Podcast/webinar recap: What’s new in ethical hacking?Complete Guide By Blackhat Pakistan 2023
Today we will learn Podcast/webinar recap in this article.
Introduction[Podcast/webinar recap]:
Ethical hackers are on the front lines of the fight against cybercriminals. With new forms of malware, APTs, and ransomware emerging every day, it’s important for ethical hackers to stay well-informed about key technological changes. After all, that’s how we stay one step ahead of the bad guys!
Infosec had the opportunity to sit down with Keatron Evans, Infosec Instructor and Managing Partner at KM Cyber Security, for a webinar on what’s new in the world of ethical hacking. Let’s take a look at some of the trends and changes facing the field of ethical hacking.
What’s New in Ethical Hacking?
Two technology trends are reshaping ethical hacking: web application security and cloud security. Organizations around the world are eagerly adopting cloud services to save money and increase mobility, but this comes at the cost of new vulnerabilities. Evans explains, “The bad guys are using cloud services as an attack tool, and that’s kind of scary because now they have unlimited resources that they can use to do things that they couldn’t necessarily do in the past.”
Looking to the future, Evans predicts that the importance of testing web applications and cloud systems will continue to be at the forefront of ethical hacking.
What does an ethical hacker actually do?
Ethical hackers are hackers who work for a good cause. This means they use many of the same tools and skills as hackers, but instead of stealing information or money, they help organizations improve their information security programs.
Evans broke down the ethical hacking process for us to give us a glimpse into what it looks like on a day-to-day basis. First, ethical hackers must assess what the customer needs. This usually comes in the form of a questionnaire where the customer sets goals and outlines what they want to get out of the pentest. Next, Evans’ team has the client sign a written agreement giving them permission to perform the pentest. Having a signed contract is important because it makes hacking legal and keeps the team out of trouble.
Also Read:BIOS/UEFI Forensics:Firmware Acquisition and Analysis Appr0aches
Once the papers are lined up, the pentest can begin! Evans and his ethical hackers go after the organization’s resources, looking for vulnerabilities. They use many of the same tools and techniques as black-hat hackers because that is exactly what they are trying to simulate.
After the pentest is complete, Evans writes a report detailing what he was able to exploit, how he got in, and what he was able to do once he got in. Most importantly, Evans also offers suggestions on how organizations can support these vulnerabilities. before a real hacker discovers them.
What skills do ethical hackers need?
Ethical hackers should be comfortable looking for vulnerabilities and exploiting them. Evans says the underlying paths, processes and tools haven’t changed much over the years — even when it comes to cloud technologies.
If you are new to the industry or interested in a role in ethical hacking, you should consider mastering the following skills:
- Phishing
- Social engineering
- Network traffic sensing
- Session Hijacking
- SQL injection
- Password guessing and cracking
How to build a successful career as an ethical hacker?
Believe it or not, you can get into ethical hacking with little or no experience—as long as you have realistic expectations, says Evans. In other words, prepare to start with an entry-level role and work your way up.
There are many ways you can start learning ethical hacking, but certifications are a great place to start. Not only will certifications help you build a strong knowledge base, but they also have the potential to lead to valuable networking opportunities.
If you’re completely new to IT, start with basic certifications like CompTIA Security+ and Network+. Experienced IT professionals planning to transition to ethical hacking should consider mid-level credentials such as Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and CompTIA Pentest+.
When it comes to training, Evan puts a lot of emphasis on the practical. While watching an expert do something can be instructive, it’s not as helpful as actually getting your hands dirty and doing it yourself. Lab-based cybersecurity training helps you get the most out of your experience.
Evans also shares this nugget of wisdom: pace yourself. In the rush to advance your career, you may feel the urge to master as many skills as possible in the shortest amount of time. But Evans explains that you’ll struggle in your job if you don’t fully master each skill. Instead, he recommends taking your time and “don’t go from step one to step two until you’ve actually mastered step one.”
Conclusion: Keep up with what’s new in ethical hacking
Cybercriminals are constantly looking for vulnerabilities to exploit. Ethical hackers must stay one step ahead of their adversaries to uncover these vulnerabilities and advise organizations on how they can fix them before they are exploited.
Click here to view this webinar with Keatron and Camille.
The best way to keep your ethical hacking skills sharp is to keep up with what’s new in ethical hacking. Certifications, hands-on labs, and bootcamps are a great way to keep up with ethical hacking and stay one step ahead of the bad guys!
Sources
- Study: Hackers Attack Every 39 Seconds, University of Maryland
- What’s new in Ethical Hacking: Latest careers, skills and certifications, Infosec (YouTube)
