Hacker and cybercriminal are terms that are frequently used interchangeably. Ethical Hacking A hacker is typically shown in the media as a criminal who uses their abilities for personal gain or, in certain situations, to help the main character in a film accomplish their objectives. This is seen in news articles, motion pictures, and other media. Though there were no ulterior intentions, the term “hacking” initially simply described a specific skill set, such as locating and taking advantage of weaknesses in systems, software, and human nature.
Cybercriminals and ethical hackers share much of the same resources, abilities, and expertise. But they operate inside the law, trying to do more good than harm to businesses and people. To learn more about Ethical hackers, check out our cyber security class online.
Key Concepts of Ethical Hacking
Finding security flaws and other openings that a cybercriminal could exploit is the goal of penetration testing and ethical hacking. An ethical hacker can assist the company in resolving these vulnerabilities before they are exploited to carry out a data breach or other attacks by identifying them beforehand.
To achieve this, ethical hackers mimic the instruments and methods employed by cybercriminals. An ethical hacker can determine whether a business is susceptible to a cyberattack and assist in addressing any security holes by having a thorough grasp of how cybercriminals carry out their attacks.
Problems Identified by Hacking
Several possible cybersecurity flaws in a business can be found by ethical hacking. Among the instances are:
- Vulnerabilities: Software frequently has flaws and mistakes that a hacker could take advantage of. In order to fix these vulnerabilities, ethical hackers can assist in identifying them.
- Security Misconfigurations: Computers and software can also be set up in a way that leaves them open to intrusion. A user account may have a weak password, or a firewall may improperly permit particular kinds of traffic to enter or exit the network.
- Social Engineering: An ethical hacker is also capable of determining how susceptible a company is to social engineering. For instance, they can attempt to convince a help desk staffer to give up a user’s password by mistake or send phishing emails to staff members.
How Ethical Hackers Differ from Malicious Hackers
There aren’t many technical distinctions between cybercriminals and ethical hackers. The most proficient ethical hackers have the same knowledge and skill sets as cybercriminals.
The rules of engagement and motives of malicious and ethical hackers are different. Cybercriminals carry out their assaults without permission and are usually driven by a desire to hurt their victim or for personal benefit. The owner of the system has given ethical hackers permission to test it, and they abide by an engagement policy that outlines acceptable behaviour.
Roles and Responsibilities of Ethical Hackers
An ethical hacker’s job is to assist a company in locating any possible security holes in its IT infrastructure. Among the crucial tasks that an ethical hacker might carry out are:
- Security Testing: To find vulnerabilities, configuration mistakes, and other security flaws in a customer’s environment, an ethical hacker employs their knowledge and expertise. The hacker might discover and use vulnerabilities throughout the evaluation to ascertain their extent and possible effects.
- Reporting: Following testing, the ethical hacker will probably produce a report and give it to the client. This will include an explanation of the systems examined, the methods employed, and any vulnerabilities found.
- Assistance with Remediation: An ethical hacker should, at the very least, provide suggestions for resolving concerns that are found. They might, however, go above and beyond to assist with practical remedial support or testing implemented remedies.
Limitations of Ethical Hacking
Enhancing an organisation’s cybersecurity through ethical hacking can be a highly effective strategy. It’s not a flawless solution, though, and there are a few reasons why an ethical hacking operation could overlook security flaws in a company’s systems:
- Scope of Work: The customer and tester establish the guidelines for the engagement when it comes to ethical hacking. An ethical hacker cannot find any security flaws related to a certain testing method, such as social engineering, if it falls outside of this scope or aims.
- Non-Destructive Testing: In connection with the rules for conduct, ethical hackers could also have restrictions on the kinds of tests they can run. It is unlikely that attacks that could hurt the company, its workers, or its clients will be allowed.
- Time and Materials: The time and resources available to ethical hackers to conduct cyber security assessments are usually restricted. They are therefore unlikely to be able to find every possible weakness in the systems of a business.
Conclusion One of the most useful techniques for locating and fixing possible cybersecurity flaws in a company’s systems is ethical hacking. It is best carried out by a reliable partner who is knowledgeable about the state of cyber threats and how to handle any security vulnerabilities. Check out the cyber security online course to learn more.
