Ethical Hacking: The Proactive Work That Keeps Organizations Secure

You must have heared atleast once in your life the word "hacker" .This term once was used solely to describe someone who breaks into computer systems. However, many organizations now have ethical hackers on their security teams to proactively find vulnerabilities in the system and fix them before they can be exploited by malicious hackers. That’s right—you may be working with an ethical hacker right now! The mission of ethical hacking is to remove malware from a computer after it has been approved by the owner of the IT asset.

What Is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking is the practice of gaining unauthorized access to computer systems and networks with the permission of the owner or organization. The goal of ethical hacking is to find vulnerabilities and weaknesses in systems before malicious hackers do. This proactive work helps to improve an organization's security posture. Ethical hackers use the same tools and techniques as malicious hackers, but with prior approval from the organization or owner of the IT asset.

An Overview of Ethical Hacking Techniques

Ethical hacking is a process in which security experts use the same tools and techniques as malicious hackers, but with prior approval from the organization or owner of the IT asset. The goal of ethical hacking is to improve an organization's security posture, not to damage or steal information. Common ethical hacking techniques include network mapping, port scanning, and vulnerability assessment. By understanding how malicious hackers can exploit weaknesses in an organization's systems, ethical hackers can help to prevent future attacks.

When Should You Engage in a Security Assessment?

Organizations should engage in security assessments when they want to identify potential vulnerabilities and reduce the risks of being hacked. Ethical hackers are security experts who can help organizations achieve these goals. With prior approval from the organization or owner of the IT asset, ethical hackers will use the same tools and techniques as malicious hackers, but with the goal of improving security. Ethical hacking can help organizations to improve their security posture and prevent attacks. As a result, it is becoming an increasingly popular tool for business owners.

How Can You Protect Yourself From Malicious Hackers?

Ethical hacking is the proactive work that helps keep organizations secure from malicious hackers. As a security expert, ethical hackers perform security assessments to identify vulnerabilities in an organization's systems. With prior approval from the organization or owner of the IT asset, ethical hackers can help to improve an organization's security posture. Here are some tips to protect yourself from malicious hackers.

 - Use strong passwords and change them often. 

- Install antivirus software on your computer and update it regularly. 

- Disable macros in Microsoft Office if you don't need them. 

- Be protective about clicking links or downloading attachments from unknown sources.

Why organizations need ethical hackers

Ethical hackers, also known as white hat hackers, are information security experts who use their skills to penetration test an organization's IT assets. This is done with prior approval from the organization, and with the goal of improving the security posture of the company. Ethical hacking helps to find vulnerabilities in systems before malicious hackers (black hat hackers) can exploit them. In this way, ethical hacking is a proactive measure that can help keep organizations secure. It is often necessary for those that wish to become ethical hackers to complete some type of training program or certification course. These programs provide individuals with the knowledge they need in order to perform these assessments on behalf of companies and organizations.