How do ethical hackers support cybersecurity?
With the rapid development of the digital world, IT security is becoming increasingly important. Every day hackers try to hack into the systems of companies, government agencies and individuals. But not all hackers are malicious. There are professionals who use exactly the same methods as the criminals, but with one important difference: they work to protect themselves. In this article, we'll take a look at ethical hackers. We look at what they do and why their work is so important.
What does ethical hacker mean?
An ethical hacker is an IT expert whose job it is to conduct a thorough security audit of the client's systems and infrastructure.
What is an ethical hacking service?
It involves identifying weaknesses in hardware, software and network devices so that they can be remedied in time. Ethical hackers use the same tools and techniques as malicious attackers, but work entirely with the permission of the client and within a predefined framework.
Their work is not about harm or data theft, but about identifying vulnerabilities and strengthening defences. At the end of the testing process, they produce a detailed report outlining the problems identified and making concrete recommendations to fix them.
Ethical hackers often have multiple roles, such as IT Security Advisor or Security Analyst.
Types of hackers: what is the difference between white hat, grey hat and black hat hackers?
Hackers can be classified into several types, depending on the purpose of their activities and the methods they use.
White hat hackers (ethical or white hat)
Ethical hackers, as we have seen above, use their knowledge and skills only with good intentions, with permission, to protect systems.
Grey hat hackers (grey hats)
Grey hat hackers represent a category of hackers who, like ethical hackers, can expose vulnerabilities in systems, but often do so without permission. While their purpose is not always malicious and they often draw attention to flaws, their activities can raise ethical and legal issues. For example, they may disclose a discovered vulnerability before the organisation concerned can fix it, which can cause serious problems.
Black hat hackers (black hat)
Black hat hackers are malicious exploiters of IT systems. Their activity is aimed at financial gain or damage, for which they hack into networks. These hackers are the main source of cyber attacks and often use ransomware, phishing emails or other malicious techniques to achieve their goals.
Why is the work of ethical hackers important?
These professionals play a key role in cybersecurity. As IT systems continue to evolve, they are increasingly needed to help prevent damaging cyber attacks and protect the digital space.
- Vulnerability assessment: They detect vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them. This gives organisations the opportunity to fix bugs in time.
- Proactive defence: They help to anticipate potential attack patterns and thus prevent them.
- Compliance with legislation: Many industries require regular safety testing and auditing. Ethical hackers can help you meet these requirements.
- Protecting national security: Protecting public institutions and critical infrastructure is a top priority, where ethical hacking is vital to maintaining the security of national data.
The benefits of working with ethical hackers
Ethical hackers are not only a line of defence, but also actively contribute to making the digital environment safer. Without their work, modern IT systems would be more vulnerable to constantly evolving cyber threats.
- Data protection: Protecting sensitive information - such as customer data or financial information - is a priority. White hat hackers help prevent data from falling into unauthorised hands.
- Cybercrime protection: Patching vulnerabilities prevents malicious attacks such as ransomware or phishing attempts from succeeding.
- Building business trust: Customers and partners have more confidence in companies with a proven track record of protecting their IT systems.
- Reducing material losses: A cyber attack can cause not only financial damage, but also reputational problems. Ethical hackers can help minimise these risks.
- Continuous improvement of systems: Ethical hackers not only identify problems, but also make suggestions to modernise systems and make them more resilient.
The 5 stages of ethical hacking
One of the most important tools of the trade for ethical hackers is the so-called penetration test (pentest), which follows a specific process. These five phases help to identify and fix vulnerabilities in systems and develop defence strategies.
1. Reconnaissance (Reconnaissance)
This is the first and perhaps the most important step in the process, during which the ethical hacker gathers information about the target system. This includes mapping publicly available data such as IP addresses, domain names, network structures and technologies used. The aim is to obtain as much information as possible that can later be used to simulate an attack.
Detection can be active or passive:
- Active detection involves direct contact with the target system to obtain accurate and relevant data. However, this is more risky as the system administrators may detect the activity, especially if there is no proper authorisation.
- Passive detection is a more discreet method in which the hacker gathers information from public sources, such as online databases, without making direct contact with the target system, thus avoiding detection.
2. Scanning (Scanning)
The next step is for the hacker to interact directly with the target system to get a more detailed picture of its weaknesses. This involves techniques such as port scanning, network services analysis and operating system scanning. Common tools used in this phase are Nmap or Nessus, which help to identify possible vulnerabilities.
3. Exploitation (Exploitation)
At this stage, the specialist will try to exploit the vulnerabilities identified. The aim is to gain access to the system, for example to a user account or administrator privileges. This step helps to understand what damage a real attacker could cause.
4. Maintaining Access
Once access has been gained, it examines how the attacker could maintain access to the system in the long term. This may involve installing backdoors or keyloggers. This step is important because it helps to identify points where the system security measures need to be further strengthened.
5. Reporting and recovery (Reporting)
In the final stage, the ethical hacker will prepare a detailed report on the problems detected, the actions taken and a proposal for correcting the errors. This documentation helps the organisation to understand its vulnerabilities and develop an appropriate defence strategy. The report not only covers the technical details, but also provides practical recommendations to strengthen the defences.
Types of ethical hacking
Ethical hacking can use a variety of methods and approaches to investigate systems, depending on the targets or vulnerabilities you want to uncover. Let's look at some examples.
Web application hacking
Hacking to test web applications involves the hacker testing the security of websites and online applications. This includes detecting vulnerabilities such as SQL injections, XSS attacks or authentication flaws that could pose a threat to users and company data.
System hacking
This type focuses on identifying security vulnerabilities in operating systems and computer networks. For example, the ethical hacker will examine how well the target systems are protected against privilege escapes or remote access.
Web server hacking
In this case, the security of the servers that serve the websites and applications is analysed. The aim is to find configuration errors, outdated software or other vulnerabilities that an attacker could exploit.
Hacking wireless networks
When examining wireless networks such as Wi-Fi systems, the ethical hacker looks for weaknesses in encryption protocols, network access points and passwords. This type of hack is particularly important for increasing security in home and corporate environments.
Social Engineering (Social Manipulation)
This is one of the most difficult types of hacking to detect, where human factors are exploited. For example, an ethical hacker may use phishing emails or manipulation techniques to obtain sensitive information to test the security awareness of employees.
Training, pay and job opportunities for ethical hackers
The ethical hacking profession is becoming increasingly popular as the demand for digital security continues to grow. There are many training opportunities available worldwide, such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) courses, which aim to teach participants techniques for identifying and remediating vulnerabilities.
The demand for professionals in the IT sector is particularly high, which is why ethical hacker salaries are also high, especially for more experienced professionals. Ethical hacker jobs are available in a wide range of industries, such as finance, healthcare or government organisations where cyber security is a top priority.
If you want to keep your business IT system secure, contact us! Our services include vulnerability scanning, penetration testing and comprehensive cyber security consulting to protect your business from potential attacks. Ask our experts to help you take a step towards a safer future together!
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