Why Do Companies Pay to Get Hacked?
Did you know that some companies actually pay to get hacked? This concept is called ethical hacking, and it is a real job! Some companies are actually willing to pay a very high amount of money to hire ethical hackers. In this article, we will explain what the call hacking is, and why some people are getting trained in this profession.
Let’s take a trip down memory lane and see where ethical hacking originated from. It’s no secret that hacking has been a major issue since the rise of the internet in general. Corporations have lost a lot of money in intellectual property thanks to the work of hackers. Companies can also get in serious trouble if their user information gets stolen, as it puts their customers at risk. Essentially, ethical hackers try to break into systems and see how easy it is to collect secure information. Ethical hackers can point out areas of weakness and make recommendations to make the site even stronger.
If you are interested in becoming an ethical hacker, there are many different certifications you can take online in order to become a professional in this specific industry.
What Are the Phases of Ethical Hacking?
There are a few different phases associated with ethical hacking. Typically, you will notice that they come in 5 different phases.
Phase 1: Reconnaissance
During this first phase, ethical hackers are able to gather information about the site they are trying to hack. This can be anything from public records, websites, user information, and even social media pages. They try to look for information such as personal contact information, social media friends, or any other secure information they can find.
Ethical hackers will try and see if they can tap into confidential information that users may have entered into the site. If they are able to do so, it is up to them to make recommendations so that the company can strengthen its technological security.
Phase 2: Scanning
In this next phase, ethical hackers will try to collect information about their victims, through open ports on the user’s technological devices. Packers can even see what port users are engaging with to help them better pack a system. Ethical hackers can mimic this behavior and make recommendations based on their findings.
Phase 3: Gaining Access
After completing these first two phases, ethical hackers will have a better understanding of what recommendations they need to make in order for the company to strengthen its security system. Ethical hackers will now use all of the information they have gained to try and hack the system to access valuable company information. If they are able to get into the system, this can be cause for concern.
Phase 4 of Ethical Hacking: Maintaining Access
In this next phase of ethical hacking, the hacker is now able to access the system and is able to mimic the steps they just took in order to view all confidential information. This makes it easy for hackers to not have to redo all of the steps that they just completed in the future. So, this means that once a hacker has gained access to your system, they will be able to maintain access for a long period of time.
Phase 5 of Ethical Hacking: Covering tracks
Luckily, hacking is a crime, so there are implications for those who try to steal your company’s data. Hackers have gotten smarter over the years, and have learned to delete any logos or anything that could link them back to the case. It is up to the ethical hacker to mimic this activity and see how easy it is to get rid of information used to initially access the site.
To conclude the ethical hacker services, the ethical hacker will write down all of the steps that they took in order to access your online information. Then, they will write their findings and tell you proper recommendations to increase the security of your site, so that this doesn’t happen in the future.
Ethical hacking is on the rise as one of the most popular new security jobs. If you are hoping to get a certified ethical hacker certification, enroll in the CEH certification training! We hope this article gave you something to think about, and even introduced a new career path for some who are interested.
Looking for a more transferrable, but just as lucrative and important career, you should consider project management. You might even get to work with ethical hackers or might be involved in digital security related projects. Don’t have any experience? No problem, the Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) certification doesn’t require any and will get your foot in the door for a career in project management. Read more about the CAPM and how to grow a career in project management here
Article: CAPM Certification Eligibility