Asking ten potential ethical hackers about the first steps they should take will reveal that most of them would suggest starting with using certain tools such as Burp Suite, Metasploit, or Nmap. However, those tools are only useful when you understand the systems they are designed to assess. Without understanding how networking, Linux, or web application technologies work, using any security tools will be nothing more than pushing buttons and analyzing results.<\/p>\n\n\n
That\u2019s why ethical hacking is best learned in phases rather than by jumping straight into tools.<\/p>\n\n\n
Normally, security specialists begin by learning networking, operating systems, and scripting, then proceed to reconnaissance, vulnerability testing, exploiting, and finally to security testing itself. This ethical hacking roadmap follows the same progression.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n
Ethical hacking, at the core, involves identifying the vulnerabilities present in the system\/application\/network with the permission of the owner of the system. It is the process of finding out vulnerabilities before the malicious actors make use of them. Hence, it forms an integral part of the cybersecurity strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n
However, there is a fine line between ethical hacking and other activities that need permission from the system owner. Using the same tools and techniques in unauthorized penetration testing makes the act unethical. This means that it depends upon the permission, scope, and purpose of the action rather than the tool or the technique being used.<\/p>\n\n\n
Before the process of testing starts, there must be a set of clear rules of engagement that define the scope of the testing, actions that can and cannot be done in testing. Responsible disclosure, legalities, and scope formation are the principles of ethical hacking that you should keep in mind during the course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n