Hacking: An Overview
Hacking is a fairly broad field that includes a wide range of topics and has been a part of computers for about five decades.
Finding potential points of entry into a computer system or network and then successfully penetrating those points is known as hacking.
Hacking is often carried out to obtain unauthorized access to a computer network or system to damage the network or system or to steal sensitive data stored on the computer.
Most of the time, hacking is acceptable as long as it’s done to test a network or computer system by looking for vulnerabilities. This kind of hacking falls under the category of ethical hacking.
What Can Hackers Do?
Your personal and financial information is silently transmitted when your computer is linked to the Internet by malware that a hacker planted on your computer.
This is done without your knowledge or agreement. Or a cyber predator could be able to access the personal information you mistakenly provided online.
Both situations will allow them to:
- Use your account and password for the wrong purposes (pose as you).
- Steal your money or make purchases.
- Selling your information to people or companies who will use it for nefarious or criminal activities.
- Use, abuse, and ruin your credit.
But, in the case of Ethical Hackers, things are done for different purposes.
Ethical Hackers engage in a variety of tactics to protect their enterprises against various types of cyberattacks, including vulnerability assessments, penetration testing, and other tasks as determined by the needs of their employers. This may consist of:
- Preventing suspicious intruders from entering and stealing sensitive info.
- Locating problems in the networks and systems that their company uses.
- Assisting in the establishment of defenses to protect or “harden” such vulnerable points.
- By safeguarding data and assets, they help their company win the trust of customers and investors.
Types Of Hackers
Black hat, white hat, and gray hat hackers are the three broad categories into which hackers may be divided.
Although hackers are sometimes thought of as those who break into systems or networks and take advantage of security flaws, not all hacking is harmful or prohibited.
Hacking, in its most basic form, is just the use of computer knowledge to address a specific issue. Following is a breakdown of the various hacker types:
White Hat Hacker
A white-hat hacker is a cybersecurity expert hired to identify potential attack vectors in software, hardware, and networks.
They then report on those vulnerabilities and frequently help secure those weak points.
White hat hackers strive to find system flaws so they may be fixed and assist in increasing a system’s overall security.
They hack into systems with the consent of the businesses they hack into.
Many of the techniques, tools, and methodologies employed by black-hat hackers are also used by white-hat hackers.
Black Hat Hacker
Cybercriminals, known as “black hat hackers,” break into networks without authorization with the intention of doing harm.
Black-hat hackers usually have a vast knowledge of how to penetrate computer networks and get around security measures.
They have a reputation for hacking into victims’ networks without authorization to disrupt systems, steal or destroy data, carry out espionage, or occasionally cause malicious mayhem merely to show off their abilities.
Gray Hat Hacker
Gray hat hackers don’t necessarily have the same illegal or malevolent intent as black hat hackers, but they also lack the permission or knowledge of the people whose systems they are breaking into.
Though gray hat hackers don’t always completely exploit vulnerabilities they find, they do report them.
Gray hat hackers, however, can request money in return for full disclosure of what they discovered.
Differences: Hacker V/s Ethical Hacker
| Hacker | Ethical Hacker |
| A hacker attacks a network, system, or app to gather user personal information and has the power to edit, erase, or eliminate a company’s data. | An ethical hacker would attack a business’s network for all the right reasons, such as finding and fixing security weaknesses to safeguard the system, assessing a firm’s security practices and quality standards, and assuring the organization’s data protection rules. |
| Hacking is when you get unauthorized access to a company’s network or technology. Anyone found guilty will face harsh legal repercussions because it is totally forbidden. | The company has given its approval and permission to ethical hackers, which is completely legal. An agreement covers ethical hackers. |
| An individual, a group, or a government-sponsored cyber hacking team can all be hackers or cyber attackers. In either scenario, a hacker is after your credit card information to use as a means of payment or to illegally gain personal information to sell. | An ethical hacker is a full-time employee whether they work alone or as a member of a company’s cyber security team. He is assured income and all rewards for his efforts in protecting the company’s data. |
| Some of the talents required to be a hacker include in-depth knowledge of networking, a full understanding of operating systems, a strong grasp of network security management, and knowledge of programming languages like Python, JavaScript, C, and C. | The essential training that hackers acquire also applies to ethical hackers. You can seek credentials like the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) after acquiring some real-world experience and start working as an ethical hacker. |
Skills Required To Become An Ethical Hacker
The following list includes some of the most crucial ethical hacking skills required for ethical hacking specialists:
1.) Networking Skills
One of the most important skills for becoming an ethical hacker is networking.
In order to examine the numerous interconnected computers in a network and the possible security dangers that this can cause, network knowledge is helpful for ethical hacking.
2.) Linux Skills
For ethical hackers, Linux’s security is the key benefit of learning it. Operating systems vary, but Linux is the safest one.
Having knowledge of Linux is essential for hacking because it does not require anti-virus software.
3.) Computer Skills
Computer systems expertise is necessary for an ethical hacker. Exploiting computer systems to find possible hazards is known as hacking.
As a result, one of the skills required for ethical hacking is having a deep and solid understanding of computers.
Data processing, computer file management, and presentation creation are among the fundamental computer skills.
4.) Programming Skills
Another essential skill for being an ethical hacker is programming. It is hard to comprehend how systems operate and to identify their flaws without programming knowledge.
Python, Java, and PHP are the three programming languages that ethical hackers utilize the most.
5.) SQL Skills
Understanding and being able to construct SQL queries is perhaps one of the most important ethical hacking skills that can be acquired.
An ethical hacker has to be able to create SQL queries that can extract the required data in order to locate susceptible data in a database.
It would be difficult to participate in ethical hacking without this crucial skill.
Ethical Hacking Career Scope
In the area of ethical hacking, common job titles include:
Network Security Engineers
The integration, upkeep, and implementation of a company’s WAN, LAN, and other server architecture are handled by a network security engineer.
They ensure that the system is safe from all possible dangers, including bugs, viruses, assaults, etc.
These specialists are in great demand since they are needed in practically every sector, including healthcare, banking, education, and transportation.
Network Security Administrator
The network security administrator creates the network security rules and conducts regular audits to make sure they are appropriately applied and up to date.
By monitoring the network, these experts make sure to update the security mechanisms and stop any attacks.
Network security administrators make, on average, 6.7 lakhs per year.
Government/Private Firms
Governments need ethical hackers to stave off online dangers and terrorism. Additionally, there is the chance to work independently and for other businesses.
Penetration Tester
A penetration tester’s job is to access systems or look for potential security holes in various software and computer systems.
They carry out testing on networks, software, and computer systems. Penetration testers help to safeguard digital assets through their expertise.
Pros & Cons Of A Career In Ethical Hacking
Pros
- The market for ethical hackers is quite competitive.
- It is an unusual job path with a potentially high earning potential.
- Locating the weak points in the IT ecosystem.
- Being able to create a secure IT environment against external threats.
- Ethical hackers are needed to test the products of security IT companies and strengthen them.
Cons
- Even though there is a lot of demand, the hiring and selection procedure is quite uneven.
- The likelihood that the employee will be primarily part-time is very high.
- In order to pursue a profession in ethical hacking, the certification and successful completion of the courses must come from a reputable institution or institute.
- It is a very analytical and narrowly focused field with little contact.
- In India, there aren’t enough research facilities.
Certification & Courses
Once you have all the abilities necessary to become an ethical hacker, it’s crucial to receive a certification in the area to improve your chances of landing stable employment.
Being certified can help you become a good ethical hacker since certification examinations, like the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification exam, allow you to gauge your level of expertise in the field.
Certificates that can boost your demand in the cyber security sector are the following:
- Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator (CHFI)
- Offensive Security Certified Expert (OSCE)
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified Professional Ethical Hacker (CPEN)
- Certified Penetration Testing Engineer (CPTE)
- Certified Vulnerability Assessor (CVA)
- Offensive Security Wireless Professional (OSWP)
You may register for the best CEH V12 training from the top & recognized institutes to meet the requirements for these certificates.
Ethical Hacking Career Opportunities
According to recent data, just 32% of those working in the IT sector have specialized knowledge in defending against cyberattacks.
We may predict that the field of ethical hacking will increase, given the exponential rise of the digital economy.
Let’s look at some of the employment positions available in this industry:
- Security Engineer
- Penetration Tester
- Information Security Analyst
- Cyber Security Analyst
- Network Administrator
- Security Analyst
- Information Security Manager
Conclusion
The ethical hacking field offers several prospective career opportunities, particularly now that it is becoming more and more popular.
Job prospects for ethical hackers are sure to improve as the demand for cybersecurity grows by the minute.
To land a lucrative position in ethical hacking with an established company, all you need are the proper credentials and abilities.
Check out the CEH V12 training at KnowledgeHut if you want to master cybersecurity and develop a vibrant career in the field.
