How to become an Ethical Hacker?

Ethical hacking is a profession where hacking methods are used with good intent to help others and serve a greater purpose. If you are someone who wants to learn ethical hacking or if you are a fresher trying to pursue a career in ethical hacking, this guide is for you! So, let’s begin.

Before getting into any domain, the first thing is to learn about the basic concepts of the subject or domain. The same holds true for ethical hacking. Ethical Hacking is an approach to defending system and network security by exploiting existing vulnerabilities of the same. Ethical hackers strengthen systems and network security by identifying weaknesses and rectifying them with appropriate countermeasures. Ethical hackers follow the same techniques as the notorious ones to find system vulnerabilities and fix them. Also, they offer their services only when they are lawfully employed to do so by an organization.

There is no one formulated way to become an ethical hacker. Depending on the requirement of an organization, they create a job description and look for skills in a candidate as per the same. But still, a degree in Computer Science, Information Technology, or Mathematics will lay the foundation of a career in ethical hacking. You will also need good problem-solving skills, the ability to handle pressure, and out-of-the-box thinking. To pursue a career in ethical hacking you need to have an attitude towards continuous learning and ever-evolving. On the technical front, you would need to have a working knowledge of programming languages such as HTML, ASP, C/C++, Python, Java, and others. Soft skills such as a passion for the domain, strong communication skills, flexibility, and innovative thinking also bode well for a suitable ethical hacker.

A career in ethical hacking demands a sound knowledge of programming language as it involves working on different systems on a daily basis. You should also know about operating systems such as Windows, UNIX, LINUX, and IOS. A vivid understanding of programming languages helps ethical hackers identify programming errors or vulnerabilities. It will also help in implementing security solutions where coding is needed and enabling automation of tasks along with other coding requirements. Thorough knowledge of the functionalities of operations systems along with the respective commands will help you a lot in your role as ethical hacking.

An understanding of computer networks and cybersecurity concepts is critical to a career in ethical hacking. An aspiring ethical hacker should be well-versed with basics as well as advanced knowledge of computer networking and information security. Some of these concepts include VPNs (Virtual Private Networks), cryptography, firewalls, and different types of cyber-attacks such as DoS (Denial of Service) attacks. There are various books, journals, and online courses available on the internet for you to learn about networks and security for the purpose of ethical hacking. These resources will help you gain command over computer security concepts.

Skills required to be an Ethical hacker

Computer Networking Skills: One of the most important skills to become an ethical hacker is networking skills. The computer network is nothing but the interconnection of multiple devices, generally termed as Hosts connected using multiple paths to send/receive data or media. Understanding networks like DHCP, Suoernetting, Subnetting, and more will provide ethical hackers to explore the various interconnected computers in a network and the potential security threats that this might create, as well as how to handle those threats. To Learn computer networking refer Computer Network Tutorials.  

Computer Skills: Computer skills are knowledge and ability which allow one to use computers and related technology. Typically, basic computer skills include data processing, managing computer files, and creating presentations. Advanced computer skills include managing databases, programming, and running calculations in spreadsheets. Some of the most essential computer skills are MS Office, Spreadsheets, Email, Database Management, Social Media, Web, Enterprise systems, etc. An ethical hacker needs to be a computer systems expert.  

Linux Skills: Linux is a community of open-source Unix like operating systems that are based on the Linux Kernel. It is a free and open-source operating system and the source code can be modified and distributed to anyone commercially or non commercially under the GNU General Public License. The main reason to learn Linux for an ethical hacker is, in terms of security, Linux is more secure than any other operating system. It does not mean that Linux is 100 percent secure it has some malware for it but is less vulnerable than any other operating system. So, it does not require any anti-virus software.  

Programming Skills: Another most important skill to become an ethical hacker is Programming Skills. So what does the word programming in the computer world actually means? It means; The act of writing code understood by a computational device to perform various instructions. So, to get better at programming, one will be writing a lot of code! Before one writes code he/she must choose the best programming language for his/her programming.

Basic Hardware Knowledge: Computer hardware comprises the physical parts of a computer, like the central processing unit (CPU), monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card, speakers and motherboard, etc. By contrast, the software is the set of instructions that can be stored and run by hardware. For example, suppose one wants to hack a machine that is controlled by a computer. First, he needs to know about the machine or how it works. Last, he has to get access to the computer that controls the machine. Now, the machine will have a very good software security system; however, hackers don’t care about hardware security, so he can play with the hardware if he can access it. If one doesn’t know about hardware, then how will he/she know how the motherboard works, how USBs to transfer data, or how CMOS or BIOS work together, etc.? So one must have basic hardware knowledge also to become an ethical hacker. 
 

Reverse Engineering: Reverse Engineering is a process of recovering the design, requirement specifications, and functions of a product from an analysis of its code. It builds a program database and generates information from this. The objective of reverse engineering is to expedite the maintenance work by improving the understandability of a system and to produce the necessary documents for a legacy system. In software security, reverse engineering is widely used to ensure that the system lacks any major security flaws or vulnerabilities. It helps to make a system robust, thereby protecting it from hackers and spyware. Some developers even go as far as hacking their system to identify vulnerabilities – a system referred to as ethical hacking. 

Cryptography Skills: Cryptography is the study and application of techniques for reliable communication in the presence of third parties called adversaries. It deals with developing and analyzing protocols that prevent malicious third parties from retrieving information being shared between two entities thereby following the various aspects of information security. Cryptography deals with converting a normal text/message known as plain text to a non-readable form known as ciphertext during the transmission to make it incomprehensible to hackers. An ethical hacker must assure that communication between different people within the organization does not leak. To learn the basics of cryptography refer to Network Security and Cryptography. 

Database Skills: DBMS is the crux of creating and managing all databases. Accessing a database where all the information is stored can put the company in a tremendous threat, so ensuring that this software is hack-proof is important. An ethical hacker must have a good understanding of this, along with different database engines and data schemas to help the organization build a strong DBMS. To learn DBMS refer to Database Management System (DBMS). 
 

Problem-solving Skills: Problem-solving skills help one to determine the source of a problem and find an effective solution. Apart from the technical skills pointed above, an ethical hacker also must be a critical thinker and dynamic problem solver. They must be wanting to learn new ways and ensure all security breaches are thoroughly checked. This requires tons of testing and an ingenious penchant to device new ways of problem-solving.