What if there’s a high-tech reputation of an old saying: “it takes a thief to catch a thief”.
This statement doesn’t fit in most IT fields but when it comes to Hacking, this is what ethical hackers do.
So what is ethical hacking and why do we need it?
Let’s break it down…
The Origin of Cybersecurity and Hacking Manifest
Opening with a dramatic Sound…
Users aren’t stupid… They just don’t care about their data. They don’t know how easy it is to manipulate them and stole valuable information that could lead them to both personal and financial loss.
With the extensive use of the internet and modern technologies, there is a massive challenge in protecting our digital data such as account credentials, banking data, and medical reports. To solve this, Cybersecurity is implemented.
We can define cybersecurity as the practice of protecting networks, applications, programs, and computer systems from unauthorized digital attacks also referred to as hacking.
The term hacker or hacking was coined to describe experts who have the skill set to re-develop the mainframe system by using bugs or exploiting weaknesses – Motivated either by mischief or malice.
However, not all hacking is bad. This brings us to the main topic of discussion, which is Ethical hacking.
What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking is a legal, authorized practice of bypassing system security protocols to identify potential threats and data breaches in a network. The company that owns the system allows cyber security experts to perform such assessments to find loopholes in their defense system.
Thus, unlike malicious hacking, the process is approved, planned, and more importantly, legal to appoint in an organization.
Ethical hackers aim to investigate the network for weak points that malicious hackers could target. For this, they follow different strategies, collect information, and analyze data to figure out a way to strengthen their applications. By doing so, they improve the security footprint that can withstand or divert attacks.
The key vulnerabilities include:
- Change in security settings
- Breach in automation
- Exposure to sensitive data
- Component and accessories protection
Read More: What Soft Skills Are Important For Information Technology Jobs
Types of Hacking
There are three types of hackers in security infrastructure:
- White Hat – The process in which you learn hacking
- Black Hai – The process involves security violations
- Grey Hat – Does the hacking illegally but doesn’t have intentions to steal data
Grey Hat, unlike White Hat, doesn’t have any attention to steal your data. They might break into your system or threaten you, but normally don’t affect your personal information or sell it for third-party benefits.
All in all, both black hat and grey hat hacking are illegal as they both constitute unauthorized access to the network or systems.
White Hat vs Black Hat Hackers
The best way to differentiate Black Hat and White Hat hackers are by taking a look at their intentions. White hat hackers seek out a solution for vulnerabilities or find loopholes in your security system to prevent black hats from taking advantage.
Black hat hackers are motivated to steal your personal data, harass you, or take a profit by selling your data to third-party users.
The other ways to draw a differentiation include:
- Legality
Even though the methods of hacking are the same for both white hats and black hats, the legal acceptance is different. Black Hat hackers break the law which is a serious crime.
- Techniques
White Hat hackers often follow the previous attacker methods by replicating the same steps to find how it occurred in the first place. If during the testing, they find a weak point, they report it immediately to the cybersecurity expert.
- Ownership
White hat hacking is often part of the cybersecurity job or is employed by an organization to penetrate their system and detect issues. Black hat hackers neither work for someone nor own the systems.
Ethical Hacking Benefits
Now that we’ve covered the basic definition of ethical hacking and shared how it differentiates from other types of hacking. Let’s talk about the scope and benefits.
Learning ethical hacking involves techniques that you follow to identify and correct vulnerabilities in a system. In fact, learning ethical hacking is more structured than being a cybersecurity expert.
Also Read: 8 Ways To Improve Your Cloud Security For Business
And we’ve seen the security trend change after the COVID pandemic. As per a recent survey, 64% of companies have experienced attacks on their website. This leads to the rise of cybersecurity jobs, in which becoming ethical hacking is the main skill.
There are tons of certifications, courses, and training available that can benefit those who want to train themselves in the security realm. Here are some of the skills required to become an ethical hacker:
- Knowledge of programming – It is crucial to understand the field of programming to work in the application security
- Networking skills – This skill involves the creation and distribution of different networks in an organization. You’ll be appointed to create a secure network, connect different devices, and manage it as per the company’s policy.
- Scripting knowledge – This requires professional dealing with host and network-based attacks
- Understanding of Operating System – This includes knowledge of platforms like Windows, macOS, Linux, and Unix.
- Understanding of database – Knowledge of running and implementing a database management system such as SQL.
- Knowledge of server and search engine
- The ability to work with hacking tools
What’s Next?
We’re sure, this article has helped you understand the basics of what Ethical hacking really is, what are the roles, and the key differences between white hat and black hat techniques. Now, if you’re planning to step into this world, then you can easily find plenty of opportunities.
You can start off by doing different certifications and courses that are available online. As per the study methods, it’s a bit challenging if your area of expertise is not IT, but if you have a passion for technology, then you can turn this difficulty into a challenge.