Learn the 5 Steps of Ethical Hacking | iCert Global

Cyberattacks Are a Big Deal

Hacking and online threats are real problems that many companies face today.

A survey by PriceWaterhouseCoopers in 2018 showed that business leaders are worried about new technologies like robots and automation. Around 39% of the 9,500 people asked were afraid that important data might be stolen or lost. About 32% were also concerned that the quality of their products could be harmed.

Cybersecurity isn’t just a job for the IT team anymore. It’s now a big issue that can hurt a company’s reputation. Even famous business leaders like Elon Musk, who runs Tesla, are making online safety a top priority.

As more companies go digital, keeping their data safe from hackers is more important than ever. Businesses are now trying to find ways to stop attacks before they happen. One smart way to do this is by using ethical hacking.

What is Ethical Hacking and How is it Different from Hacking?

They can change how programs work, steal important data, or damage systems. These actions can cost companies a lot of money.

But ethical hacking is different. Ethical hackers use the same tools and tricks as bad hackers—but for a good reason. They find problems in the system and fix them before real hackers can attack. Kevin said, “To stop a hacker, you need to think like one.

Types of Hackers : 

There are different kinds of hackers:

• Black Hat Hackers: These are people who are very good with computers, but they use their skills to do bad things like steal information or break systems.
• White Hat Hackers: These are ethical hackers. They also have great computer skills, but they use them to help protect systems and stop bad hackers.
• Gray Hat Hackers: These hackers do both good and bad. Sometimes they help protect systems, and other times they might break rules.

Why Do Companies Hire Ethical Hackers?

Kevin King says that it can take a company around 200 days to even notice that hackers have attacked their systems. That’s a long time! So, companies are now hiring ethical hackers to stop these problems before they happen.

Ethical hackers check for weak spots in computer systems and make sure everything follows safety rules. Then, they work on making the system stronger so the company stays safe from cyber-attacks.

The Five Phases of Ethical Hacking

Even though these steps are usually used by bad hackers to break into computer systems, ethical hackers (also called white hat hackers) use the same steps to protect those systems.

1. Reconnaissance (Learning About the Target)

• This is the first step where the hacker gathers information before doing anything else.
• They try to find out important details like:
  • Old passwords
  • Names of important employees
  • IP addresses (like digital home addresses for computers)
• They might even go through the trash (called dumpster diving) to find clues!
• Hackers use a process called footprinting to:
  • Map out how the computer network looks
  • Find weak spots
  • Learn about the company’s computers and systems
• They can also use fake websites or search engines to collect more info.

2. Scanning (Looking for Openings)

• Now, the hacker looks closely to find ways to enter the system.
• There are three parts to this step:

a. Pre-Attack Scanning

• • They scan the network based on what they found earlier.

b. Port Scanning/Sniffing

• • They use tools like sniffers and scanners to check for open doors (called ports) in the system.

c. Information Extraction

• • They find out what kind of computers are being used, what operating systems they run, and what’s running on them.

This helps hackers plan the best way to get in—or helps ethical hackers stop the attack before it happens.

3. Gain Access (Getting In)

• In this step, the hacker gets into the system or network.
• They try to take control of computers and programs.
• Hackers may also boost their powers to do more things inside the system—like an employee getting manager-level access without permission.
• Ethical hackers do this only to find weak spots and fix them before bad hackers can break in.

4. Maintain Access (Staying Inside)

• Once inside, the hacker tries to stay hidden and keep access for a longer time.
• They may use dangerous software like rootkits or trojans to stay connected.
• This allows them to launch more attacks or steal more data without being caught.
• Ethical hackers do this to test how long a hacker could stay in the system and help stop it.

5. Cover Tracks (Hiding the Attack)

• After breaking in, hackers try to hide everything they did so no one knows they were there.
• They delete things like:
  • Log files (which show who used the system)
  • Cache and cookies (which store past activity)
  • Open ports (the entry points they used)
• This makes it really hard for security teams to know what happened.
• Ethical hackers do this step to learn how real hackers hide their attacks—and then find ways to spot and stop them faster.

What is the Future of Ethical Hacking?

Right now, ethical hacking is still a new idea for many people. But as more and more cyber-attacks and security problems happen, companies are starting to understand that ethical hackers are the “good guys” who protect systems from getting hacked.

According to expert Kevin King, one big future challenge is the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for hacking. That means smart computer programs will be built just to break into systems without any help from humans.

In the future, computers may have to defend themselves against AI hackers, just like they defend against today’s smart hackers. This shows how important ethical hackers will be—to stop these smart attacks before they cause damage.

How to obtain Cyber Security certification? 

We are an Education Technology company providing certification training courses to accelerate careers of working professionals worldwide. We impart training through instructor-led classroom workshops, instructor-led live virtual training sessions, and self-paced e-learning courses.

We have successfully conducted training sessions in 108 countries across the globe and enabled thousands of working professionals to enhance the scope of their careers.

Our enterprise training portfolio includes in-demand and globally recognized certification training courses in Project Management, Quality Management, Business Analysis, IT Service Management, Agile and Scrum, Cyber Security, Data Science, and Emerging Technologies. Download our Enterprise Training Catalog from https://www.icertglobal.com/corporate-training-for-enterprises.php and https://www.icertglobal.com/index.php

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The 10 top-paying certifications to target in 2025 are:

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• Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

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Conclusion

The world is becoming more digital every day, and with that comes the risk of hackers trying to break into systems and steal important data. That’s why ethical hackers are more important than ever. They help protect companies, schools, hospitals, and even governments from dangerous cyber-attacks.

As technology gets smarter, the threats also grow. But with the help of skilled ethical hackers, we can stay one step ahead. If you’re interested in learning how to protect the digital world and build a strong career, iCert Global’s Ethical Hacking Course is a great place to start. It teaches you how to think like a hacker—but act like a hero.Be the shield the world needs—become an ethical hacker!

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