Basics of Ethical Hacking

Exploring how ethical hackers protect systems by identifying vulnerabilities.

What is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking involves legally breaking into computers and devices to test an organization's defenses. It's performed by security experts known as "white hat" hackers.

The Ethical Hacking Process

1. Reconnaissance

Gathering information about the target system.

2. Scanning

Identifying open ports, services, and vulnerabilities.

3. Gaining Access

Exploiting vulnerabilities to enter the system.

4. Maintaining Access

Ensuring continued control over the system to perform further tests.

5. Covering Tracks

Cleaning up and restoring the system to its original state.

Tools Used in Ethical Hacking

• Nmap: Network scanning and port discovery.
• Metasploit: Exploitation framework for testing vulnerabilities.
• Wireshark: Network protocol analyzer for traffic inspection.

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Ethical hacking must be performed with proper authorization and adherence to laws and regulations to avoid legal consequences.

Conclusion

Ethical hacking helps organizations strengthen their security posture. It's a critical practice in proactive cybersecurity defense.