Ethical Hackers
So, are ethical hackers legit? The answer to this question depends on the purpose and type of hacker you’re talking about. These hackers generally don’t attack their target without the company’s consent and they aren’t allowed to sabotage their targets’ systems. However, if you hire one, you should expect a well-written report detailing their findings and advice. But be aware that ethical hackers don’t always have your best interests at heart.
The most important thing to look for in an ethical hacking tool is whether or not it contains any malware. While many tools can be obtained for free, most of them contain malware and undocumented backdoors. Fortunately, you can find trusted ones online and take the course to earn your certification. Alternatively, you can start by hacking for fun, then learn how to become a certified ethical hacker. ethical hackers also keep an eye on new tools to improve their skills.
Unlike other hackers, ethical hackers also need to have access to sensitive information. Depending on the enterprise, this information can prove catastrophic. Therefore, it’s important to have a security clearance to enter this job. The clearance process includes a background check, financial data examination, and social media data analysis. A professional ethical hacker should be aware of any threats to the security of their employer. But it doesn’t stop there.
Are Ethical Hackers Legit?
Some ethical hacking projects can be very profitable. The goal of these projects is to protect companies against malicious digital actors. Nevertheless, there’s a danger that ethical hackers can be lured into lucrative criminal activity. While ethical hacking doesn’t involve hacking back, it’s still possible to leak information about security vulnerabilities before companies fix the flaw. Additionally, hackers can also get caught up in the lucrative criminal world of the dark web. In fact, dark web activities can be more lucrative than bug bounty programmes.
While the goal of an ethical hacker isn’t to hack the system themselves, they are hired by organizations to evaluate their IT security measures. They analyze which security measures are effective, which ones need updating, and which ones have vulnerabilities. And they report back to the company’s leaders what they’ve found. The information they collect can help the organization strengthen its security posture. Then, they can take remedial action when necessary.
While there is no uniform educational requirement for becoming an ethical hacker, some organizations will consider a person with a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in computer science or information security. In addition, many organizations look favorably upon someone with a military background and solid information security education. These people are not likely to be caught in the crossfire of malicious hackers. But the best way to prepare for this kind of work is to become an expert in a specific area.
An ethical hacker must be creative to find these human-related vulnerabilities. For example, an ethical hacker may leave a USB drive on a desk in an employee’s office with a mysterious label, or impersonate a pizza delivery person to walk into an office. In addition to finding these people-related vulnerabilities, ethical hackers must perform dumpster diving, as the trash left by a business often contains USB drives and hard drives. If you’re ever tempted to click on such a link, it could be a fake.