If you love computers and take pleasure in challenges, then a career in ethical hacking can be excellent for you. You will have the opportunity to legally and systematically break into computer systems and get paid for the work. However, similar to many other careers, getting into this field is no simple feat. But with hard work, you may shape a promising career and get much-needed job satisfaction. The best part is that ethical hackers are always on the side of the law, so you don’t have to worry about getting in legal trouble.
Who is an ethical hacker?
An ethical hacker, otherwise known as a white-hat hacker, is an information security expert who systematically and legally attempts to infiltrate into a computer system, application, or another computer resource. He sticks to its owners’ interests and their permission to find security weaknesses and risks that an unethical or black-hat hacker could exploit. To become a certified ethical hacker, you need to pass the Certified Ethical Hacker exam after getting the required training through a renowned hacking course.
Initially, the term hacker referred to someone who had an advanced understanding of computer and computer networks, who could probably do anything with and to a computer system. Over time, the media portrayed hackers as the bad guys, and thus, a negative connotation associated with the term surfaced.
White-hat hackers argue that “cracker” is the more appropriate term for the bad guys who break into computers for criminal purposes. Nevertheless, today’s more appropriate term is “black-hat” for those who hack with criminal intents and “white-hat” or ethical hackers for those who have to identify security issues in the systems. The more important term to understand here is “ethical,” as these hackers play a crucial role in predicting various probable vulnerabilities and security lapses in an organization before a malicious black-hat hacker can exploit them. But they do so in an ethical manner and the best interest of the organization. The ethical hackers use the same tools as the black-hat would do but have different intents.
The three different hackers
Although the word hacker tends to evoke negative connotations, it is essential to note that all hackers are not created equal. As mentioned before, black-hat hackers are individuals with relevant computing skills but perform malicious or destructive activities. They are now sometimes referred to as crackers. White-hat hackers, also known as ethical hackers and security analysts, are individuals with extraordinary hacking skills who utilize their knowledge for defensive purposes, for instance, protecting organizations from cyberattacks. There is another category known as Grey-hat hackers who work offensively and defensively at various times, based on the requirements.
How to become a certified ethical hacker?
To become an ethical hacker, you need to pass the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) exam from the EC-Council that tests the broad knowledge of the subject required for an individual to become an ethical hacker.
The Certified Ethical Hacker exam started in the year 2003, and since then, it has been an undoubted choice of industries globally. It is recognized worldwide and has been endorsed by governmental agencies.
The CEH exam is a computerized proctored objective exam in the English language only. You will have four hours to complete 135 questions. Some information sources mention that to pass this exam. A candidate needs to score about 60-80 percent. The actual percentage of answers that you must answer correctly varies from exam to exam and depends on the question paper’s difficulty level.
As the questions are quite challenging, it’s best to take an EC- Council ethical hacking training. You will master the tools and techniques used by hackers and information security professionals to defend organizations against future cyber-attacks. In these hacking courses, you will be equipped with the nitty-gritty of hacking and given hands-on experience so that you easily crack the exam and secure a high-paying job in cybersecurity.
With an increasing number of successful hacking incidents, ethical hackers are in high demand in almost every industry. Given the nature of the job and the skills required, the profession is rewarding with, at least, a six-figure salary and high job satisfaction. However, patience is the key to embarking on a career as an ethical hacker. It’s almost impossible to secure an exceptionally high ranking job and enjoy a high salary right from the beginning. That said, there is enough potential to achieve both quickly if you are good at it. So, make sure to get the right ethical training course and help make the internet a better place for everyone.