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Ethical hacking involves identifying security weaknesses in computer systems through penetration testing. This can include hacktivism, but with permission. Ethical hackers use the same techniques as malicious hackers to find vulnerabilities and recommend solutions to strengthen security. Ongoing training is important to keep up with evolving attack methods.
Ethical hacking is primarily used for penetration testing, which looks for weaknesses in a computer system to identify security problems. Some forms of hacktivism, political activism conducted through hacking, can also fall under the umbrella of ethical hacking. These cyber specialists work to address vulnerabilities to protect people and organizations from malicious behavior on the Internet and across networks. They can do this with permission and upon explicit request, in the case of penetration testing, although hacktivists typically do so without first obtaining permission.
In penetration testing, an ethical hacker uses the same techniques as a malicious person, which include scanning the system, trying to get information from employees, and so on. The hacker can fake attacks, plant fake files and engage in other activities. Hackers want to find out where the vulnerabilities are and how they can be exploited. They may, for example, be able to demonstrate that it is possible to enter information on a network or access confidential data.
The information collected during such tests can be used to strengthen security. This may include closing programming loopholes and training staff in certain security procedures. Businesses can take steps such as setting up rollover servers to take over in the event of an attack or building a robust detection program for denial of service attacks to stop them. Ongoing security monitoring can include ongoing ethical hacking attempts to confirm that the system is still working well.
Hacktivism takes many forms, but sometimes it includes activities that people may consider ethical hacking. For example, a hacker could successfully break into a website, database, or network and send an alert to the owners alerting them of the problem. In this case, the hacker’s activities are not performed on demand, but are performed as a public service. There are legal responsibilities for hackers who engage in such activities, as penetration attempts are generally illegal unless conducted on specific orders from a site, system, or network owner.
Identifying security holes and making recommendations on how to fix them requires developing a broad range of computer skills. Some people who work as malicious hackers may later turn to private security consultancy jobs, turning their expertise into useful applications. Others may take advanced training to develop the skills needed to perform proficient and extensive penetration testing. Because attack methods are constantly evolving, regular ongoing training to keep up with what hackers do, as well as their methods, is an important aspect of ethical hacking.
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