What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking is the authorized and legal process of identifying vulnerabilities and weaknesses in computer systems, networks, or applications. Ethical hackers, also known as "white-hat hackers," use the same tools, techniques, and methodologies as malicious hackers but with permission to improve security.
Objectives of Ethical Hacking:
Prevent Security Breaches: Identify vulnerabilities before malicious actors can exploit them.
Strengthen Systems: Provide recommendations to fortify system security.
Ensure Compliance: Assist organizations to be in compliance with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, and PCI DSS.
Protect Sensitive Data: Protect personal, financial, or intellectual property against cyber threats.
Ethical Hacking Types:
Web Application Hacking: Discover security vulnerabilities in web applications
Network Hacking: Assessing and testing the network infrastructure
System Hacking: Access the operating system to uncover security vulnerabilities
Social Engineering: Test human vulnerability through deception of an individual for confidential information.
Wireless Network Hacking: Identifying vulnerabilities within the Wi-Fi network.
Common Techniques Used in Ethical Hacking:
Footprinting: Gathering information about the target system.
Scanning: Finding open ports, services, and vulnerabilities.
Exploitation: Exploiting the identified vulnerabilities to assess the risks.
Penetration Testing: Simulating cyber attacks to evaluate the system defenses.
Reporting: Documenting findings and providing recommendations.
Tools for Ethical Hacking:
Nmap: For network discovery and security auditing.
Metasploit: Powerful exploitation framework.
Wireshark: For network protocol analysis.
Burp Suite: Used for web application security testing.
John the Ripper: A password-cracking tool.
Legal and Ethical Considerations:
Ethical hackers should have explicit permission before testing systems.
They should follow an agreed scope of work to avoid unauthorized access.
All activities should be within the local and international laws.
Skills Needed for Ethical Hacking:
Good Knowledge of Operating Systems: Windows, Linux, etc.
Networking Skills: Knowledge of TCP/IP, DNS, firewalls, etc.
Programming Skills: Knowledge of Python, Java, and C++.
Knowledge of Security Protocols: SSL, TLS, IPSec, etc.
Problem-Solving Skills: Ability to think like a hacker.
Certifications in Ethical Hacking:
CEH: Conducted by EC-Council
OSCP: Certification given for penetration testing, wherein one gets hands-on.
CISSP: Advance level certification for IT personnel.
CompTIA Security+: Entry-level security training.
Benefits of Ethical Hacking:
Improved security posture: Detect and repair vulnerabilities proactively.
Boost Customer Trust: By ensuring good protection on the data.
Cost Savings: Avoiding the financial repercussions due to security breaches.
Adherence to Compliance and Risk Management: Helps in regulatory adherence.
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