What is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking, also known as penetration testing or "white-hat hacking," is the practice of intentionally probing and testing computer systems, networks, or applications to identify security vulnerabilities that could potentially be exploited by malicious hackers.

Ethical hackers are cybersecurity professionals who use their technical expertise to simulate real-world attacks in a controlled, legal manner. The goal of ethical hacking is to find and report security flaws so they can be fixed before attackers can exploit them.

Ethical hackers follow a specific methodology, which typically includes:

1. Reconnaissance: Gathering information about the target to understand its structure and potential weaknesses.
2. Scanning: Using automated tools to scan for open ports, vulnerable services, or outdated software versions.
3. Exploitation: Attempting to exploit identified vulnerabilities to determine their real-world impact.
4. Post-Exploitation: Assessing the level of access gained and the potential damage that could be caused.
5. Reporting: Providing a detailed report with findings, risks, and remediation suggestions.

Ethical hackers work under strict legal frameworks and have permission from the system owner to conduct their tests. They help organisations strengthen their security posture by uncovering weak points that could be exploited by black-hat hackers (malicious hackers) or cybercriminals.

Ethical hacking is an essential practice in safeguarding sensitive information, improving network security, and complying with security regulations.