Learn Ethical Hacking (Posted by Astalavista)
People and companies alike are becoming more involved with using the Internet as their means of communication and for data storage and sharing. The sheer amount of information on the Internet has increased the need for ethical hacking experts who will be able to secure the data fromanonymous malicious people who are interested in breaching security for profit, malice, or even for fun. This article takes a look at what you need to do in order to learn ethical hacking.
What is ethical hacking?
Ethical hacking is the process in which a hacker does not try to break into an organization’s computer security for malice, but to determine vulnerabilities in order for these to be eliminated in order to enhance the system’s security. Ethical hackers work with organizations so that the security settings can be changed to make these less vulnerable to any breaches done by malicious hackers.
Ethical hacking training
A person who wants to become an ethical hacker will need to pick up a certain skill set before he or she can actually practice ethical hacking. While there are those who became involved in ethical hacking through practice (with some of them actually being reformed hackers), there are now more people who are receiving proper training in order to learn how to use ethical hacking tools.
Some of the things that you will learn when you are being trained in ethical hacking are:
IT. Ethical hackers will need to have IT know-how in order to do their job effectively. Programming skills are especially important, and someone who does ethical hacking will need to be acquainted with several programming languages, including but not limited to HTML, Java, and C++. They should also need to familiarize themselves with the various kinds of operating systems, and should have in-depth knowledge about both computer hardware and software. Students will also be taught how to troubleshoot computers, as well as what they need to do should a system become infected with a computer virus or some other kind of malware.
Security. Security is an integral part in the training in ethical hacking, since ethical hackers will be highly involved in ensuring computer security. They will need to be trained in vulnerability testing so that they will be able to identify if a computer’s security system has any weaknesses. Students will also be taught how to hack systems as well, so that they will know what to expect and how to counter hacking attacks.
Ethics. While you will be taught hard skills, you will also need to receive training in the ethics of hacking, an integral part of which is the laws in hacking. This is particularly important because of the fact that some states do not distinguish between malicious hacking and ethical hacking, and you can get prosecuted if you stepped the line between the two. Furthermore, companies will be putting a lot in your hands when they entrust their security to you, so you will need to learn proper ethics so that you will be able to do your job properly.
Other skills. While this cannot actually be trained, it is vital for those who want to become involved in ethical hacking to have a high level of patience and alertness. Malicious hackers are very patient individuals, able to wait even for months while they monitor the activities and the systems of their intended victims. As such, ethical hackers need to be always on the alert for any possibilities of breach to make sure that the network is still secure. Those involved in ethical hacking also need to be prepared to think outside the box. Hackers are extraordinarily creative people and can find so many ways in which they can penetrate the system, which is why ethical hackers will need to match them wit for wit in order to keep the system secure.
The training can be a full-fledged college course, or it could just be an intensive course that runs for a span of a few days to a few weeks. However, training isn’t your last stop in order to become an ethical hacker, as a person who is interested in ethical hacking will also need to get certified before he or she can practice in the profession. The CEH certifies ethical hackers, and it also provides training modules that give ethical hacking experts updated information on how they can do their job more efficiently.
Ethical hacking will require a lot of skills from those who want to get involved in this line of work, and those who will be working officially as ethical hackers will need to get licensed before they can practice in this profession. Even so, the high demand for ethical hackers as well as the potential for earning a high salary has made a lot of people interested in receiving training in ethical hacking.
Guest Posting By Astalavista (www.astalavista.com)