What is ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking, also known as penetration testing or white-hat hacking, refers to the practice of deliberately probing computer systems, networks, or applications for security vulnerabilities. The primary objective of ethical hacking is to identify and rectify potential weaknesses before malicious hackers can exploit them for unauthorized access, data theft, or other malicious activities.

1. Authorization and Scope:
   • Ethical hacking is always conducted with proper authorization from the organization that owns or manages the system.
   • A defined scope is established, outlining the specific systems, networks, or applications that the ethical hacker is allowed to test.
2. Methodology:
   • Ethical hackers use a systematic and structured approach to simulate the techniques employed by malicious hackers. This involves reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, maintaining access, and analysis.
   • Various tools and techniques are utilized to identify vulnerabilities, such as network scanners, vulnerability scanners, and penetration testing frameworks.
3. Types of Ethical Hacking:
   • External Testing: Assessing the security of externally accessible systems, such as websites and network perimeter.
   • Internal Testing: Simulating attacks from an insider's perspective, often with higher privileges, to evaluate the effectiveness of internal security measures.
   • Wireless Testing: Assessing the security of wireless networks and devices to ensure they are not susceptible to unauthorized access.
4. Common Vulnerabilities Tested:
   • Network Vulnerabilities: Identifying weaknesses in network infrastructure, such as misconfigurations, open ports, and insecure protocols.
   • Web Application Vulnerabilities: Examining web applications for common issues like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and security misconfigurations.
   • Operating System Vulnerabilities: Analyzing the security posture of operating systems to detect vulnerabilities and weaknesses.
5. Reporting:
   • Ethical hackers document their findings in a detailed report, including information on discovered vulnerabilities, their potential impact, and recommendations for mitigation.
   • The report is then shared with the organization's management and IT staff, who can use the information to address and fix the identified issues.
6. Continuous Improvement:
   • Ethical hacking is an ongoing process that adapts to the evolving threat landscape. Regular testing helps organizations stay ahead of potential security risks and ensures the continued effectiveness of their security measures.