Ethical Hacking: Explore the Easiest Way to Learn It

There are basically two types of hacking: malicious and ethical. So, what is malicious hacking? This is a conscious invasive action, which involves the discovery and exploitation of vulnerabilities in a system or a network through the compromise of security with the intention of gaining unauthorized and illegal access to the system’s data and resources. Ethical hacking, on the other hand, is also known as penetration testing. Just like offensive hacking, it is also a deliberative and invasive action but it involves the legal and authorized discovery and penetration of vulnerabilities in a network or a system. They both may utilize the same methods, tactics, and tools to access the networks but the second one sets its objectives to find threats that the malicious (offensive) hackers will likely detect and use them in their personal interests or may lead to loss of data for an organization. In some cases, the losses can have huge financial implications.

It is important that an ethical hacker reports all vulnerabilities and weaknesses found in the course of penetration and intrusive activities. Any detection of weakness on a network or a system should be fixed immediately. The role of an ethical hacker is very crucial to the detection and prevention of the malicious hackers’ activities in an organization. The EHs must have the skills to understand the mindset of the malicious hackers and stay a step ahead of them always to prevent the havoc they are set.

Different Types of Hacking

There are various types of hacking and some of them are frequently occurring than others. For example:

• Web Server Hacking. These types of attacks are made on a back-end database as well as the applications on the network of equipment.
• System Hacking. Web server and operating system vulnerabilities are detected by the hackers and exploited. These include a buffer overflow and an un-patched system.
• Wireless Network Hacking. This type of hacking entails the penetration and intrusion into security of Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) of an enterprise.
• Social Engineering. This entails the human interaction of the attacker with the intention of manipulating the target to reveal or break standard procedures, security best practices, or protocols in order to access a system or a network.

Advantages of Pursuing a Career in Ethical Hacking

The ethical hackers are very valuable to their organizations. As a matter of fact, it is one of the most well-paid career paths in the world of IT. The reason for this is not surprising: you are like a savior in your company. Without an ethical hacker working closely, there is a high chance that your system/network may be compromised at any time. Some of the values one can bring to the table as an ethical hacker include:

• Prevention of data from getting into the wrong hands and being stolen or misused by the offensive hackers.
• Early detection of weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and capacity to fix them before a malicious hacker launches a damaging attack.
• Protection of systems and networks by having a good knowledge of the malicious hacker’s mindset and providing real-world evaluations.
• Gaining the respect and trust of the organization’s stakeholders, such as managers, investors, customers, and quality assurance testers, by ensuring that they are fully protected from the threats.

Apart from your organization, there are many other advantages that accrue to you as an ethical hacker. Some of the benefits you stand to gain by pursuing a career in ethical hacking are as follows:

• Professional Development

There is a huge demand for the experts in the field of cybersecurity. This is largely due to the increase in data, systems, software, and technologies that people around the world have access to, and which are potential targets for the offensive hackers. To heighten the risk, many individuals are getting connected on a daily basis through the use of various technologies. This has continued to increase the scope of materials that these malicious hackers can access. The truth is that there is a huge gap waiting to be filled by the expert ethical hackers in the marketplace and the employers are seriously in need of these specialists.

• Efficient Cybersecurity Expert

The cybersecurity experts have the capacity to understand the tools, mindset, and environment of the malicious hackers. This skill has increased their value in their organizations as they are very useful and effective in mitigating threats that may be launched against their companies. When you are competent in these areas, you will be able to take the relevant position in your organization, not just as a professional that identifies threats but as someone who understands the attackers and can prevent them from launching the malicious invasion.

• Regulatory Compliance

There are new rules and regulations that are clearly outlined in the General Data Protection Regulation. The rules have become sterner against the companies that accumulate private data without protecting it. When you learn all about ethical hacking, you can better understand these compliance, rules, and regulations that should be adhered to, in better terms.

The Easiest Way to Become an Ethical Hacker

No doubt, the available resources for learning ethical hacking can be quite overwhelming. It can be more demanding for the individuals who do not have enough time or practical background to understand the requirements of ethical hacking. Therefore, the easiest way to learn it is by going through a structured EH course. This is absolutely the best option for many people, especially those without experience. You can pursue the EC-Council CEH Certification Training to get access to various learning materials from the seasoned experts in the field of ethical hacking. You will learn the skills and knowledge required to pass your CEH exam to get certified and also function optimally as a professional ethical hacker. And the professionalism you gain will do you and your company a great favor.

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• Tags: ceh, ethical hacking, hackers, malicious hackers, threats, vulnerabilities