What Do Ethical Hackers Do?
To attempt to hack into computer systems, ethical hackers are compensated handsomely. It is frequently said that in order to excel at their jobs, these cybercrime fighters must "think like a black-hat hacker" — that is, they must comprehend a black-hat hacker's strategies, motivations, and mode of operation in order to prevent intruders from forcibly accessing networks and systems to commit crimes.
Ethical hackers generally engage in activities like penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and various tactics aimed at protecting their enterprises from cyberattacks of all kinds, depending on the requirements of their employers. This may consist of the following:
limiting access to and theft of private data by hostile attackers
identifying weaknesses in the networks and systems of their employer.
Types of Hackers
What is a White-Hat Hacker?
A white-hat hacker is a cybersecurity expert hired to identify attackable flaws in software, hardware, and networks, report on those flaws, and frequently assist in securing such weak points.
What is a Black-Hat Hacker?
The criminals are the black-hat hackers. They have a reputation for hacking into victims' networks unlawfully in order to disrupt operations, steal or destroy data, conduct espionage, or occasionally just cause malicious mayhem to show off their abilities.
What is a Gray-Hat Hacker?
When probing a system for vulnerabilities without malevolent intent and without the owner's knowledge or consent, a gray-hat hacker combines elements of white- and black-hat counterparts.
How Ethical Hacking Helps Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that the yearly worldwide cost of cybercrime will be $6 trillion by 2021; this problem will require multi-layered solutions to address. One of the most crucial approaches for stopping cybercrime, identifying the objectives and tactics used by the hackers, and thwarting their attempts to wreak virtual havoc is ethical hacking.
Both businesses seeking to protect their data and assets and governments seeking to protect citizens and common infrastructure from criminals are thought to benefit greatly from ethical hacking.
Demand for Ethical Hackers
It is simple to understand why there is such a strong demand for cybersecurity experts in general and ethical hackers in particular given the continual wave of criminality. By 2021, according to industry watchdog Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity positions open globally.
Common Careers in Ethical Hacking
Common job titles within the field of ethical hacking include:
- Penetration Tester
- Vulnerability Assessor
- Information Security Analyst
- Security Analyst
- Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
- Ethical Hacker
- Security Consultant
- Security Engineer/Architect
- Information Security Manager
lists the following skills as needed to pass the exam:
Skills required for this
- strong understanding of computer systems and networking
- knowledge of current security procedures for commonly used operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and Mac
- the capacity to break into systems or networks with permission in order to assess vulnerabilities
- able to take protective steps against malevolent attempts, including preventative, corrective, and remedial actions
- should be adept at recognizing and breaking a variety of passwords
- Understanding the stages and techniques of ethical hacking
- Understanding how to remove digital traces of network and system intrusions
- Recognize cryptography and encryption methods.
- Respect the code of ethics and behavior for professionals
- Know how to use proper evasion strategies and countermeasures.
- Should be aware of common cyberattacks, such as phishing, social engineering, trojans, insider attacks, identity thefts, etc.
Ethical hacker certifications
Professional qualifications are important in the job market for ethical hackers. The Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) accreditation from the EC-Council is sought after by many businesses recruiting ethical hackers, and is frequently the first cybersecurity expert can obtain. Various more well-known cybersecurity credentials include:
- Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
- Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
- Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)
- SANS/GIAC Certification