Every new invention comes up with good and bad consequences. The same is the case with the design of the Internet. Everything got interconnected when it came into being and became easily accessible. This gave birth to a new type of crime known as cybercrime. Hacking was one of its types.
It refers to gaining access to someone else’s digital devices like smartphones, tablets, and laptops without permission. It is done to undertake illegal activities like data theft. It can also be done to change and destroy information in the affected device by installing malware.
However, it is also done to help organizations safeguard their data from being stolen or misused. These professionals are known as Ethical Hackers.
What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking, as the term suggests, refers to the process of performing hacking with due permission. It means that the owner of the system being hacked is informed beforehand. It is mainly done for the government or business organizations.
This hacking is practised to detect potential threats to an application or a system. It helps an organization secure its data and identify the weaknesses of its design and is always done after proper planning and approvals and is considered legal.
Different Types of Hackers
- White Hat Hacker
White Hat Hackers or Ethical hackers are the people who are certified and have permission to hack a system. They have expertise in cybersecurity. They help organizations by testing their systems and identifying threats, vulnerabilities, and the presence of viruses and malware.
- Black Hat Hacker
Black Hat Hackers are unethical hackers. They hack illegally to blackmail the owner of the affected system regarding their data and get money.
- Grey Hat Hacker
This category of hackers lies in the middle of the other two. They perform hacking without permission, but it doesn’t need to be done for personal gains. Sometimes they perform hacking and inform the organizations if any vulnerabilities are found.
Process of Ethical Hacking
Following are the steps involved in the process of Ethical Hacking:
- Reconnaissance
This is the first step in the process of Ethical Hacking. It involves gathering all the information regarding the target system. It includes information about the organization, the host system, etc.
- Scanning
The next step is scanning. It refers to looking for the networks the target system is connected to and then identifying the ports and points from where the system can be entered.
- Gaining Access
As the name suggests, in this step, the hacker or the cybersecurity expert tries to crack the password and gain access to the target system.
- Maintaining Access
While the access is gained in the previous step, it becomes essential to maintain that access and complete the task. It is done by leaving a backdoor in the target system to access it in the future (if required).
- Clearing Tracks
It is the most crucial step in the whole process o Ethical Hacking. It involves clearing all the records from the target system that can help trace the hacker.
How to become an Ethical Hacker?
The job of an Ethical Hacker is fascinating as this field is witnessing several changes. At the same time, it is a job of grave responsibility because any mistake from the hacker will harm the organization. Therefore, an Ethical Hacker must be well aware of the changes.
To become one, you need to take the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification from the EC-Council. You can also take courses in Ethical hacking from other recognized institutions.
