Ethical hackers, also known as white hats or simply white hackers, play a key role in cybersecurity. They use their skills to identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks in order to fix them, not to cause harm. In this article, we'll look at what the profession of an ethical hacker includes and what secrets it holds.
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Who is an ethical hacker?
An ethical hacker is a cybersecurity specialist who conducts various types of checks with the permission of system owners. Its main mission is to identify software weaknesses before attackers exploit them.
The key tasks of an ethical hacker
Pentesting
This is penetration tests to assess the security level of software, systems and networks.
Safety audit
This is an analysis of current security measures and the preparation of recommendations for their improvement.
Staff training
It includes training on cybersecurity for employees of organizations.
Development of a security policy
This is the creation and implementation of rules and methods to ensure data security.
What a “white” hacker should be able to do
To become a successful ethical hacker, you must have the following skills:
- To understand the latest technologies;
- Be able to program;
- It is good to know different operating systems;
- Be able to encrypt and decrypt data;
- Be able to work with digital evidence;
- Respond quickly to threats.
Ethics and “white” hacking: what is important to remember
White hackers must strictly comply with professional standards and ethical norms. Among them are:
#1. Always conduct tests only with the permission of the system owners.
#2. Keep clients' confidential information private.
#3. Do not harm systems during testing.
Fast facts about ethical hacking
#1 The first “white” hack was an OC Multics security audit conducted by the US Air Force.
#2 The idea of introducing ethical hacking to improve cybersecurity was invented by Dan Farmer, an American data protection specialist, and Witse Venema, a Dutch programmer.
#3 “White” hackers use the same methods as “black” hackers, but, of course, they are not punished.
#4 Ethical crackers are often CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) accredited.
#5 Sometimes “white” hackers are rewarded under the bug bounty program. In this case, they are paid not for the time they spend, but for each “vulnerability” found in the system.
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