Introduction to Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking, also known as penetration testing or white-hat hacking, involves legally breaking into computers and devices to test organizational defenses. Unlike malicious hackers, ethical hackers operate with explicit permission, within defined scope, and with the goal of improving security.

The ethical hacking methodology follows these phases: Reconnaissance, Scanning, Gaining Access, Maintaining Access, and Covering Tracks — mirroring the attacker lifecycle. Understanding how attackers think is essential to defending against them.

Key certifications in this domain: CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), GPEN (GIAC Penetration Tester), and PNPT (Practical Network Penetration Tester). Each represents different depths of hands-on practical skills.