Jon Baleva Feb 28, 2024
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Entrance Tips

10 Hacking Skills A Professional Ethical Hacker Must Have

An Ethical Hacker is a professional responsible for securing the online assets of an organisation. To maintain an organisation’s computers, servers, and other components of its infrastructure, an Ethical Hacker requires job-specific skills to prevent unauthorised access through non-physical channels.

“Hacking” is generally perceived as a harmful act of stealing passwords and data from digital services, computers, smartphones, tablets, and networks. While its meaning might be confused about using for malicious purposes, hacking can be used ethically, which is Ethical Hacking. 

Read Also : Why is Cybersecurity Important Now ?

What is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical Hacking is a legal hacking technique in which hackers use their skills for the defence or security purpose of their working area or agency. 

Companies that work online are at a greater risk of hacking. Therefore, all such companies perform ethical hacking techniques like penetration testing to ensure the safety and security of their company's websites. To determine the security and vulnerability of a company's website, ethical hackers have to compromise their computer systems.

Who is an Ethical Hacker?

An Ethical Hacker, also known as a White Hat Hacker, is a security expert who performs security assessments to find vulnerable flaws in an organisation's IT assets. 

Now, do you like to be an ethical hacker? 

Learn How to Become an Ethical Hacker  

What is a Certified Ethical Hacker?

A certified ethical hacker is a security expert certified in authorised, ethical hacking certifications. Some of the most well-known certifications you can gain are as follows:

  • EC Council: Certified Ethical Hacking Certification
  • Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) Certification
  • CompTIA Security+
  • Cisco’s CCNA Security
  • SANS GIAC

A Certified Ethical Hacker will be familiar with the latest commercial-grade hacking tools, methodologies and techniques used by hackers and ISPs or Information Security Professionals to hack an organisation lawfully.

Read also :Cyber Security Job Roles and Responsibilities

What Are The Top Skills Required For An Ethical Hacker? 

Having Ethical Hacking skills is crucial when considering several job roles related to protecting an organisation's online properties. The professionals working on these activities manage the particular company's machines, networks, and servers. Joining an Ethical Hacker course can help you scale up your career ladder and find better pay. However, you can also consider other cybersecurity courses that offer a lucrative job opportunity with a good salary if you're not looking for an Ethical Hacking Certification.

The question arises of how a person can become an ethical hacker, so let's check into some of the most important skills needed to become an ethical hacker.

Top Ethical Hacking Skills

Some of the most important Ethical hacking skills required for ethical hacking professionals to be a part of the future of cybersecurity are enlisted below ;

  • Networking Skills
  • Computer Skills 
  • Linux Skills
  • Programming Skills
  • SQL Skills
  • Hardware Knowledge  
  • Knowledge in Reverse Engineering
  • Cryptography 
  • Database Skills
  • Problem-solving Skills

Networking Skills

Networking skills are one of the most critical skills for becoming an ethical hacker. A computer network is an interconnection of multiple devices, generally termed hosts connected using multiple paths to send or receive data or media. 

Networking skills for hacking include understanding networks like Suoernetting, DHCP, Subnetting, etc. Having network knowledge for ethical hacking helps to explore the various interconnected computers in a network and the potential security threats that this might create. If an ethical hacker has networking skills, they will know how to handle those threats. 

You can learn ethical hacking skills and become a successful hacker by knowing network models, internet protocols, and IP addresses. You should also be familiar with routers, servers, clients, Transmission Media, access points, Shared Data and Network Interface Card, etc.

Computer Skills  

Hacking involves exploiting computer systems to locate potential threats. Therefore, having a firm and sound knowledge of computers is one of the skills needed for ethical hacking.  

An ethical hacker needs to be a computer systems expert. Computer hacking skills allow one to use computers and computer technology. To become an ethical hacker, you must have the basic knowledge of hacking. Having basic computer skills can help an ethical hacking aspirant be a successful ethical hacker. 

The basic computer skills include processing data, computer file management, and creating presentations. Advanced computer skills include managing databases, programming, and doing calculations in spreadsheets. Some of the essential computer skills are MS Office, including all its programs, spreadsheets, Email, Database Management, Social Media, Web, etc. 

Linux Skills

Linux is a free and open-source operating system based on the Linux Kernel. The source code of Linux can be modified and distributed to anyone commercially or non commercially under the GNU General Public License. The main reason why learn Linux for ethical hackers is its security. Linux is more secure than any other operating system. Although 100 per cent security is not guaranteed for Linux, it has some malware which makes it less vulnerable than any other operating system. Furthermore, it does not require any anti-virus software. Therefore, it is crucial to have Linux skills for hacking.

Programming Skills

Programming Skills are another most crucial skill to become an ethical hacker. Programming means “The act of writing code understood by a computational device to perform various instructions.” So, if you want to be an ethical hacker, you need to know the various programming languages used by hackers and the languages required for hacking. 

Which Are The Languages Used For Hacking?

Although there are many programming languages, all are not used for hacking purposes. Here is the list of programming languages used by ethical hackers. 

  • Python
  • SQL
  • C
  • JavaScript
  • PHP
  • C++
  • Java
  • Ruby
  • Perl

If you are not familiar with these programming languages, it is wise to learn them. Enrol in the Programming Language Courses to learn the programming language used by hackers or get better at programming. 

So, with the help of these languages, ethical hackers can quickly locate system and application vulnerabilities. 

Read Also: Advantages of Python Over Other Programming Languages

SQL Skills

SQL skills are essential to becoming an effective ethical hacker. SQL is one of the programming languages required for hacking. Also, SQL is a language used to communicate with a database in Cross-platform Web Hacking. The SQL injection is used to bypass weak web application login algorithms, delete data from the database, etc.

An Ethical Hacker needs to master SQL Skills for Hacking. They must: 

  • Learn how to perform a SQL injection against login
  • Learn how to include metadata in the SQL injection results
  • Understand the purpose of error-based SQL injection
  • Write the syntax to load a file into the web page using SQL injection
  • Demonstrate how to write to a file with SQL injection
  • Uncover tools that automate SQL injection attacks.

Hardware Knowledge   

An Ethical Hacker must have the basic computer hardware knowledge for ethical hacking. Computer hardware comprises the physical parts of a computer, like the central processing unit (CPU), monitor, mouse, keyboard, computer data storage, graphics card, sound card, speakers and motherboard, etc.

In contrast, the software is the set of instructions that can be stored and run by hardware. Therefore, if someone wants to hack a machine controlled by a computer, he needs to know about the device or how it works. Then, he has to access the computer that controls the machine. Therefore, having basic Hardware Knowledge is the key to becoming an ethical hacker first. If one doesn’t know about hardware, how will they know how the motherboard works, how USBs transfer data, how CMOS or BIOS work together, etc.? So one must have basic hardware knowledge also to become an ethical hacker.

Knowledge in Reverse Engineering

Reverse Engineering is a method of retrieving a product's architecture, requirements, and features from an analysis of its code. It creates a database of programs and extracts knowledge from it. 

Reverse engineering aims to speed up the maintenance work by enhancing a system's understandability and generating the requisite documentation for a legacy system. 

Reverse engineering is commonly used in software security to ensure that any significant security bugs or weaknesses are missing from the framework. It helps make a device stable, thereby shielding it from spyware and hackers. Some developers also hack their systems, known as ethical hacking, to recognize vulnerabilities.

Read Also:  Top Cyber Security Certifications for 2023

Cryptography 

Cryptography knowledge is another area an ethical hacker should be skilled in. Cryptography is the study and use of techniques in the presence of third parties called adversaries for secure communication. It deals with creating and analysing protocols that prevent the exchange of information between two entities by malicious third parties. Thus pursuing the various aspects of information security. 

Cryptography involves translating a standard text/message known as plain text to a non-readable type known as ciphertext throughout the transmission. An ethical hacker must ensure no leakage of contact between various entities within the organisation.

Database Skills

Database skills for Ethical Hacking is another vital skill set an Ethical Hacker needs. Database Management Systems or DBMS is the development and management of all databases. Although database systems such as Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, and Oracle are supreme in value, their security vulnerabilities have come to the forefront. 

Accessing a database where all the data is stored will put the business at considerable risk, so it is necessary to ensure that this program is hack-proof. To help the company create a powerful DBMS, an ethical hacker must clearly understand the Database and various database engines and data schemes.

Problem-solving Skills

An Ethical Hacker should be a strategic thinker and creative problem solver.  Apart from the technological skills pointed out above, problem-solving skills allow one to assess and find an appropriate solution to the root of a problem. 

Problem-solving Skills for Ethical hacking help to solve cyber attacks that have become more complex with the advancement of technology. Therefore, ethical hackers need to have analytical and critical reasoning skills to tackle these challenges. 

Problem-solving abilities and analytical skills are essential qualities ethical hackers require. In the Problem-solving skills for ethical hacking, an aspirant may have to learn new approaches to ensure that any security violations are carefully reviewed. This needs loads of tests and an ingenious penchant for discovering new forms of solving the problem.

Read Also: Top Cyber Security Jobs in 2023

Conclusion

The above skills allow you to achieve your desired goals within the available time and resources. As an Ethical Hacker, you will need to develop these skills to help you get the job done. Using these skills, you could learn how to program, use the internet, be good at solving problems, and take advantage of the existing security tools.

Read Also: How Can CISSP Certification Boost Your Cyber Security Career?

Locations Where Edoxi Offers CEH Certification Course

Here is the list of other major locations where Edoxi offers CEH Certification Course

CEH Course in Dubai | CEH Course in Qatar | CEH Course in Amsterdam | CEH Course in London | CEH Course in Sharjah | 

SENIOR TRAINER: NETWORKING AND PROGRAMMING

Jon Baleva is an IT professional with 20 years of experience in programming and networking. He is an expert in Python & IT Security domains as well as in Operating Systems (OS). He has trained professionals and students in IT Programming courses, Microsoft Azure, Linux   & MAC OS. He is also a writer who writes on tech-related topics for various tech magazines in Philippine. He is now an IT Trainer with Edoxi Training Institute, Dubai.

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