are run from the command line. Familiarity with vulnerability testing tools like Metasploit and OpenVAS is a plus. There are also certifications for ethical hacking, like CEH and OSCP.

But the most important requirement is still curiosity, so stay curious and good luck with your ethical hacking!

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What is Ethical Hacking? A Comprehensive Guide [Updated]

What is Ethical Hacking? A Comprehensive Guide [Updated]

All CoursesAll Courses Log inCyber SecurityData Science & Business AnalyticsAI & Machine LearningProject ManagementCyber SecurityCloud ComputingDevOpsBusiness and LeadershipQuality ManagementSoftware DevelopmentAgile and ScrumIT Service and ArchitectureDigital MarketingBig DataCareer Fast-trackEnterpriseOther SegmentsTutorialsArticlesEbooksFree Practice TestsOn-demand WebinarsLive WebinarsHomeResourcesCyber SecurityCyber Security Tutorial: A Step-by-Step GuideWhat is Ethical Hacking? A Comprehensive Guide [Updated]Tutorial PlaylistCyber Security Tutorial: A Step-by-Step GuideOverviewWhat is Cybersecurity?Lesson - 1Cyber Security for BeginnersLesson - 2How to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer?Lesson - 3What is Ethical Hacking?Lesson - 4What is Penetration Testing?: A Step-by-Step GuideLesson - 5What Is SQL Injection: How to Prevent SQL InjectionLesson - 6How to Become an Ethical Hacker?Lesson - 7What Is a Firewall and Why Is It Vital?Lesson - 8The Complete Know-How on the MD5 AlgorithmLesson - 9A Definitive Guide to Learn the SHA 256 AlgorithmLesson - 10What Is a Ransomware Attack and How Can You Prevent It?Lesson - 115 Best Programming Languages for Hacking in 2024Lesson - 12The Most Informative Guide on What Is an IP Address?Lesson - 13The Best Ethical Hacking + Cybersecurity BooksLesson - 14Types of Cyber Attacks You Should Be Aware of in 2024Lesson - 15The Top Computer Hacks of All TimeLesson - 16Top 10 Cybersecurity Jobs in 2024: Career and Salary InformationLesson - 17Top Cybersecurity Interview Questions and Answers for 2024Lesson - 18What Is a Brute Force Attack and How to Protect Our Data Against It?Lesson - 19The Top 8 Cybersecurity Skills You Must HaveLesson - 20Your Guide to Choose the Best Operating System Between Parrot OS vs. Kali LinuxLesson - 21All You Need to Know About Parrot Security OSLesson - 22The Best and Easiest Way to Understand What Is a VPNLesson - 23What Is NMap? A Comprehensive Tutorial for Network MappingLesson - 24What Is Google Dorking? Your Way to Becoming the Best Google HackerLesson - 25Cyber Security: Career Path | Skills | Salary | CertificationsLesson - 26The Value of Python in Ethical Hacking and a Password Cracking TutorialLesson - 27The Best Guide to Understand What Is TCP/IP Model?Lesson - 28What Are Keyloggers and Its Effect on Our Devices?Lesson - 29Best Guide to Understand the Importance of What Is SubnettingLesson - 30Your Guide to What Is 5G and How It WorksLesson - 31How to Crack Passwords and Strengthen Your Credentials Against Brute-ForceLesson - 32A Look at ‘What Is Metasploitable’, a Hacker’s Playground Based on Ubuntu Virtual MachinesLesson - 33One-Stop Guide to Understanding What Is Distance Vector Routing?Lesson - 34Best Walkthrough for Understanding the Networking CommandsLesson - 35Best Guide to Understanding the Operation of Stop-and-Wait ProtocolLesson - 36The Best Guide to Understanding the Working and Importance of Go-Back-N ARQ ProtocolLesson - 37What Are Digital Signatures: A Thorough Guide Into Cryptographic AuthenticationLesson - 38The Best Spotify Data Analysis Project You Need to KnowLesson - 39Your One-Stop Guide ‘On How Does the Internet Work?’Lesson - 40An Introduction to Circuit Switching and Packet SwitchingLesson - 41One-Stop Guide to Understanding What Is Network Topology?Lesson - 42A Deep Dive Into Cross-Site Scripting and Its SignificanceLesson - 43The Best Walkthrough on What Is DHCP and Its WorkingLesson - 44A Complete Look at What a Proxy Is, Along With the Working of the Proxy ServerLesson - 45A Detailed Guide to Understanding What Identity and Access Management IsLesson - 46The Best Guide to Understanding the Working and Effects of Sliding Window ProtocolLesson - 47The Best Guide That You’ll Ever Need to Understand Typescript and ExpressLesson - 48Express REST APILesson - 49A Definitive Guide on How to Create a Strong PasswordLesson - 50Ubuntu vs. Debian: A Look at Beginner Friendly Linux DistributionLesson - 51Your One-Stop Guide to Learn Command Prompt HacksLesson - 52Best Walkthrough to Understand the Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6Lesson - 53What Is Kali NetHunter? A Deep Dive Into the Hackbox for AndroidLesson - 54A Perfect Guide That Explains the Differences Between a Hub and a SwitchLesson - 55What Is Network Security? Benefits, Types of Tools To Protect Your Shared NetworkLesson - 56What Is CIDR? And Its Importance in the Networking DomainLesson - 57A Thorough Guide on Application Security: Benefits, Risks, and Protection MechanismsLesson - 58One-Stop Solution to Learn About Parity Bit CheckLesson - 59What is HDLC and Understand the Functioning of Each Part of an HDLC FrameLesson - 60What Is Dijkstra’s Algorithm and Implementing the Algorithm through a Complex ExampleLesson - 61What Is Checksum? One-Stop Guide for All You Need to Know About ChecksumLesson - 62What is Ethical Hacking? A Comprehensive Guide [Updated]Lesson 4 of 62By Baivab Kumar JenaLast updated on Jan 4, 202422204998PreviousNextTutorial Playlist Cyber Security Tutorial: A Step-by-Step GuideOverviewWhat is Cybersecurity?Lesson - 1Cyber Security for BeginnersLesson - 2How to Become a Cybersecurity Engineer?Lesson - 3What is Ethical Hacking?Lesson - 4What is Penetration Testing?: A Step-by-Step GuideLesson - 5What Is SQL Injection: How to Prevent SQL InjectionLesson - 6How to Become an Ethical Hacker?Lesson - 7What Is a Firewall and Why Is It Vital?Lesson - 8The Complete Know-How on the MD5 AlgorithmLesson - 9A Definitive Guide to Learn the SHA 256 AlgorithmLesson - 10What Is a Ransomware Attack and How Can You Prevent It?Lesson - 115 Best Programming Languages for Hacking in 2024Lesson - 12The Most Informative Guide on What Is an IP Address?Lesson - 13The Best Ethical Hacking + Cybersecurity BooksLesson - 14Types of Cyber Attacks You Should Be Aware of in 2024Lesson - 15The Top Computer Hacks of All TimeLesson - 16Top 10 Cybersecurity Jobs in 2024: Career and Salary InformationLesson - 17Top Cybersecurity Interview Questions and Answers for 2024Lesson - 18What Is a Brute Force Attack and How to Protect Our Data Against It?Lesson - 19The Top 8 Cybersecurity Skills You Must HaveLesson - 20Your Guide to Choose the Best Operating System Between Parrot OS vs. Kali LinuxLesson - 21All You Need to Know About Parrot Security OSLesson - 22The Best and Easiest Way to Understand What Is a VPNLesson - 23What Is NMap? A Comprehensive Tutorial for Network MappingLesson - 24What Is Google Dorking? Your Way to Becoming the Best Google HackerLesson - 25Cyber Security: Career Path | Skills | Salary | CertificationsLesson - 26The Value of Python in Ethical Hacking and a Password Cracking TutorialLesson - 27The Best Guide to Understand What Is TCP/IP Model?Lesson - 28What Are Keyloggers and Its Effect on Our Devices?Lesson - 29Best Guide to Understand the Importance of What Is SubnettingLesson - 30Your Guide to What Is 5G and How It WorksLesson - 31How to Crack Passwords and Strengthen Your Credentials Against Brute-ForceLesson - 32A Look at ‘What Is Metasploitable’, a Hacker’s Playground Based on Ubuntu Virtual MachinesLesson - 33One-Stop Guide to Understanding What Is Distance Vector Routing?Lesson - 34Best Walkthrough for Understanding the Networking CommandsLesson - 35Best Guide to Understanding the Operation of Stop-and-Wait ProtocolLesson - 36The Best Guide to Understanding the Working and Importance of Go-Back-N ARQ ProtocolLesson - 37What Are Digital Signatures: A Thorough Guide Into Cryptographic AuthenticationLesson - 38The Best Spotify Data Analysis Project You Need to KnowLesson - 39Your One-Stop Guide ‘On How Does the Internet Work?’Lesson - 40An Introduction to Circuit Switching and Packet SwitchingLesson - 41One-Stop Guide to Understanding What Is Network Topology?Lesson - 42A Deep Dive Into Cross-Site Scripting and Its SignificanceLesson - 43The Best Walkthrough on What Is DHCP and Its WorkingLesson - 44A Complete Look at What a Proxy Is, Along With the Working of the Proxy ServerLesson - 45A Detailed Guide to Understanding What Identity and Access Management IsLesson - 46The Best Guide to Understanding the Working and Effects of Sliding Window ProtocolLesson - 47The Best Guide That You’ll Ever Need to Understand Typescript and ExpressLesson - 48Express REST APILesson - 49A Definitive Guide on How to Create a Strong PasswordLesson - 50Ubuntu vs. Debian: A Look at Beginner Friendly Linux DistributionLesson - 51Your One-Stop Guide to Learn Command Prompt HacksLesson - 52Best Walkthrough to Understand the Difference Between IPv4 and IPv6Lesson - 53What Is Kali NetHunter? A Deep Dive Into the Hackbox for AndroidLesson - 54A Perfect Guide That Explains the Differences Between a Hub and a SwitchLesson - 55What Is Network Security? Benefits, Types of Tools To Protect Your Shared NetworkLesson - 56What Is CIDR? And Its Importance in the Networking DomainLesson - 57A Thorough Guide on Application Security: Benefits, Risks, and Protection MechanismsLesson - 58One-Stop Solution to Learn About Parity Bit CheckLesson - 59What is HDLC and Understand the Functioning of Each Part of an HDLC FrameLesson - 60What Is Dijkstra’s Algorithm and Implementing the Algorithm through a Complex ExampleLesson - 61What Is Checksum? One-Stop Guide for All You Need to Know About ChecksumLesson - 62Table of ContentsView More

Reviewed and fact-checked by Sayantoni Das

The term ‘Hacker’ was coined to describe experts who used their skills to re-develop mainframe systems, increasing their efficiency and allowing them to multi-task. Nowadays, the term routinely describes skilled programmers who gain unauthorized access into computer systems by exploiting weaknesses or using bugs, motivated either by malice or mischief. For example, a hacker can create algorithms to crack passwords, penetrate networks, or even disrupt network services.

The primary motive of malicious/unethical hacking involves stealing valuable information or financial gain. However, not all hacking is bad. This brings us to the second type of hacking: Ethical hacking. So what is ethical hacking, and why do we need it? And in this article, you will learn all about what is ethical hacking and more.

Become a Certified Ethical Hacker!CEH v12 - Certified Ethical Hacking CourseExplore Program

What is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking is an authorized practice of detecting vulnerabilities in an application, system, or organization’s infrastructure and bypassing system security to identify potential data breaches and threats in a network. Ethical hackers aim to investigate the system or network for weak points that malicious hackers can exploit or destroy. They can improve the security footprint to withstand attacks better or divert them.

The company that owns the system or network allows Cyber Security engineers to perform such activities in order to test the system’s defenses. Thus, unlike malicious hacking, this process is planned, approved, and more importantly, legal.

Ethical hackers aim to investigate the system or network for weak points that malicious hackers can exploit or destroy. They collect and analyze the information to figure out ways to strengthen the security of the system/network/applications. By doing so,  they can improve the security footprint so that it can better withstand attacks or divert them.

Ethical hackers are hired by organizations to look into the vulnerabilities of their systems and networks and develop solutions to prevent data breaches. Consider it a high-tech permutation of the old saying “It takes a thief to catch a thief.”

They check for key vulnerabilities include but are not limited to:

Injection attacks

Changes in security settings

Exposure of sensitive data

Breach in authentication protocols

Components used in the system or network that may be used as access points

Now, as you have an idea of what is ethical hacking, it's time to learn the type of hackers.

What are the Different Types of Hackers?

The practice of ethical hacking is called “White Hat” hacking, and those who perform it are called White Hat hackers. In contrast to Ethical Hacking, “Black Hat” hacking describes practices involving security violations. The Black Hat hackers use illegal techniques to compromise the system or destroy information.

Unlike White Hat hackers, “Grey Hat” hackers don’t ask for permission before getting into your system. But Grey Hats are also different from Black Hats because they don’t perform hacking for any personal or third-party benefit. These hackers do not have any malicious intention and hack systems for fun or various other reasons, usually informing the owner about any threats they find. Grey Hat and Black Hat hacking are both illegal as they both constitute an unauthorized system breach, even though the intentions of both types of hackers differ.

Discover Your Road to a Major Career Break in 2024Free Webinar | 7 December, Thursday | 7 PM ISTRegister Now!White Hat Hacker vs Black Hat Hacker 

The best way to differentiate between White Hat and Black Hat hackers is by taking a look at their motives. Black Hat hackers are motivated by malicious intent, manifested by personal gains, profit, or harassment; whereas White Hat hackers seek out and remedy vulnerabilities, so as to prevent Black Hats from taking advantage.

The other ways to draw a distinction between White Hat and Black Hat hackers include:

Techniques Used

White Hat hackers duplicate the techniques and methods followed by malicious hackers in order to find out the system discrepancies, replicating all the latter’s steps to find out how a system attack occurred or may occur. If they find a weak point in the system or network, they report it immediately and fix the flaw.

Legality

Even though White Hat hacking follows the same techniques and methods as Black Hat hacking, only one is legally acceptable. Black Hat hackers break the law by penetrating systems without consent.

Ownership

White Hat hackers are employed by organizations to penetrate their systems and detect security issues. Black hat hackers neither own the system nor work for someone who owns it.

After understanding what is ethical hacking, the types of ethical hackers, and knowing the difference between white-hat and black-hat hackers, let's have a look at the ethical hacker roles and responsibilities.

What are the Roles and Responsibilities of an Ethical Hacker?

Ethical Hackers must follow certain guidelines in order to perform hacking legally. A good hacker knows his or her responsibility and adheres to all of the ethical guidelines. Here are the most important rules of Ethical Hacking:

An ethical hacker must seek authorization from the organization that owns the system. Hackers should obtain complete approval before performing any security assessment on the system or network.

Determine the scope of their assessment and make known their plan to the organization.

Report any security breaches and vulnerabilities found in the system or network.

Keep their discoveries confidential. As their purpose is to secure the system or network, ethical hackers should agree to and respect their non-disclosure agreement.

Erase all traces of the hack after checking the system for any vulnerability. It prevents malicious hackers from entering the system through the identified loopholes.

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Key Benefits of Ethical Hacking

Learning ethical hacking involves studying the mindset and techniques of black hat hackers and testers to learn how to identify and correct vulnerabilities within networks. Studying ethical hacking can be applied by security pros across industries and in a multitude of sectors. This sphere includes network defender, risk management, and quality assurance tester. 

However, the most obvious benefit of learning ethical hacking is its potential to inform and improve and defend corporate networks. The primary threat to any organization's security is a hacker: learning, understanding, and implementing how hackers operate can help network defenders prioritize potential risks and learn how to remediate them best. Additionally, getting ethical hacking training or certifications can benefit those who are seeking a new role in the security realm or those wanting to demonstrate skills and quality to their organization.

You understood what is ethical hacking, and the various roles and responsibilities of an ethical hacker, and you must be thinking about what skills you require to become an ethical hacker. So, let's have a look at some of the ethical hacker skills.

Skills Required to Become an Ethical Hacker

An ethical hacker should have in-depth knowledge about all the systems, networks, program codes, security measures, etc. to perform hacking efficiently. Some of these skills include:

Knowledge of programming - It is required for security professionals working in the field of application security and Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC).

Scripting knowledge - This is required for professionals dealing with network-based attacks and host-based attacks.

Networking skills - This skill is important because threats mostly originate from networks. You should know about all of the devices present in the network, how they are connected, and how to identify if they are compromised.

Understanding of databases - Attacks are mostly targeted at databases. Knowledge of database management systems such as SQL will help you to effectively inspect operations carried out in databases.

Knowledge of multiple platforms like Windows, Linux, Unix, etc.

The ability to work with different hacking tools available in the market.

Knowledge of search engines and servers.

Get skilled in Cyber Security and beat hackers in their own game with the Certified Ethical Hacker Training Course. Enroll now!

FAQs

1. What is Ethical Hacking and what is it used for?

A permitted attempt to acquire unauthorized access to a computer system, application, or data is referred to as ethical hacking. Duplicating the techniques and behaviors of malicious attackers is part of carrying out an ethical hack.

2. Is Ethical Hacking a good career?

Yes, it is an excellent career if you are interested in ethical hacking and cybersecurity, but it takes a thorough understanding of the entire IT field.

3. Who is best suited for a career in Ethical Hacking?

To become an ethical hacker, a candidate must comprehend both wired and wireless networks. They must be familiar with operating systems, particularly Windows and Linux. They must be familiar with firewalls and file systems.

4. What are common career paths for someone in Ethical Hacking?

Penetration Tester, Vulnerability Assessor, Information Security Analyst, Security Analyst, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Ethical Hacker, Security Consultant, Security Engineer/Architect, and Information Security Manager are common job titles in the field of ethical hacking.

5. Is Ethical Hacking legal?

Yes, It is lawful as long as it is done with the permission of the owner to uncover flaws in the system and provide ways to fix it. It also safeguards the system from additional damage performed by the hacker.

6. What are the different types of hackers?

There are three sorts of hackers: white hat hackers, gray hat hackers, and black hat hackers. Each hacker type hacks for a specific reason, a cause, or both.

7. What skills do Ethical Hackers need to know?

Information security and ethical hacking, reconnaissance techniques, system hacking phases and attack techniques, network and perimeter hacking, web application hacking, wireless network hacking, mobile, Internet of Things (IoT), and operational technology (OT) hacking, cloud computing, and cryptography are some of the key skills that ethical hackers must possess.

8. Why do hackers use Linux?

There are two primary causes for this. To begin, because Linux is an open source operating system, its source code is publicly available. This means that Linux can be easily modified or customized. Second, there are numerous Linux security distros that can also be used as Linux hacking software.

9. Can I learn about Ethical Hacking online?

Yes, you can learn ethical hacking online. You can start with Simplilearn’s free Ethical Hacking for Beginners course.

10. What qualifications do you need to pursue the Ethical Hacking course?

After high school, aspirants can pursue a Bachelor's or Master's degree in computer science, information technology, or data security to become an ethical hacker. Online platforms also provide a variety of ethical hacking credentials and certification courses.

11. Is an Ethical Hacking Course worth it?

Learning ethical hacking is useful at any moment. Make certain that you fully comprehend the principles and apply them appropriately. It has a wide range of job opportunities and pays well. There is no doubt that you will be saddled with a lot of duty, but such a solution is well worth it.

12. How much money does an ethical hacker make?

In India, the wage of an ethical hacker starts at INR 1.77 lakh per year and can reach INR 40 lakh per year. The bonus for this function ranges from INR 5,000 to INR 2 lakh, with a maximum of INR 5.11 lakh in split profits.

13. What is the difference between ethical hacking and cyber security?

Ethical hacking is performed by 'ethical' hackers who are legitimate or legal hackers, and their goal is to do hacking with the owner's consent and submit a report on the hack. Cyber Security, on the other hand, is controlled by Cyber Security professionals whose primary purpose is to protect the system from hostile actions.

14. How can I become an ethical hacker?

To become an ethical hacker, you must first master at least one programming language and have a working knowledge of other common languages such as Python, SQL, C++, and C. Ethical hackers must have good problem-solving abilities as well as the capacity to think critically in order to develop and test novel security solutions.

Become a Certified Ethical Hacker!CEH v12 - Certified Ethical Hacking CourseExplore Program

Conclusion

Ethical Hacking is a challenging area of study as it requires mastery of everything that makes up a system or network. This is why certifications have become popular among aspiring ethical hackers.  

This article has helped you understand what is ethical hacking, and the roles and responsibilities of an ethical hacker. Now, if you are planning to step into the world of cybersecurity, you can easily jump in with the relevant Advanced Executive Program in Cybersecurity certification, and you can advance your career in cybersecurity in the following ways:

Certified individuals know how to design, build, and maintain a secure business environment. If you can demonstrate your knowledge in these areas, you will be invaluable when it comes to analyzing threats and devising effective solutions.

Certified cybersecurity professionals have better salary prospects compared to their non-certified peers. According to Payscale, Certified Ethical Hackers earn an average salary of $90K in the U.S.  

Certification validates your skills in the field of IT security and makes you more noticeable while applying for challenging job roles.

With the growing incidents of security breaches, organizations are investing hugely in IT security and prefer certified candidates for their organization.  

Startups need highly skilled professionals experienced in repelling cyber threats. A certification can help you demonstrate your IT security skills to earn high-paying jobs at startups.

In today’s world, cybersecurity has become a trending topic of increasing interest among many businesses. With malicious hackers finding newer ways to breach the defenses of networks almost every day, the role of ethical hackers has become increasingly important across all sectors. It has created a plethora of opportunities for cybersecurity professionals and has inspired individuals to take up ethical hacking as their career. So, if you have ever considered the possibilities of getting into the cybersecurity domain, or even just upskilling, this is the perfect time to do so. And of course, the most efficient way of accomplishing this is by getting certified in ethical hacking, and the best way to do that is to let Simplilearn help you achieve it! Check out Simplilearn's Advanced Executive Program in Cybersecurity now, and join the fight for secure systems!

Find our CEH (v12)- Certified Ethical Hacker Online Classroom training classes in top cities:NameDatePlace CEH v12 - Certified Ethical Hacking Course 17 Mar -20 Apr 2024, Weekend batchYour CityView Details CEH Training in Manila 21 Apr -25 May 2024, Weekend batchManilaView DetailsAbout the AuthorBaivab Kumar JenaBaivab Kumar Jena is a computer science engineering graduate, he is well versed in multiple coding languages such as C/C++, Java, and Python.View MoreRecommended ProgramsCEH (v12)- Certified Ethical Hacker 10428 LearnersPost Graduate Program in Cyber Security 3065 LearnersLifetime Access*Caltech Cybersecurity Bootcamp 601 LearnersLifetime Access**Lifetime access to high-quality, self-paced e-learning content.Explore CategoryFind CEH (v12)- Certified Ethical Hacker Master's Program in these citiesCEH Training in ManilaRecommended ResourcesHow to Become an Ethical Hacker?TutorialThe Comprehensive Ethical Hacking Guide for BeginnersEbookThe Career Benefits of Learning Ethical HackingArticleThe Value of Python in Ethical Hacking and a Password Cracking TutorialTutorialThe Best Ethical Hacking + Cybersecurity BooksTutorialFree eBook: Ethical Hacking Salary ReportEbookprevNext

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Introduction To Ethical Hacking | Codecademy

oduction To Ethical Hacking | CodecademySkip to ContentMini Arrow Down IconLoading menu barLoading menu barCourseIntroduction To Ethical HackingIn this course, you will learn what it means to be an Ethical Hacker, and practice tools and techniques used to hack ethically.

4.44.44 out of 5 stars494 ratingsStart19,630 learners enrolledLevel IconSkill levelBeginnerClock IconTime to completeInfo Circle IconAverage based on combined completion rates — individual pacing in lessons, projects, and quizzes may vary1 hourCertificate IconCertificate of completionIncluded with paid plansChecklist IconPrerequisitesNoneAbout this courseHacking is a neat skill to have. However, such a skill requires great responsibility. Learn about the responsibility an ethical hacker have in this introductory course to Ethical Hacking. In this course, you will get a peek into what it means to be an Ethical Hacker, practice hacking ethically, and learn the tools and techniques to be an efficient hacker.

Syllabus5 lessons • 1 projects • 4 quizzesExpand all sections1Let's Be EthicalLearners will learn about ethical hacking and practice the hacking process as an ethical hacker.

Arrow Chevron Down Icon2Getting Started With Ethical HackingGet started with ethical hacking by learning what it takes to become an ethical hacker.

Arrow Chevron Down Icon3Evading & ComputingLearners will learn about evading techniques and the future of computing.

Arrow Chevron Down Icon4Unethical HackingBecome familiar with unethical hacking thru a variety of cyber attacks.

Arrow Chevron Down Icon5Introduction To Ethical Hacking Next StepsYou’ve completed your Introduction to Ethical Hacking journey. Now, it’s time to explore what’s you next journey.

Arrow Chevron Down IconStartThe platformHands-on learningAI-Assisted LearningGet coding help quickly and when you need it to speed up your learning journey. Our AI features help you understand errors and solution code faster and get personalized feedback.Mobile IDEContinue your coursework when and where you work best. With our mobile-friendly IDE, you can code right in your browser from any device.Portfolio Project AssistanceGet unstuck while building projects with AI-generated hints and quick access to our community resources.Integrated Reference DocsWith integrated Docs, you can get an explanation of a particular term or concept without having to leave the learning environment.Jupyter NotebookWork with tools professional Data Scientists use daily now that Jupyter Notebook is built right into select data science courses.Explore featuresProjects in this courseProjectDecrypt Secret MessagesPractice decrypting intercepted data using the command line to thwart Evil Corp.Diagonal A DenseMeet the creator of the courseMini Arrow Right IconMeet the full teamChecker DenseJonathan CheryCurriculum Developer at Codecademy, specializing in cybersecurityJonathan Chery is a Curriculum Developer in the Cybersecurity domain at Codecademy. He has a Bachelor's in Computer Science from York College, City University of New York, and a Master's degree in Computer Science from Northeastern University.Mini Arrow Right IconMeet the full team Introduction To Ethical Hacking course ratings and reviews4.44.44 out of 5 stars494 ratings5 stars63%4 stars26%3 stars7%2 stars2%1 star2%Checker DenseThe progress I have made since starting to use codecademy is immense! I can study for short periods or long periods at my own convenience - mostly late in the evenings.ChrisCodecademy Learner

@ USAChecker DenseI felt like I learned months in a week. I love how Codecademy uses learning by practice and gives great challenges to help the learner to understand a new concept and subject.RodrigoCodecademy Learner

@ UKChecker DenseBrilliant learning experience. Very interactive. Literally a game changer if you're learning on your own.John-AndrewCodecademy Learner

@ USAOur learners work atGoogle LogoMeta LogoApple LogoEA LogoAmazon LogoIBM LogoMicrosoft LogoReddit LogoSpotify LogoUber LogoYouTube LogoInstagram LogoFrequently asked questions about Ethical HackingWhat is ethical hacking?Arrow Chevron Down IconEthical hacking (AKA penetration testing) involves trying to break into an organization’s networks and systems to evaluate its cyber defenses. Unlike the malicious hacking you hear about in the news, ethical hacking is entirely legal and plays a big role in cybersecurity.

What do Ethical Hackers do?Arrow Chevron Down IconWhat industries use ethical hacking?Arrow Chevron Down IconWhat else should I study if I am learning ethical hacking?Arrow Chevron Down IconAre Ethical Hackers in demand?Arrow Chevron Down IconJoin over 50 million learners and start Introduction To Ethical Hacking today!StartLooking for something else?Related resourcesArticleRed Team ToolsLet's explore offensive tools used by red teams.ArticleData and Personal Privacy & the Ethical and Social Implications of Computing SystemsLearn about how programs have both a positive and negative impact on personal privacy as well as social and ethical implications.

ArticleThe Evolution of CybersecurityIn this article, you'll explore the evolution of hacking and cybersecurity.Related courses and pathsFree courseIntroduction to CybersecurityLearn about the fast-growing field of cybersecurity and how to protect your data and information from digital attacks.Checker DenseLevel IconBeginner Friendly3 hoursSkill pathFundamentals of CybersecurityLearn the Cybersecurity fundamentals that will lay a foundation for securing your technology and personal life from dangerous cyber threats.Checker DenseIncludes 5 CoursesChecker DenseCertificate IconWith CertificateChecker DenseLevel IconBeginner Friendly3 hoursFree courseIntro to JavaGet started with Java by learning about the basics of a Java program and variables!Checker DenseLevel IconBeginner Friendly6 hoursBrowse more topicsCybersecurityMini Arrow Right Icon160,906 learners enrolledCode FoundationsMini Arrow Right Icon13,269,852 learners enrolledFor BusinessMini Arrow Right Icon9,786,087 learners enrolledComputer ScienceMini Arrow Right Icon7,496,902 learners enrolledWeb DevelopmentMini Arrow Right Icon6,915,261 learners enrolledData ScienceMini Arrow Right Icon5,827,659 learners enrolledPythonMini Arrow Right Icon4,565,855 learners enrolledCloud ComputingMini Arrow Right Icon4,131,609 learners enrolledData AnalyticsMini Arrow Right Icon3,935,761 learners enrolledView full catalogChecker DenseUnlock additional features with a paid planProjects IconPractice ProjectsGuided projects that help you solidify the skills and concepts you're learning.Quiz IconAssessmentsAuto-graded quizzes and immediate feedback help you reinforce your skills as you learn.Certificate IconCertificate of CompletionEarn a document to prove you've completed a course or path that you can share with your network.See pricing and plansCompanyAboutCareersAffiliatesTwitter IconFacebook IconInstagram IconYoutube IconResourcesArticlesBlogCheatsheetsCode challengesDocsProjectsVideosWorkspacesSupportHelp CenterResourcesArticlesBlogCheatsheetsCode challengesDocsProjectsVideosWorkspacesSupportHelp CenterPlansFor individualsFor studentsFor teamsDiscountsCommunityChaptersCode CrewDiscordEventsForumsLearner StoriesCodecademy from SkillsoftCodecademy from SkillsoftSubjectsAICloud ComputingCode FoundationsComputer ScienceCybersecurityData AnalyticsData ScienceData VisualizationDeveloper ToolsDevOpsGame DevelopmentITMachine LearningMathMobile DevelopmentWeb DesignWeb DevelopmentLanguagesBashCC++C#GoHTML & CSSJavaJavaScriptKotlinPHPPythonRRubySQLSwiftCareer buildingCareer pathsCareer centerInterview prepProfessional certificationCompare to bootcamps—Full CatalogBeta ContentRoadmapMobileMobilePrivacy PolicyCookie PolicyDo Not Sell My Personal InformationTermsMade with ❤️in NYC © 2024 Codecad