What is Ethical Hacking? A Beginner’s Guide

Ever wondered what it really takes to stop cybercriminals in their tracks? In 2025, a hacker attack happens every 39 seconds, that is over 2,200 attacks every day. 

With global cybercrime costs projected to hit a staggering $10.5 trillion annually by 2025, the stakes have never been higher. 

This has given rise to the practice of ethical hacking. People who pursue ethical hacking are experts in identifying vulnerable parts of an organisation’s system and correcting them before a hacker attacks them. In this blog, we will have a comprehensive discussion on the roles of an ethical hacker and how you can become one yourself.

Who is an Ethical Hacker?

Ethical hackers are technological experts who identify vulnerable parts in a company’s system and take necessary steps before a hacker with malicious intent finds and attacks it. With phishing attacks costing large organisations $15 million annually, over $1,500 per employee, the need for skilled ethical hackers is undeniable. 

Big organisations recruit ethical hackers to build strong security systems. They might also work on a contractual system to improve a company’s security mechanism, improve their security and provide remedies. Roles in Ethical Hacking

Large companies employ or hire ethical hackers to check their security systems on their hardware and software. Apart from identifying the weaker sections, they also have other roles. Here is a list of them:

• IT (Information Technology) Security Engineer
• IT Security Administration
• Penetration Tester or Pen Testers
• Information Security Analyst
• Network Security Analyst, etc.

A person pursuing mca in ethical hacking must stay updated on new hacking techniques used by hackers, be aware of the places they target, and provide remedial actions.

Types of Ethical Hacking

Here is a list of the most essential types of ethical hacking:

1. Network Hacking

With IoT malware attacks increasing by 107% in 2024, securing network infrastructure has become more critical than ever. This starts with identifying weak points in an organisation’s network, such as open ports and vulnerable services, which are often the first targets for attackers.

2. Web Application Hacking

This type of hacking involves identifying vulnerabilities in cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and other similar attacks within web applications. They generally focus on recognising flaws that could cause unwanted access to the system.

3. Social Engineering

Social engineering is a form of ethical hacking that manipulates human psychology, using deceptive tactics or bait to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. Given that 80% of reported cybercrimes are linked to phishing and social engineering attacks, addressing these threats is essential for strengthening cybersecurity.

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Types of Hackers

There are various types of hackers in ethical hacking. They are as follows:

1. Red Team

People working in the red team of ethical hackers generally attack a system, try to break down the defences and find vulnerabilities. They recommend different ways to strengthen an organisation's systems after a few attacks. For example, in 2023, manual pentests prevented over $2.88 billion in potential losses for organisations.

2. Blue Team

The blue team focuses on defending the network from cyberattacks. They analyse network vulnerability, scan for risks and suggest ways to mitigate the risks and vulnerabilities in the organisation’s system. 

3. Grey-Hat Hackers

Grey hat hackers are individuals who infiltrate an organisation’s system but do not have bad intentions. They generally advise the breached organisations of the weaker sections of their security systems and request a small fee in exchange. However, they are learners, and money is not their prime objective.

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Process of Ethical Hacking

There are six most commonly used steps that an ethical hacker uses. Here is a brief description of them:

1. Reconnaissance

This step involves thorough research on the target and using similar ethical hacking tools as a hacker would, as well as replicating the activities that a hacker would perform. With 5.33 vulnerabilities discovered every minute, thorough reconnaissance is essential. 

2. Environmental Scanning

In this phase, the hacker moves from gathering information to finding ways to infiltrate the network and bypass any intrusion detection systems that may be in place.

3. Gaining Access to the System

In this step, they attempt to gain active access to the system and access the weaker spots. Once they gain access, they assess the level of damage caused. The average time to detect a breach is 258 days, giving hackers a long window to cause damage. 

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4. Maintaining Access

At this stage, the hacker seeks ways to maintain their access to the system and prolong their access to the organisation’s system for as long as possible.

5. Clearing Breach Evidence

Just like a criminal who tries to remove evidence of their presence, the ethical hacker does the same, taking their time to remove probable evidence that would reveal their identity.

6. Providing the Final Report to the Organisation

Once the ethical hacker has gone through all these processes, they understand everything about the organisation’s system. They create a report on the vulnerabilities and recommend ways to mitigate them so that these issues do not occur in the future. 60% of supply chain organisations now use cybersecurity risk as a key evaluation criterion. 

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Benefits of Ethical Hacking

Here is a list of some key benefits of ethical hacking in cybersecurity.

•  In India alone, cryptojacking attacks increased by 409% in 2024, making prevention vital. Ethical hacking helps organisations inspect vulnerabilities in their system and patch them before real hackers exploit them.
• Regular ethical hacking sessions help organisations strengthen their security mechanism over time.
• Getting your system hacked is a sign of weakness. People can lose trust in the organisation because of this. Ethical hacking can prevent it.
• Organisations can strengthen their security mechanism and protect themselves from huge ransoms that hackers might charge for re-establishing access.
• Avoiding ransomware saves organisations from huge financial losses. The reported Potential losses from cybercrime exceeded $12.5 billion in the US in 2023. 
• Organisations can get valuable recommendations and identify their weaknesses with the help of ethical hacking.

How Can You Become an Ethical Hacker?

Ethical hacking is an evolving field in computer science. If you want to become an ethical hacker. Here are the things you need to master to become a successful ethical hacker:

• Build a foundation with a degree in computer science or computer applications, and take ethical hacking courses to grasp the concepts of cybersecurity.
• Work on your technical skills, including programming, network protocols, and vulnerability identification.
• Apply for internships or jobs to get practical experience in this field.
• Get certifications through various examinations. Prepare diligently and score well. This will have a positive impact on your resume. 

Final Words

Ethical hacking and cybersecurity are evolving fields in the world of computer science. Large companies pay substantial amounts to secure their systems from unauthorised access and ensure their databases are risk-free. Want to pursue ethical hacking as a career? Amity Online’s two-year Master of Computer Applications (MCA) program with specialisation in Cybersecurity will help you build a base for your ethical hacking career.