Introduction:
Ethical hacking is essential for securing systems against malicious attacks. As a beginner, it’s important to understand the core methods used by ethical hackers to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities. This post will cover the fundamental methods that every aspiring ethical hacker should be familiar with.
1. Reconnaissance (OSINT)
Ethical hackers begin by gathering publicly available information (OSINT) about a target. This might include domain names, IP addresses, employee information, and more. Tools like Google Dorking or Maltego can help uncover hidden details.
2. Vulnerability Scanning and Assessment
Scanning a target for known vulnerabilities is one of the first steps in penetration testing. Tools like OpenVAS or Nessus automate vulnerability assessments, identifying weaknesses in network infrastructure.
3. Password Cracking and Brute Force Testing
Once vulnerabilities are found, ethical hackers use password cracking tools like John the Ripper or Hydra to test weak or commonly used passwords on systems, helping organizations strengthen authentication mechanisms.
4. Social Engineering
Social engineering exploits human psychology rather than technical vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers simulate phishing, pretexting, and baiting attacks to test how easily an organization’s employees can be manipulated.
5. Web Application Security Testing
Finally, ethical hackers often focus on web application vulnerabilities like SQL injection, XSS, and CSRF. Tools like Burp Suite and OWASP ZAP are commonly used to find weaknesses in websites and web apps.
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