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In the fight against cybercrime, ethical hackers are the good guys who uncover system vulnerabilities before criminals do: they’re the “white hat hackers” who simulate attacks, and their skills play a vital role in strengthening digital defenses. Everyday users can stay a step ahead too with a reputable antivirus that helps detect and block threats in real time.
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Not all hackers have bad intentions. When hacking techniques are used by friendly parties to uncover, understand, and hopefully fix security vulnerabilities in computer systems, networks, and applications, that’s ethical hacking. It’s also known as penetration testing or white-hat hacking, and it’s an essential technique in helping combat cybercrime.
The main goal of ethical hacking is to help protect sensitive data, prevent data breaches, and allow organizations to strengthen their overall digital defenses.
Ethical hackers employ the same tools and tricks of the trade that cybercriminals use to exploit vulnerabilities, but there’s an important difference: They’re meant to do so and report their findings to the organization. This allows IT security teams to fix issues before they’re maliciously exploited by “real” (black hat) hackers.
The purpose of ethical hacking is to be proactive. Staying a step ahead is more important than ever as cyberthreats evolve — especially with the rise of AI-driven attacks. While the war of the white vs. black hats might sound like a storyline from a comic book, ethical hacking is vital in transforming cybersecurity from a reactive scramble to a preventative strategy.
Ethical hackers play malicious hackers at their own game, helping improve cybersecurity for businesses and individuals.
Hacking conjures up images of hoodie-wearing tech wizards in basements who thrive on problem solving and copious amounts of black coffee. But it’s important to debunk misconceptions about hackers and separate the good from the bad.
In a nutshell, ethical hackers and penetration testers play on the same team. Both oppose malicious hackers.
Ethical hacking: the guardianWhy? White hats believe that the best defense is offense. They aim to protect systems, not exploit them. Their goal is to uncover vulnerabilities before the bad guys do, and then report them to improve system security.
How? Ethical hackers use the same tactics as malicious hackers, but they do so responsibly, documenting weaknesses and advising on fixes. They test systems in an organized, methodical way and take care to cause minimal disruption. They respect the confidentiality of the data they work with.
Is it legal? White-hack hackers operate 100% within the law and with the explicit, written consent of the system owners. Their work is formalized in contracts and legal documents like confidentiality agreements. Ethics hackers are responsible for respecting privacy and never exploiting the data they encounter.
See them in action. A fintech startup has a mobile app that lets users manage their investments. They could hire an ethical hacker to simulate a cyberattack on the app and backend systems to see if they can bypass login authentication and steal financial data.
Malicious hacking: the exploiterWhy? These black hats are in it for personal gain or mischief: Stealing data or money, crashing systems, planting malware, or just proving that they can break in.
How? Their tools are often the same as those of ethical hackers, but their end goal is exploitation, not protection. They work covertly, erase their traces, and sometimes create backdoors for future attacks.
Is it legal? No, it’s a crime. Perpetrators don't ask for permission, don’t care about the consequences, and their actions are not governed by transparency and accountability.
See them in action. A malicious hacker might spot a vulnerability in an outdated e-commerce platform. They gain unauthorized access to the backend system and extract credit card numbers and customers’ personal details. Finally, they delete logs and plant a back door for future access.
While the skillsets of ethical and malicious hackers are often the same, the difference lies in the intent and ethics. It’s like comparing two lockpicks: One retrieves your keys, the other robs you.
Penetration testing: the precision strikerWhy? Penetration testers, or pen testers, are a specialized subset of ethical hackers. Their job is to simulate real-world attacks in a controlled way to find a specific vulnerability.
How? Pen testers rely on a wide range of tools to identify and exploit security vulnerabilities. Their tools generally fall into five broad categories: network scanning, vulnerability scanning, web application testing, password cracking, and network analysis tools.
Is it legal? Yes, but here’s how pen testing differs from ethical hacking:
Narrower scope: Instead of exploring a system freely, pen testers are given a specific target.
Less paperwork: Usually there’s less need for lengthy legal contracts and reports.
Time sensitive: Pen testers must be able to act fast.
Specific knowledge: A pen tester only needs to know about the specific area they’re testing.
See them in action. A hospital might hire a pen tester to hack into their online patient records. An online retail company would find a pen tester useful in assessing their website before a big holiday sale.
You’ll know by now that not all hackers have evil intentions and operate illegally, but other myths abound.
Myth 1: Cybersecurity solutions always stop hackers
Organizations must defend themselves against a myriad of constantly evolving threats. Hackers only need a single point of entry, so their efforts may pay off eventually if they’re persistent. Effective defenses, including firewalls and reputable anti-malware, are essential — but no system is an impenetrable fortress.
Myth 2: Hackers only target vulnerable companies
While targeting the weak is easier, it’s usually more worthwhile for hackers to reel in the big fish. They often present an opportunity for more lucrative returns, like a treasure trove of private data, or damage to an important reputation.
Myth 3: Hackers rush in and leave fast
It’s not always a smash and grab. Hackers often move slowly to avoid detection, so they can gain prolonged exposure to sensitive information.
We live in a hyperconnected world where data is currency and cyberthreats are becoming more sophisticated. And everything we depend on — from banking to healthcare to national infrastructures — needs digital systems to function. Effective cybersecurity strategies are more vital than ever, and no organization can afford to leave their digital doors unlocked.
It’s not just threats that are evolving. The new technology landscape of cloud computing, remote workforces, IoT devices, and AI-driven services presents complex new attack surfaces that traditional security tools can’t fully cover. Firewalls and antivirus software? A great start, but no longer enough.
Consider this: According to the World Economic Forum’s Global Cybersecurity Outlook 2025,
While 66% of organizations expect AI to have the most significant impact on cybersecurity in the year to come, only 37% report having processes in place to assess the security of AI tools before deployment.
This is where ethical hacking steps in as a frontline defense. It’s already prevented major breaches and saved companies from catastrophe.
See these notable examples of ethical hacking in action. Many companies commission ethical hackers directly, but they can also be recruited via “bug bounty” programs that incentivize independent hackers.
In 2024, Apple opened up its Private Cloud Compute architecture to researchers and offered up to $1 million to anyone who found a hole in it. Still on Apple, in 2020, an ethical hacker discovered a zero-day vulnerability in Safari’s Web Share API.
The United States Air Force invited security researchers to vet its platforms and handed out a total of $290,000 when more than 460 vulnerabilities were uncovered.
A 15 year old Australian teenager uncovered a United Nations security misconfiguration that could have exposed 100,000 personnel records in a data breach.
Beyond stopping cyberattacks, ethical hacking also plays an important role in building trust. Customers and stakeholders want to know that their data is safe. Businesses that invest in ethical hacking signal that security is a priority and their strategies are proactive.
Compliance audits, security certifications, and transparency reports can include results from ethical hacking efforts, not only satisfying regulators but strengthening reputations in the eyes of the public.
This trust can be the difference between gaining or losing a loyal customer, particularly in industries like healthcare, finance, and e-commerce.
The way hackers are described is similar to characters in Western movies, where the color of their hats signified if they were good or bad. But real hacker types are more nuanced than their Hollywood counterparts — and range from ethical professionals to dangerous cybercriminals (with a few shades of gray in between).
White hat hackers (the good): Skilled professionals hired to help organizations identify and fix security weaknesses, before malicious actors can exploit them.
Mission: To protect, not attack.
Black hat hackers (the bad): Malicious intruders who break into networks for personal gain or general disruption. Their work is unauthorized, unethical, and illegal.
Mission: Money, data, mischief, and damage.
Gray hat hackers (the slightly ugly): They hack for the challenge and don’t intend to cause harm, but don’t ask for permission. Some report the issues they find, while others threaten to go public if companies ignore their warnings.
Mission: The intellectual challenge and reward.
Blue hat hackers (the hired hands): These have a dual identity that depends on motivation and method. They’re either security consultants hired to run pen tests or malicious hackers acting out of anger or to settle a personal score.
Mission: Pen tests or payback.
Green hat hackers (the newbies): Eager apprentices who want to develop their skills and eventually become ethical hackers. They often start by experimenting in safe environments, watching tutorials, or joining cybersecurity communities.
Mission: Learn, grow, and earn their stripes.
As companies become more cyber-aware, there’s a growing demand for skilled cybersecurity professionals. The right ethical hacking skills and courses will pave your way to becoming an ethical hacker. Be inspired by Nikhil Rane, a British student and ethical hacker celebrated in the India Book of Records for identifying security loopholes for organizations including Google, Microsoft, and Nasa.
You too can become a defender of the digital galaxy by arming yourself with the right tools, skills, certifications, and mindset.
To become a proficient ethical hacker, you first need to know how to learn ethical hacking skills. You’ll need a blend of technical and non-technical expertise.
Technically, you’ll need a deep understanding of networks (wired and wireless), firewalls, file systems, operating systems, and attack methods. Here’s a handy technical skills checklist for the budding ethical hacker:
Networking: A profound understanding of network protocols like TCP/IP, DNS, and HTTP, etc., as well as network security concepts.
Programming: Proficiency in languages like Python, JavaScript, and SQL.
Operating systems: Proficiency in Linux (especially Kali Linux) and Windows is essential, as they dominate in servers and enterprise environments. Familiarity with macOS, mobile operating systems, and specialized firmware used in IoT or embedded systems can help you stand out in the field.
Cryptography: Knowledge of encryption and decryption techniques.
Web application security: Understanding how web applications work and recognizing common vulnerabilities.
Penetration testing: Proficiency in various testing techniques and methodologies.
Database management: An understanding of database systems and SQL.
Reverse engineering: An ability to analyze software and understand how it works.
Non-technically, you’ll need patience, problem-solving abilities, and strong communication skills. Above all, you’ll need a strong ethical foundation to build these skills on. The only difference between black- and white-hat hackers is integrity, motivation, and ethics. So, ethical hackers need a sound moral compass and must truly value the data and systems they protect.
The cybersecurity certification landscape is broad, with multiple respected bodies offering various qualifications. However, common ethical hacking courses and certificates to launch you into the ethical hacking arena are:
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH): Provided by the EC-Council, it’s recognized globally, and the certification body reports that 92% of employers prefer CEH grads for ethical hacking roles. You’ll learn multi-platform strategies used by cybercriminals (including AI), and get hands-on experience.
Certified Penetration Testing Professional (CPENT): Also by the EC-Council, this is a comprehensive AI-driven penetration testing program. It offers a hands-on pen testing methodology, teaching end-to-end pen testing phases.
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP): This certification is earned by completing the “PEN-200: Penetration Testing with Kali Linux” course from Offensive Security. This certification is also globally recognized and highly regarded.
Ethical hackers use a range of tools to simulate cyberattacks and identify vulnerabilities. Their choice depends on the target system, web application, or network. Here are three popular ethical hacking tools that you should have in your arsenal. But be prepared to learn a lot more — there are more than 3,500 tools covered in the EC-Council’s CEH certification alone.
Network Mapper (Nmap) is one of the best-known open-source cybersecurity tools for scanning and mapping networks. It helps ethical hackers and IT pros discover which devices are online, what services they’re running, and if there are any open ports that could be exploited.
Top features:
Find live devices on a network.
Scan for open ports and services.
Detect operating systems and software versions.
Run security scripts to uncover known vulnerabilities.
Run fast or stealthy scans, depending on objectives.
Wireshark is a free, open-source tool for capturing and examining network traffic in real time. Like a magnifying glass for a network, it shows exactly what data is flowing through the system, packet by packet, making it ideal for in-depth visibility into network traffic and protocols.
Top features:
Capture live traffic from wired or wireless networks.
Inspect packets in detail at every protocol layer.
Filter traffic by IP address, protocol, port, or keyword.
Decrypt protocols if keys are provided.
Export and save features for further review or reporting.
Burp Suite is a powerful toolset used to test the security of websites and web apps, including login forms and APIs. It lets ethical hackers intercept, analyze, and modify web traffic to find and address vulnerabilities before attackers can exploit them.
Top features:
Simulate real-world attacks in a controlled environment.
Capture and modify HTTP/S traffic between a browser and web servers.
Test login forms, APIs, and input fields for vulnerabilities.
Automate repetitive security tests during audits.
What you earn as an ethical hacker will depend on several factors, including your level of experience, education, industry, company, location, and whether you have relevant certifications.
In the US, an ethical hacker earns an average of around $65,000 per year. Entry-level positions start at around $40,000 per year, and more experienced workers can make upward of $160,000 per year. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security analysts earn an average of $124,910.
Ethical hacking can identify vulnerabilities and offers a powerful offensive approach to cybersecurity. When it comes to staying protected, robust defenses are essential too. Avast Free Antivirus offers real-time threat detection and automated updates to help safeguard your devices while you’re working your way toward your dream career.
