On this page, I want to talk about a fascinating area of information security, which is ethical hacking. I’ll define what it is, talk about the three types of hackers, and help you understand the purpose of ethical hacking. I’ll also talk a bit about the career prospects in this discipline for those of you who are interested in going further with it.
What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking is the compromising of a computer system or network by a skilled professional in order to help detect and protect those same systems from vulnerabilities. An ethical hacker uses the same skills and tools as a malicious hacker; the difference is in the purpose of the activity.
A malicious hacker typically wants to disrupt a system, steal information, or otherwise damage an organization’s credibility. The key tenet of ethical hacking is protecting organizations, whether that means large businesses or government departments.
What Are The Three Types of Hackers?
There are three broad types of people who intentionally attempt to compromise systems and networks:
- White hat. These people professionals who use their expertise in compromising systems for defensive rather than malicious purposes. It’s critical to note that white hat pros crack systems only when they have explicit permission from the data owner to do so.
- Black hat. Black hats are people who use their skills for nefarious reasons. Put simply, they’re the bad guys of the hacking world. These people break into systems with the intention to destroy data, obtain lucrative information, spread computer viruses, or simply wreak havoc.
- Gray hat. Gray hats occupy an interesting in-between point on this spectrum. These people are generally very curious about the tools and technologies people use to compromise a system. They might target a particular organization, not with the intention of causing harm, but with the intention of highlighting a flaw in the victim’s info security posture. Gray hats are unpaid, and they hack into systems without permission, which is why we can say they occupy a gray area between malicious and ethical.
It’s worth noting that ethical hackers fall into the white hat category when currently employed. However, it’s often the case that organizations recruit professional system crackers who’ve previously operated as gray hats.
What is the Use of Ethical Hacking?
When hired by an organization, the ethical hacker first asks for clarification on what systems and information the organization deems critical and necessary to protect. The professional also needs to know what resources the organization wants to commit to this protection.
Often there’s a mismatch between resource allocation and the level of protection needed to guard information assets. The hacker plans penetration tests around the assets of importance. The person then uses the same tools and processes as a black hat would to find loopholes and breach systems. The person then compiles a penetration test report, which includes screenshots and a summary of the key risks.
Based on the pen test report, the organization can put measures in place to mitigate the risks highlighted by an ethical hacker. After establishing these countermeasures, the pen test can be repeated to make sure nothing is missed.
Are Ethical Hackers in Demand?
As much as you can say cybersecurity, in general, is a growing field, then yes, ethical hacking is an in-demand career. It’s worth noting that cracking a system is a specialized skill that not many people possess. It is also pertinent that cyber attacks continue to grow in volume and sophistication. Governments and large businesses need specialized professionals to find flaws in their systems and help rectify them before a black hat finds them.
Salaries for certified ethical hackers vary considerably due to factors like location, experience, and skillset. On average, you can expect to earn $71,000 if you opt for this career path.
Large organizations should definitely consider hiring a good certified ethical hacker as part of improving their IT security defenses. These skills will only become more important as malicious attacks continue to rise and digital information becomes more valuable.