When we hear the term hacking, the first thing that comes to mind is malicious cyber attacks. But is that entirely correct? Thanks to popular culture, hackers are often seen as extremely smart individuals with malicious intent who steal our data and destroy our systems. However, it is also true that certain 'good' hackers with certifications can protect our data from the 'bad' ones. Keep reading to better understand the concept of ethical hacking and the differences between malicious and ethical hacking. 

What Is Ethical Hacking?

An authorized attempt to acquire unauthorized access to a computer system, application, or data is referred to as ethical hacking. Duplicating the techniques and behaviours of malicious attackers is part of ethical hacking. This approach helps detect security flaws, which can subsequently be addressed before a malevolent attacker can exploit them.

Who Is an Ethical Hacker?

An ethical hacker is a computer security professional who breaches a computer system, network, application, or other computing resources on its owners' behalf and with their permission. Organizations request ethical hackers to identify potential security flaws that malevolent hackers could exploit. 

Ethical hackers are so named because they usually work for the government or other organizations to protect data or combat crime.

What Are the Key Differences between Ethical Hacking and Malicious Hacking?

1. Legality

Malicious Hacker: Hacking is when you get unauthorized access to a company's network or technology. It is entirely illegal, and anyone proven guilty suffers harsh legal repercussions.

Ethical Hacker: The firm authorizes and permits ethical hacking, which is completely legal. An agreement protects ethical hackers. In fact, this is one of the highest-paying jobs available today.

2. Intent

Malicious Hacker: A hacker targets a network, system, or app to obtain personal information from users and may erase, edit, or remove records from an organization. They seek to steal your information.

Ethical Hacker: An ethical hacker would gain access to a company's network for the right reasons, such as finding and patching security weaknesses to secure the system, thus assuring an organization's data protection policies are working as they should. In a nutshell, they safeguard your information.

3. Training

Malicious Hacker: A deep understanding of operating systems, a good grasp of network security control, and knowledge of programming languages such as Python, JavaScript, and C are some of the talents required to be a hacker.

Ethical Hacker: Ethical hackers are given the same basic training as hackers. There are courses and certifications you can pursue to work as an ethical hacker.

4. Professional Development

Malicious Hacker: A malicious hacker cannot experience legitimate professional growth. Instead, the individual is always at risk of being apprehended by the authorities.

Ethical Hacker - Ethical hacking is a highly sought-after career with great remuneration. After obtaining your entry-level position, you can apply for more advanced computer security jobs such as senior penetration tester or network administrator.

5. Compensation

Malicious Hacker: They attempt to gain money by getting personal information illegally and selling it. 

Ethical Hacker: They are full-time employees and have access to regular income and employee incentives in exchange for their efforts in securing the firm's data.

Ethical hacking as a career has enormous potential. Enrolling in Computek College's Computer Network and Cyber Security Engineering course will equip you to apply for well-paying ethical hacking jobs in the industry. Contact us right away for more details.