The interaction between man and machine is growing by leaps and bounds daily. With this comes the rise of hackers willing to exploit cyberspace with malicious intent. 

Ethical hacking ensures the protection of vulnerable systems and data. The role of ethical hackers in finding chinks in the cybersecurity armour is invaluable. They use various tools to figure out the system’s shortcomings and offer remedies.

Want to know which programs an ethical hacker should learn? Read on to find out.

Programming languages every ethical hacker should know

Here are some programming languages every ethical hacker must know:

• Python

It is one of the easiest high-level programming languages to learn for beginners. This open-source language is free and has a basic syntax. As a result, it is a common language for the creation of web and desktop applications, games and automated software.

An ethical hacker can use this language for malware analysis, debugging, reverse engineering and hex editors. Some hacking libraries on Python are Scapy, IMPACT and Cryptography.

• Java

The Tiobe Index lists Java as the third most popular programming language in the world in February 2023. This object-oriented, class-based programming language is used in software development, hardware programming, and data analytics.

Linux, Mac, Windows, and Android are operating systems that deploy Java. Mastering Java can enable an ethical hacker to make worms and create false attacks on many systems to make security checks.

• JavaScript

JavaScript is a high-level programming language popularly used for web and app development. 

Another easily comprehensible object-oriented programming language, JavaScript is a favourite amongst hackers for performing cross-site scripting attacks. They access cookies and data by inserting scripts via web browsers. In the wrong hands, JavaScript facilitates credential theft and authentication fraud.

Thus, mastering Java becomes invaluable for an ethical hacker. White-hat hackers can run scripts they create to check how the cybersecurity system deals with it and develop strategies for defence. 

• C

C is the first low-level language on our list. This language can be used to program hardware, and build operating systems, compilers and databases. Hackers can use C programming to access system processes and memory and attack low-level components like RAM.

The biggest strength of C programming is its speed. This allows white-hat hackers to make any system functional and robust with minimum functioning time.

Ethical hackers can use this programming language to mimic a cyberattack and find faults in the system. C programming is used by OS like Unix and Windows, making it a useful ethical hacking tool.

• C++

C++ is a low-level language belonging to the C family. It is a popular language for programming browsers, graphics, games, and operating systems. Like C, C++ is used by hackers to gain access to components like memory and databases.

This general-purpose language is a must-learn for any ethical hacker. Its cross-functionality allows expert hackers to quickly infiltrate systems.

• Perl

Initially, Perl was a programming language for text manipulation. This dynamic language has now evolved to perform network routing, access servers and databases, exploit data and send scripts to the back end of an application.

Hackers use Perl to infiltrate systems and steal data with ease. To identify points where the software may be breached, every ethical hacker should master this general-purpose language.

• PHP

PHP stands for Personal Home Page. As the name suggests, it is used for scripting the user-facing side of an application. Attacks using PHP can shut down the front end, making users unable to access the website or application. Hackers also use it for DoS (Denial of Service).

Ethical hackers can learn PHP to ensure the protection of the front end. They can also use this language to detect potential faults in the architecture and patch them before infiltration occurs.

• Ruby

Ruby is a popular high-level web-oriented language. This language is the first choice of many for writing exploit code. Metasploit, a Ruby framework, is widely used for the exploitation of system faults.

Ethical hackers can use the flexibility of this language to create scripts of various sizes. It is used for efficient testing and fast and efficient code writing.

• SQL

Short for Structured Query Language, SQL helps relational databases to query, insert and modify data. Hackers can take advantage of this to block queries and steal sensitive information. They do this by bypassing app security protocols and eliminating the need for authorisation to access data.

Ethical hackers equipped with knowledge of SQL can protect databases from such malicious attacks. They protect information by simulating attacks and figuring out solutions to SQL injection attacks.

Conclusion

Programming languages used to design various software are the tools hackers use to infiltrate the system. An ethical hacker should have mastery over multiple programming languages to anticipate, simulate and protect against cyberattacks. 

If a career in cybersecurity is your dream, then consider applying to the Certification Program in Cyber Security from IIT Roorkee. This online course teaches advanced skills to make you proficient in ethical hacking and cybersecurity.

The term ‘hacker’ was once used to describe professionals who redeveloped mainframe systems, boosting their productivity and enabling multitasking. However, the term has recently come to refer to programmers who gain unauthorised access to a computer system with malicious intentions. A hacker uses his/her skills to break networks and impair the system causing problems in functioning and data theft. Ethical hackers have come into the picture to protect computer systems from such malicious activities.

Theft of priceless information or monetary gain is the main motivation behind harmful or unethical hacking. With businesses and governments increasingly resorting to cloud storage to store data, cloud security is of utmost importance, amongst other things. This is where ethical hackers come in. This is the right time to build a career in ethical hacking, with lucrative job opportunities proliferating.

Read on to learn more about how to become an ethical hacker.

What is ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking is the legitimate practice that helps to find flaws in any application, computer system or organisation’s infrastructure that goes beyond the security of the system. It uncovers potential data breaches and network risks. Ethical hacking helps to find vulnerabilities that can be exploited by black hats. 

Ethical hackers enhance the system security of a company and deflect any attacks by black hats. This is a planned and approved process which is absolutely legal as opposed to malicious hacking. Ethical hackers evaluate the system or network to find any loopholes that can be exploited by hackers. 

Roles and responsibilities of an ethical hacker

Companies employ ethical or white hat hackers to identify weaknesses in systems and create defences against them. Black hat hackers could steal the data and destroy the files, resulting in serious financial loss for the company. Following are the roles and responsibilities of an ethical hacker in an organisation:

• Performing multiple system penetration tests to constantly check the security system
• Locating and noting down any security weaknesses and violations
• Conducting regular meetings with the company’s security department to discuss the state of the current security system
• Identifying the locations that require high security and focusing more on such areas
• Conducting regular evaluation and assessment tests of the security system
• Coming up with new ideas for strengthening system and network security
• Assembling the penetration test reports for presenting them to clients
• Implementing solutions to avoid harming the integrity of a company
• Suggesting system security upgrades to protect data theft and breaches
• Removing all of the breaches following a system vulnerability check

Benefits of ethical hacking

Ethical hackers are in demand as they are indispensable in organisations today. The following are the key advantages of ethical hacking:

• Ethical hackers play a very important role in the fight against national security breaches and cyber terrorism.
• It acts as a wall of protection against potential hacker assaults.
• Ethical hackers build a system that is secure against any sort of hacker inclusions.
• It also helps to protect crucial information in the banking and finance sectors.
• Ethical hackers can prevent sensitive data loss with the correct measures in place.

Skills required to become an ethical hacker

To become an ethical hacker, one must have deep knowledge about protecting system security, network breaches, algorithms, etc. Here is a list of the major skills that one requires to become an ethical hacker:

• Knowledge of programming: It is very important for security professionals working in the field of software development life cycle (SDLC). It enables them to write codes to protect them from malicious attacks.
• Scripting knowledge: Security professionals who deal with host- and network-based assaults must have knowledge of scripting.
• Networking skills: Networking is a very crucial skill because security threats generally arise from networks. A cybersecurity professional must know about the devices, their connections and how to protect them in case of any vulnerabilities.
• Understanding of databases: Databases are the primary targets of attacks. Being familiar with database management systems like SQL will allow cybersecurity professionals to efficiently examine database activities.
• Knowledge of hacking tools: A cyber security professional must be familiar with the various types of hacking tools available. One must be aware of the usage and application of such tools to effectively carry out the desired objectives. They must constantly update themselves on the different hacking tools and trends to keep ahead of black hats.

Conclusion

Ethical hacking is an excellent career option if you are interested in this discipline. Cyber security is a major concern in this technologically advancing world. The IIT cyber security course can be a perfect fit to learn everything about ethical hacking and related topics. You’ll gain a detailed understanding of the information technology (IT) world. 

Sign up for the Advanced Certification Program in Cyber Security by IIT Roorkee and Imarticus Learning and gain all the insights from the eminent IIT faculty and learn job-relevant skills. 

Top 7 add-ons to turn your browser into a hacking tool

Gone are the days when cyber security experts were simply enthusiasts who were really into computers and the internet. Today, cyber security is a booming career practically compulsory for anyone with a computer or smartphone. It might be surprising, but there is actually a lot more to ethical hacking than is presented in the media.

When it comes to ethical hacking, one essential skill is the ability to use various tools to begin your penetration testing process. While browser extensions aren’t the most popular, they can help you accomplish multiple goals. We’ll look at seven browser extensions that can make the life of any ethical hacker easier.

Top 7 Adds-On to turn your browser:

HackBar

When pen-testing a web application, you must use your browser’s address bar to change, add parameters, or modify the URL. When you do this, the server may respond with redirects and reloads, which can be time-consuming if you want to experiment with different values for a single variable.

Wappalyzer

In web application penetration testing, we need to gather information about its domain, hardware, and software. This is information gathering or banner grabbing. This procedure helps exploit Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE).

d3coder

An ethical hacker must encode and decode many keys and hashes. This can be time-consuming if you must look up values all the time. This plugin saves time by allowing you to encode and decode text from the context menu. Additionally, you can customize the context menu.

Open Port Check Tool

As the name implies, Open Port Check Tool detects any open ports on the current computer and alerts the user to turn off unused ports to reduce the possibility of an attack. 

The Open Port Check Tool makes it simple to identify open ports. This plugin allows you to do this remotely — enter your client’s IP address, and you’ll be able to check their computer’s port statuses without needing physical access to the hardware. This allows you to identify port vulnerabilities that need to get addressed.

Cache killer

Ethical hackers frequently have multiple tabs open at the same time. As you are probably aware, this will quickly fill up your browser cache and may cause problems viewing a webpage.

Site Spider Mark II

It extracts all publicly accessible links from a website and is used to search for and locate broken links. Site Spider Mark II also displays the entire list of links. Site Spider is a Chrome extension.

Note Anywhere

Ethical hacking for web applications begins with gathering advanced information about the targeted websites. Ethical hackers typically use various word processors to save that information and load it quickly when needed. 

Learn Ethical Hacking with Imarticus Learning

Cybersecurity certification online courses provide students with the most effective learning opportunities. Students who complete this cyber security certification course will get prepared for jobs as Penetration Testers, Cybersecurity Analysts, Incident Handlers, and members of SOC Teams.

Course Benefits For Learners:

• These cybersecurity online courses teach students ethical hacking, penetration testing, and real-world scenarios.
• Instructors will also teach students how to deal with challenges and put them through rigorous SOC team training.
• Our ethical hacking course will cover the principles of security practices, techniques, tools, and tactics.

 Contact us through the chat support system, or drive to one of our training centers in Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi, Gurgaon, or Ahmedabad.