You may have heard of ethical hacking or “white-hat” hacking. It’s an increasingly widely utilized way to help companies uncover vulnerabilities that hackers may exploit later.

So, how does ethical hacking work and how can one get started? Let's find out.

How Does Ethical Hacking Work?

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Ethical hacking occurs when a person receives permission to attempt to break into an app or system or steal data. The individual mimics the efforts a malicious hacker would likely make. They then provide a report of identified vulnerabilities and suggested steps for remediation.

An ethical hacker must always operate within the scope specified by the client or another party who authorized the exercise. For example, a company may say certain parts of the infrastructure are off-limits or require the hacker to sign a non-disclosure agreement before beginning.

There’s also educational ethical hacking. People who participate in it register to use websites specifically set up to hack. As they do that, they learn skills to later apply towards a cybersecurity career if they desire.

How Do Companies and Agencies Use Ethical Hacking?

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People often discuss ethical hacking and cybersecurity in the same conversations because they recognize the connections between the two topics. Hiring an ethical hacker is only one step to take to strengthen an online infrastructure against future attacks. However, it’s often a vital one that alerts people to issues they can fix before it’s too late.

In 2021, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) launched a program with the help of Bugcrowd that lets ethical hackers find and report cybersecurity issues to federal agencies. However, people must follow the rules of engagement posted by the respective bodies.

In 2019, Apple had an invite-only program that tasked ethical hackers with finding iPhone vulnerabilities. Later, it allowed all ethical hackers to take part. The person who discovered the most flaws received a $1.5 million reward.

Some companies also run ethical hacking events where people gather and work in teams to uncover issues with a system. These are competition-style events, such as Pwn2Own, which company representatives often attend, seeking to hire new cybersecurity employees.

Why Is Ethical Hacking Becoming More Necessary?

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By this point, you might wonder: what can I do with ethical hacking? One option is to help company leaders improve internet security and avoid breaches. People in the corporate sector and elsewhere are increasingly concerned with taking cybersecurity seriously.

New laws and proposals continually endeavor to tackle known issues and require more accountability. For instance, the Water Quality Accountability Act for New Jersey ensures that water companies develop cybersecurity programs and mitigate the associated risks. President Biden also signed the K-12 Cybersecurity Act into law in October 2021, which aims to improve the internet security of the nation’s pre-college educational institutions.

In addition to this, ethical hackers can also play important roles in helping various sectors tighten their cybersecurity to meet regulatory requirements.

You may even find ethical hacking job opportunities from private citizens. Consider a case where a wealthy or famous family wants to install a smart gate and other connected security measures. They might hire you first to verify the products are as secure as manufacturers claim.

Getting Started With Ethical Hacking

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Some people may think ethical hacking sounds appealing but worry they waited until too late in life to pursue it. You can learn basic ethical hacking techniques at any age. After that, consider enrolling in an ethical hacking course.

Here are a few possibilities:

  1. Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch: This is an online course from Udemy, with the content last updated in February 2022 at the time of writing.
  2. Kennesaw State University’s Ethical Hacker Certificate: This online course includes an exam for completion. Students have six months to finish the material and can begin and access the coursework at any time.
  3. SUNY Delhi’s Online Ethical Hacker Course: This option teaches learners about topics ranging from SQL injection to application hacking. Learners can begin the course on their schedule.

If you prefer in-person learning, a growing number of community colleges offer ethical hacking courses. Alternatively, some people begin studying cybersecurity at the university level and later focus on ethical hacking. If that applies to you, consider exploring whether your institution’s cybersecurity offerings include suitable courses.

Will You Try Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking is a great way to put your cybersecurity skills to use without taking actions that could break the law or hurt your reputation. If you’re ready to apply your knowledge in ways that stop future cyberattacks, it’s an excellent activity to consider.