Ethical Hacking
Learn how ethical hackers (penetration testers) legally find and fix security vulnerabilities before attackers do.
What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical Hacking (also called Penetration Testing or White-Hat Hacking) is the authorized practice of attempting to gain access to computer systems, networks, or applications to find security weaknesses — before malicious hackers do.
The key difference between ethical and malicious hacking is permission. Ethical hackers always have written authorization from the system owner.
Types of Hackers
- White Hat — Ethical hackers who work to improve security with permission.
- Black Hat — Malicious hackers who break in illegally for personal gain.
- Grey Hat — Break into systems without permission but without malicious intent, often to report vulnerabilities.
Phases of Ethical Hacking
- Reconnaissance — Gathering information about the target (passive or active).
- Scanning — Identifying open ports, running services, and potential vulnerabilities.
- Gaining Access — Exploiting found vulnerabilities to get into the system.
- Maintaining Access — Checking if persistent access is possible (backdoors).
- Reporting — Documenting findings and providing remediation guidance.
Common Tools Used
- Nmap — Network scanner to discover hosts and open ports.
- Metasploit — Framework for developing and executing exploit code.
- Burp Suite — Web application security testing proxy.
- Wireshark — Network packet analyser.
- Kali Linux — Linux distribution pre-loaded with security testing tools.
Certifications in Ethical Hacking
- CEH — Certified Ethical Hacker (EC-Council)
- OSCP — Offensive Security Certified Professional (Offensive Security)
- CompTIA Security+ — Entry-level security certification
- CISSP — Certified Information Systems Security Professional
What's Next?
Learn how attackers target the human element in Social Engineering, secure your personal accounts with Passwords & Privacy, or study threat payloads in Viruses & Malware.