Hacking often gets a bad rap but that’s until we look from a different perspective. The key word to note is ‘ethical’. Ethical hackers are the “good” hackers who help find loopholes in systems and fix them to prevent malicious attacks.
The best way to open doors to this career is – getting certified. But before getting to the best ethical hacking certifications, let’s see the skills needed to become a certified ethical hacker.
Become a Certified Ethical Hacker in 7 steps
Step 1: Get your hands on LINUX/UNIX
To excel as an ethical hacker, you must get comfortable with LINUX/UNIX. The best ethical hacking course will first teach you this. These open-source operating systems are not only essential for computer security but will also unlock a number of tools for you. Key distributions include Red Hat Linux, Ubuntu, Kali Linux, and BackTrack. Among these, Kali Linux stands out as a popular choice, tailored specifically for hacking purposes.
Step 2: Master the basics of programming
(Same drill like any other IT job!) You must be proficient in C as LINUX/UNIX systems are built with C. No wonder why C is called the “mother of all programming languages”! All cybersecurity training centers will first teach you programming if you are a newbie. Additionally, knowing some other languages can be beneficial too:
- Python: great for writing exploits.
- JavaScript: for hacking web applications.
- PHP: helps defend against malicious attacks.
- SQL: essential for working with large databases.
Step 3: Learning to be anonymous
Anonymity is key for ethical hackers. To avoid detection and protect your identity, you will have to master tools like Anonsurf, Proxychains, and MacChanger. This will keep you undetected from other hackers on the same network while you are working to secure a network.
Step 4: Understand networking concepts
A solid grasp of networking concepts is vital. There is a ton of stuff you need to know about networks, protocols, and tools like Nmap and Wireshark. Enrolling in a good ethical hacking training center will give you a systematic roadmap to learning all these. Here are some you can get started with:
- TCP/IP Network
- Network Masks and CIDR
- Subnetting
- Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP)
- Domain Name System (DNS)
- Server Message Block (SMB)
- Address Resolution Protocol (ARP)
- SCADA and Automobile Networks (CAN)
- Wireless and Bluetooth Networks
Step 5: Get into the Dark Web
The dark web, accessible via tools like Tor, is a part of the internet not indexed by search engines. While it can be a hotspot for illegal activity, it contains valuable information for ethical hackers. Understanding how the dark web operates is crucial to understanding the crimes it can assist in. As a beginner, all these might seem daunting. It is best to enroll in a good ethical hacking training center to learn from experts.
Step 6: Learn cryptography
The best ethical hacking certifications will test your skill in cryptography – the art of secret writing. As an ethical hacker, you should be able to crack encrypted information, like passwords. Essentially, you should have crystal clear concepts of encryption and decryption to be able to secure data and identify loopholes.
Step 7: Dig advanced concepts and try to find weaknesses
Once you have the basics down, get into more advanced hacking concepts – like SQL injections, penetration testing, and vulnerability assessments. Slowly, learn to find and exploit vulnerabilities in systems and networks. Tools like Nessus, OpenVAS, Nikto, Nmap, and Wapiti will help you do this. Ultimately this is how your daily life will look like once you finish any ethical hacking course and enter a job.
Lastly, 3 more things – practice, practice, and practice! There are no substitutes for this for an ethical hacker!
3 Best Ethical Hacking Certifications to Prove Your Skills
Want to stand out as a certified ethical hacker? No matter your goal – proving your skills as an ethical hacker or becoming an information systems auditor, these are the 3 best ethical hacking certifications to prove to recruiters that you are a lucrative catch in the market!
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification by EC-Council
- Exam: 125 MCQs in 4 hours
- Passing score: 70% or higher
- You will need a solid grasp of network infrastructure and protocols, Windows and Linux, encryption methods and cryptography, and be able to identify and exploit system and application vulnerabilities.
- Cost: This ethical hacking certification costs around $950 – $1,119
This is one of the most widely recognized credentials in the ethical hacking world. While it is a difficult one, a good ethical hacking course will prepare you for it.
Certified Information System Auditor (CISA) by ISACA
- Exam: 150 MCQs in 4 hours
- Passing score: 70% or more
- To pass, you will need a strong understanding of information security concepts IT system auditing principles, control design and implementation, IT management and governance, and risk management.
- Cost: This ethical hacking certification costs around $500-$600
The Certified Information Security Manager (CISM) by ISACA
- Exam: 150 MCQs in 4 hours
- Passing score: at least 450 out of 800.
- You will need a solid grasp of risk management, information security governance, compliance, etc. to pass it.
Cost: This ethical hacking certification costs around $415 – $575
Conclusion
The market is flooded with ethical hacking certifications, but to get certified – you will need the skills first. Ethical hacking is a completely skill-based job, as you can understand. Hence, you only want to invest your time and money in courses that will help you become a certified ethical hacker.
The major issue arises when you are a beginner and need a comprehensive course with a lot of hand-holding to understand the concepts. This becomes difficult because there are very less beginner-friendly courses in the market. Plus, as a beginner, you will also need to look into the course cost.
If you are worried about taking the leap, EducationNest has developed the best ethical hacking course in 2024 to get certified at only ~$240. With 10+ years of experience in the field, their experts have designed the course to cover A to Z of ethical hacking through practical hands-on exercises and beginner-friendly delivery. Check out their courses today!
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