Ethical Hacking Techniques and Tools: A Comprehensive Guide

Ethical Hacking Techniques and Tools You Need to Know

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. What is Ethical Hacking?

3. Essential Ethical Hacking Techniques

   • 3.1 Reconnaissance

   • 3.2 Scanning

   • 3.3 Gaining Access

   • 3.4 Maintaining Access

   • 3.5 Covering Tracks

4. Popular Ethical Hacking Tools

   • 4.1 Nmap

   • 4.2 Metasploit

   • 4.3 Wireshark

   • 4.4 Burp Suite

5. Implementing Countermeasures

6. Conclusion

Introduction

Do you ever think how it is possible for hackers to penetrate the most secured networks? Well, ethical hackers also do this but on the right side, for the benefits of everyone. They employ the same tricks to penetrate defense systems and networks’ weak points that bad guys are planning to:

What is Ethical Hacking?
It will look at ethical hackers which can be more aptly described as cybersecurity superheroes. They apply their powers (instruments and strategies) to probe for gaps in a system, as a police would investigate a crime. But instead of apprehending lawbreakers, they’re apprehending code breakers – cyber threats lurking in cyberspace.

Ethical Hacking Definition and Best Practices
The following are some of the method employed by ethical hackers to take advantage of the loopholes. Here are some of the main ones:

Reconnaissance: This is as simple as doing a reconnaissance scan on a target/subject. The hackers first learn details about the system, for instance; the IP address and domain name as well as the open ports.
Scanning: Having the intel from the social engineering effort next the hacker proceeds to scan for vulnerabilities that the created profile can exploit. It’s like using a light source in the dark searching for an enemy’s trap.
Gaining Access: This is the real hacking game. In this approach, the attackers often take the following strategies; loophole attack, social engineering, and other malicious attack.
Maintaining Access: The third stage, after hackers get into a network, is to try and stay there undetected and continue to exfiltrate data.) This could include having remote control privileges, or placing Trojan horses or other malware on the system.
Covering Tracks: Last but not the least; hackers make efforts to conceal their traces from the victims. This include erasing all the signs that they penetrated into our systems.
Popular Ethical Hacking Tools
There are several tools active ethical hackers utilize in their profession among them include. Some of the most popular tools include:

Nmap: An excellent utility for network analysis and vulnerability assessment.
Metasploit: A kit which includes diverse apparatuses for penetration testing.
Wireshark: A sort of a network protocol analyzer that hackers use in order to capture network traffic for analysis.
Burp Suite: A web app sec tool.
How to Be Safe from Cyber Incidents
It is only appropriate that you learn and know the tricks that are used by these hackers in a bid to keep you safe online. Here are some tips:

Keep your software up-to-date: This will assist fill any gaps that might be exploited in the future.
Use strong, unique passwords: A good password may take a long time before hackers are able to decode it.
Be cautious of phishing attacks: Phishing attacks are exclusively created to deceive you, and get as much information about yourself as possible.
Use security software: If ideally used, security software assists in minimizing threats posed to the computer by malware among other things.
Back up your data: This will assist you in one way to be able to retrieve your data in the event you have been attacked by hackers.
It is always helpful to see how the ‘good guys,’ the ethical hackers perform and this article in particular can help you in recognizing the technique used by these hackers for and against you.

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