Ethical hacking, also known as penetration testing or white-hat hacking, involves legally and systematically probing computer systems, networks, or applications to identify and fix security vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them. Ethical hackers use the same techniques and tools as malicious hackers but do so with permission and for the purpose of improving security.
Permission-Based Ethical hackers obtain explicit permission from the owner of the system or network before conducting any tests or scans.
Vulnerability Identification They identify potential security weaknesses, such as unpatched software, weak passwords, or misconfigured systems.
Risk Assessment They assess the potential impact of vulnerabilities and prioritize them based on the risk they pose.
Reporting Ethical hackers document their findings and provide recommendations to improve security. This often includes a detailed report of discovered vulnerabilities, how they were tested, and suggested remediation steps.
Testing Techniques Ethical hackers use various techniques including social engineering, scanning tools, and manual testing to uncover vulnerabilities.
Compliance They ensure their activities comply with legal and regulatory requirements and follow ethical guidelines to maintain trust and integrity.
Continuous Improvement Ethical hackers help organizations continuously improve their security posture by performing regular tests and keeping up with the latest security trends and threats.
Overall, ethical hacking is a proactive approach to security, aiming to prevent breaches and protect sensitive information by finding and addressing potential issues before they can be exploited maliciously.
