What is ethical hacking and how is it implemented in companies?

It may sound contradictory, but companies hire professional hackers whose job it is to test the company’s IT security using ethical hacking techniques.

Ethical hacking is a an authorised procedure used to diagnose vulnerabilities in a computer application or system within a company. It involves circumventing a system’s security measures in order to identify any potential security breaches. 

Ethical hackers, therefore, spend their time scanning network systems to find their Achilles’ heel – that is, any vulnerability that cybercriminals could exploit to attack the system.

Stages of ethical hacking

Whilst every company and cybersecurity team follows specific steps to implement ethical hacking techniques, Euroinnova outlines the most common procedure:

Acknowledgement

This is a preparatory phase during which the ethical hacker must attempt to gather as much information (passwords, employees’ personal details, financial indicators, etc.) as possible on their own before carrying out a simulated cyberattack. Some software tools that can be used at this stage include HTTPTrack and Maltego.

Scanning

Once all the relevant data required for a cyberattack has been gathered, the entire system is scanned in search of any vulnerabilities or points of entry possible for a cyber threat. At this stage, network mapping tools, port scanners, sweepers and other tools are used to carry out a thorough scan of the entire system.

Access

What happens next is that the hacker make use of all the means at its disposal (tools, detected vulnerabilities, credentials, etc.) to gain unauthorised access to the system. The aim is to exploit all the vulnerabilities found by infiltrating viruses into the system, stealing confidential information, circumventing access permissions, blackmailing staff, etc.

At this stage, deceptive emails are also sent to the company’s employees to see if any of them take the bait.

Maintain access

An ethical hacker must not only be able to break into a system, but must also be able to to maintain that unauthorised access for a sufficient period of time to carry out their cyberattack in its entirety without users realising. The hacker continuously attacks the system with DDoS attacks or by taking control of the entire database. They also continue to steal the company’s credentials and data using Trojans or backdoors.

Disproving the offence

Obviously, after committing a crime, criminals try to cover their tracks. That is why hackers have always had to put the necessary measures in place to ensure that their identity and IP address remained hidden from the start to the end of the attack. To conceal their criminal activity, an ethical hacker may edit, corrupt or delete any values or files created in the process.

Ethical hacking techniques

We have already mentioned some of the techniques used by ethical hackers in their day-to-day work. Among the most common are the following:

• Port scanning: It involves scanning a system’s ports for services and applications that may be vulnerable.
• List: This involves gathering information about the system, such as usernames, groups, shared resources, etc., in order to gain a better understanding of its structure and potential vulnerabilities.
• Social engineering: This technique involves manipulating people to obtain confidential information, such as passwords, through persuasion or deception.
• Penetration testing o penetration testing: It involves simulating real-world attacks to assess a system’s security, identifying vulnerabilities and exploiting them in a controlled manner.
• Vulnerability analysis: Specialised software is used to identify potential vulnerabilities in systems and applications with a view to exploiting them.
• Security audits: These are comprehensive security assessments of a system or network that are becoming standardised over time.

The difference between ethical hacking and black hat hacking

In cybersecurity, ethical hackers are also known as white hat hacker (or a white-hat hacker), whilst cybercriminals are referred to as black hat hacker (or a black-hat hacker).

The differences between ethical hacking and black-hat hacking are clear:

• Ethical hacking is carried out within a framework of moral principles and the law, whereas black-hat hacking is immoral and classified as a criminal offence under the law.
• An ethical hacker’s motivation is purely professional, whereas a black-hat hacker’s motives are financial, ideological or simply malicious.

What should you study to become an ethical hacker?

Most ethical hackers have a very solid academic background in areas related to computer science, such as computer engineering or software engineering. These degree programmes provide students with a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of computing, including programming, networking, operating systems and IT security. Often, after completing their academic studies, these professionals choose to specialise further in cybersecurity through courses, certifications and other postgraduate programmes.

Although it is not a strict requirement, many companies and organisations value IT security certifications such as, for example, Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), CompTIA Security+, Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), amongst others, as an indicator of competence and experience in the field.

Furthermore, companies place great value on the practical experience working in roles related to IT security, where they carry out penetration tests, security audits and vulnerability analyses, and respond to security incidents.