According to EC-Council, an organization that provides professional certifications related to cybersecurity, an Ethical Hacker is an individual employed by an organization and trusted to attempt to breach networks and/or computer systems using the same methods and techniques as malicious hackers. This ethical hacking activity is conducted with the permission of the requesting organization and, of course, without any malicious intent from the hacker or intruder, unlike the hackers we generally know.
So, what role do ethical hackers, also commonly referred to as white hat hackers, play?
First, an Ethical Hacker will conduct reconnaissance to find and gather as much data as possible. Next, they will perform scanning, ranging from network mapping to scanning for asset vulnerabilities. Common vulnerabilities found include security misconfigurations, exposure of sensitive data, and injection attacks from external sources. Then, they will conduct testing and provide a report explaining the vulnerabilities found and offering recommendations on how to fix them. It is important to remember that the role of an ethical hacker will be in vain if an organization does not take steps according to the recommendations provided to address the organization's security.
How can one become an ethical hacker?
An ethical hacker must possess skills, particularly in the field of computers, such as proficiency in scripting languages, expertise in operating systems, and a strong foundation in information security principles. Additionally, an ethical hacker should also have certifications to ensure their skills and credibility as an ethical hacker. Some of these certifications include the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification offered by EC Council, Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) Certification, CompTIA Security+, Cisco’s CCNA Security, and SANS GIAC.
Ethical Hacking vs Penetration Testing
Essentially, both use the same tools and techniques, but ethical hacking focuses more on identifying vulnerabilities in the system. In contrast, penetration testing focuses more on exploiting vulnerabilities to gain access to the system.