Since we had been introduced to computers and related terms, the word “Hacking” has always intrigued our curious minds. Guys wearing hoodies, sittings inside dark rooms in front of multiple screens, and dancing their fingers on a keyboard to gain access to confidential data as shown in movies had too fueled up the curiosity.
But what exactly is hacking, and what does the term ethical hacking mean? Let us find out:
Hacking
In simple words, hacking refers to identifying digital flaws inside a computer system or a network to mend or exploit the crack and access confidential data for malicious activities. Petty things such as hit-and-trial to guess the password of your friend’s phone and having a look inside it is also hacking.
Types of hacking
Hacking can be categorized mainly into three types depending on the intent of the hacker:
Black Hat Hacking:
Also named as Cracking, black hat hackers try to get their hands on personal and confidential data illegally, either for their benefits or criminal activities. It is a criminal offense that could lead you behind bars if proven guilty.
White Hat Hacking:
These types of hackers are either employed by an organization or hack into the systems personally with proper permission from the rightful owner. They then report the cracks to the authority for mending and get monetary benefits or salary, depending on their employment status.
Commonly known as Ethical Hackers, they maintain the security of systems and the networks for good. In this article, we will discuss Ethical Hacking further.
Grey Hat Hacking:
Hovering between the above two types, a grey hat hacker breaks into the systems to detect a weakness without permission, if present, and report it to the authority for inspection and amendments.
Ethical Hacking
Since we have already discussed who the Ethical Hackers are, let us jump straight into what White Hat Hackers, also known as Penetration testers or Pen testers, do:
- Discover vulnerabilities or weaknesses in the software which are more prone to attacks.
- Derive a proper plan of action and make the plan known to the security head of the organization.
- Make the system bear attacks from every possible aspect, and if found giving up, report it to the authority, keeping in mind the confidentiality.
- Lastly, after the amendments have been made, remove all the digital footprints that might work as a compass for malicious hackers.
Skills required to be an Ethical Hacker
For being called an Ethical Hacker, you must know about the following domains:
- Basics of Computer Science and Computer Networks.
- Knowledge of Operating Systems such as Linux.
- A programming language, for example, C++ or Java.
- Extensive information on Data Security.
Apart from that, getting the certifications mentioned below also helps to uplift your CV as an Ethical Hacker:
- EC Council: Certified Ethical Hacking Certification
- Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) Certification
- Cisco’s CCNA Security
- SANS GIAC
Future Prospects:
With a new attack every 37 seconds, and the average cost of a data breach reaching as high as $150 million, companies are investing big in it, increasing the demand for Ethical Hackers throughout the world. By 2021, the unfulfilled Cybersecurity jobs will cross the 3.5 million globally, portraying a clear picture of how bright the prospects are.
Even if we keep the lucrative internship and job opportunities in companies, and prestigious organizations such as ISRO and CyberCell, with an average package of 6 LPA, soaring as high as 19 LPA apart, we still are left with many other options.
Being a freelancer in this field sounds excellent for those who yearn to play with challenges. One can move on from one software to another, try to hack in, of course, with permissions, and receive massive rewards if successful.
Bug Bounty Program offered by firms such as Microsoft, Apple, Facebook, Uber, and many others also provide opportunities to increase the bank balance count after successful threat detection.
