You’re probably imagining a young tech genius, sat there with their hood up, fixed to a screen, and furiously tapping away at the keyboard whilst hiding in their basement. At least, that’s what Hollywood movies would have you believe!
The reality is often very different.
In fact, hackers can look like the average person, like you or me. They could even be you or me! This is because ethical hacking has become a very in-demand skill when it comes to cybersecurity, particularly for huge government bodies and large corporations.
This means that the need for ethical hackers is also on the rise, and this could be a very lucrative career if you’ve got what it takes.
What is an ethical hacker?
One of the best ways to fend off real hackers is to beat them at their own game - and this is where ethical hackers come in. These people are experts, they are often in the security field, and many will specialize in penetration testing and other methods of protecting a company’s infrastructure from cybercriminals.
However, this does not mean that pen testing and ethical hacking are the same things. Rather, an ethical hacker is employed to act as a hacker would and to try to get into the mind of a hacker. They use tools (such as pen testing) and various cyberattacks to try and break down a company’s systems.
They do so as a way of highlighting any problems or areas of weakness in the company’s security and identifying ways that hackers can get access to their systems and information.
It’s also worth noting at this point that this position can also be referred to as a ‘white hat hacker’ because some professionals take issue with the term ‘hacker’ whether ethical or not. But really that is just semantics.
Role of an Ethical Hacker
Ethical hackers can be independent freelance consultants, employed by a firm that specializes in simulated offensive cybersecurity services, or they can be an in-house employee protecting a company’s website or apps. Knowledge of current attack methods and tools is a requirement across these employment options, however, the in-house ethical hacker may be required to have an intimate knowledge of only a single software or digital asset type.
While relatively new to the security industry, one advantage that an in-house red team may provide is that the team will necessarily have a more intimate understanding of how their own systems and applications are constructed than would an independent consultant. This insider knowledge provides the red team an advantage, as long as they can avoid becoming myopic in their view. It would take real attackers years to replicate this advantage. In-house teams are largely thought to be less expensive than the continuous use of a consulting firm as well.
Conversely, a benefit that an external ethical hacker may provide is a fresh set of eyes to identify vulnerabilities that may be overlooked by the internal team. Even organizations that employ an internal red team may occasionally contract an external ethical hacker to provide this fresh look at their defenses.
For any external offensive security service provider, it is especially important to obtain written permission from the client before beginning any offensive activities. This permission should detail the systems, networks, applications, and web sites that will be included in the simulated attack. Do not increase the scope of the service without additional written permission to do so.
Possessing ethical hacker skills and knowledge is helpful for many other security roles. These skills are vital to network security analysts and network engineers. Purple teams need people with offensive skills. Application security developers benefit from an understanding of offensive methods and tools. Security researchers, commonly known as bug hunters, depend highly on their knowledge of offensive tactics. Many successful bug hunters display an understanding that reaches deeper than the application layer to the network layer and other areas that can be exploited.
How to become an ethical hacker?
If you’re seriously considering this as a career - and it can be a very rewarding choice if you do - then you might be wondering how to get started in the industry. Well, as this is quite a new role, no one set a path directly to becoming an ethical hacker. That said, we’ve pulled together a list of X steps you can take to get your career off the ground.
1. Get qualified
Although there is no one course or degree to become an ethical hacker, there are lots of ways you can get your foot in the door and gain relevant qualifications. It’s best to ensure that whatever you choose to study, is related to computer systems, even better if you can specialize in security at some point along the way.
There are also a lot of cybersecurity courses available, either through formal study such as a university or as an online course, so you can better fit this around your lifestyle.
Some of the formal courses might include the EC-Council Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification, and this can often give you the best start as it is so widely recognized in the industry.
You could also study a related degree before moving on to complete a master a field like cyber-security or a CREST certification. And finally, to get you started on the career path, you need to gain the approval of the Communications-Electronics Security Group.
2. Make sure you’ve got the right skills
Believe it or not, being an ethical hacker isn’t just about having the technical know-how to hack a computer system. In fact, there are lots of other important skills you’ll need to thrive in the industry. In lots of cases, particularly if you run your own business, you might find yourself acting as more of a consultant, assisting with strengthening companies' security efforts. Because of this, you need to make sure you have those all-important skills, such as:
- Problem-solving skills
- Strong communication skills
- Self-motivation
- Attention to detail
- Flexibility
These skills are going to be important for a successful career as an ethical hacker, so you need to make sure you possess them, and if you don’t, there are ways you can work on strengthening these transferable skills.
3. Work your way up
Another way to start a career as an ethical hacker is to get a job in a related field at a junior level and work your way up. For example, lots of hackers will work as auditors or security professionals before climbing the ladder to becoming an ethical hacker.
Though this might take a little longer, this can be a good way to reach your goals because it means that you’ll reach ethical hacker status with lots of helpful and relevant experience behind you.
4. Grow your network
Building a network like-minded individuals can be great for helping your career. This could mean talking to companies like CREST to see what opportunities they offer to budding hackers. You could also connect with people on LinkedIn or attend industry events.
It always pays to keep growing your network and expanding your knowledge of the industry. After all, you never know when a good opportunity will present itself. All it takes is for one person to recognize your talent and you’ll be on your way.
Can cyber criminals become ethical hackers?
And finally, if you once used your hacking skills for evil, you might be wondering whether it’s too late to come over to the good side. Well, it’s not unheard of for illegal hackers (known as black hat hackers) to switch over and become an ethical hacker.
After all, if you’ve hacked systems before, you’ll have the skillset to do it in a positive capacity. The only problem might be getting employers to trust you. But if you can present a good case, it’s entirely possible that you could switch teams to get hired as an ethical hacker.
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