The bad guys typically wore the black hat in old cowboy movies, while the good guys wore white ones. The way we talk about online outlaws and the ethical hacking whose job it is to rein in their nefarious activities and keep them from trespassing today still heavily incorporates Wild West symbolism.
White-hat hackers use similar high-tech strategies to defend against an onslaught of cybercrime while black-hat hackers work in the shadows, using malware, ransomware, phishing, and a variety of other tactics to carry out virtual break-ins, lootings, and heists.
The good news for practising and aspiring cybersecurity professionals is that it pays to stay on the right side of the law when it comes to ethical hacking. Continue reading for a closer look at the job market for white-hat hackers, whose services are highly sought after in almost every industry and who frequently command salaries of $100,000 or more.
What Carry Out Ethical Hackers?
To attempt to hack into computer systems, ethical hackers are compensated handsomely. It is frequently said that in order to excel at their jobs, these cybercrime-fighters must “think like a black-hat hacker” — that is, they must comprehend a black-hat hacker’s strategies, motivations, and mode of operation in order to prevent intruders from forcibly accessing networks and systems to commit crimes.
Ethical hackers generally engage in activities like penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, and a variety of strategies aimed at protecting their organisations from cyberattacks of all kinds, depending on the requirements of their employers. This may consist of:
- limiting access to and theft of private data by malicious attackers
- Identifying weaknesses in the networks and systems of their employer
- Assisting in the establishment of defences to secure or “harden” those weak points
- putting effort into establishing secure networks to prevent security breaches
- Assisting their business in gaining the confidence of clients and investors by protecting data and assets
For ethical hackers working in the private sector, this typically means defending corporate assets; for those working for the government, this frequently means defending national security by defending systems and secrets from terrorists.
Types Of Hackers (White Hat, Black Hat, Gray Hat)
Hackers are not actually identifiable by their choice of hat, despite the “hat” symbolism. Here is a list of the various categories of hackers, beginning with white hats and black hats:
A white-hat hacker is what?
A white-hat hacker is a cybersecurity expert hired to identify attackable flaws in software, hardware, and networks, report on those flaws, and frequently assist in securing such weak points. According to TechTarget.com, the vendor whose hardware or software is vulnerable will be informed so that it can patch the systems of other customers. Many of the same techniques, tools, and methods are employed by black-hat and white-hat hackers.
A black-hat hacker is what?
The criminals are the black-hat hackers. They have a reputation for breaking into victims’ networks illegally in order to disrupt operations, steal or destroy data, conduct espionage, or occasionally just cause malicious mayhem to show off their abilities. Black-hat hackers frequently possess in-depth knowledge of bypassing security measures and breaking into computer networks.
A Gray-Hat Hacker is what?
When probing a system for vulnerabilities without malicious intent but also without the owner’s knowledge or consent, a grey-hat hacker combines elements of both white- and black-hat counterparts. If they discover weaknesses, they will probably notify the owner of them and ask for payment to have the problem fixed. The grey-hat activity may turn a little darker if the owner does not react or comply.
The big three are green, blue, and red hats, but there are also less well-known variations of each.
A Green-Hat Hacker is what?
An amateur, novice, newcomer, or “noob” is typically referred to as a “green-hat hacker”; they are interested in hacking but lack advanced technical knowledge and training. Many people in this group are interested in developing their skills and getting more involved in the hacking community.
A Blue-Hat Hacker is what?
There are two distinctly different people who fit the definition of “blue-hat hackers.” One is a novice hacker with retaliation as their driving force. The other, commonly known as “BlueHat,” refers to a security expert hired by a business to check software for flaws (such as Microsoft and Windows).
A Red-Hat hacker is what?
The black-hat hacker’s sworn enemy is the red-hat hacker, who is known for pursuing lawbreakers and is frequently referred to as a vigilante. Red hats hunt down malicious hackers, but they don’t just report them—they also use cutting-edge methods to shut them down, disrupt, or even destroy their computers.
Ethical Hacking’s Contribution to Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity Ventures estimates that the annual global cost of cybercrime will be $6 trillion by 2021; this problem will require multi-layered solutions to address. One of the most crucial techniques for stopping cybercrime, identifying the targets and methods used by the hackers, and thwarting their attempts to wreak virtual havoc is ethical hacking.
Information on Data Breach Costs
The ever-growing list of high-profile victims includes well-known names from all industries, including major corporations (Target, CVS), restaurant chains (Wendy’s, Panera), financial institutions (Citigroup, Equifax), academic institutions (UC Berkeley, Johns Hopkins), social media platforms (Facebook, LinkedIn), and secretive government agencies (NSA, IRS). With trillions of dollars on the line, data breaches are so common.
The average cost of a data breach is roughly $3.86 million, according to IBM’s 2020 Cost of a Data Breach Report. Of course, making such calculations is not an exact science. According to a 77-page report from Digital Guardian, which looked at incidents reported by 507 organisations from 17 industries and 16 regions around the world, the average cost of a breach can range from $1.25 million to $8.19 million, depending on the location and industry.
The average cost of a data breach is the highest in the United States ($8.19 million in 2019, up from $7.91 million in 2018). Ethical hackers are in high demand.
It is simple to understand why there is such a high demand for cybersecurity experts in general and ethical hackers in particular given the ongoing wave of cybercrime. By 2021, according to industry watchdog Cybersecurity Ventures, there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity jobs open globally.
Several thousand positions are available at a variety of well-known companies, including Booz Allen Hamilton, Fidelity Investments, Microsoft, TikTok, Tesla, the Federal Reserve Bank, and the U.S. Department of Defense, according to a recent LinkedIn search for “ethical hacking” jobs.
Typical Ethical Hacking Careers
The following are typical job titles in the ethical hacking industry:
Tester for penetration
Assessor of Vulnerabilities
Analyst for Information Security
Security Expert
Professional Ethical Hacker (CEH)
Moral hacker
Security Advisor
Engineer/Architect for security
Manager of Information Security
Depending on the position and the company, these jobs will require a wide range of skills.
strong understanding of computer systems and networking
knowledge of current security procedures for commonly used operating systems, including Linux, Windows, and Mac
the capacity to break into systems or networks with permission in order to assess vulnerabilities
able to take protective measures against malicious attempts, including preventative, corrective, and remedial measures
should be adept at recognising and breaking a variety of passwords
Understand the stages and techniques of ethical hacking.
You should be able to delete any digital traces of network and system intrusions.
Recognize cryptography and encryption methods.
Respect the code of ethics and conduct for professionals
Know how to use appropriate evasion techniques and countermeasures. Should be aware of common cyberattacks, such as phishing, social engineering, trojans, insider attacks, identity thefts, etc.
Additionally, the EC-Council advises aspiring ethical hackers to be fluent in a number of coding languages, including Python, SQL, PHP, Java, C, and C++.
Data on Ethical Hacker Pay
Because figures are frequently changed in real-time based on changing data, salary estimates for cybersecurity positions related to ethical hacking vary widely depending on the methodologies used. From reputable online employment and cybersecurity websites, the following are some recent ethical hacker salary snapshots:
Ziprecruiter.com – $116,323 Testing for penetration
$104,000 – Cyberseek.org (Penetration and vulnerability tester) (Penetration and vulnerability tester)
Salary.com: $99,081 (Ethical hacker)
– Payscale.com $81,179 (Certified ethical hacker)
Additionally, independent “bug bounty” hunters are a different category of ethical hackers who can make very good money. Both private businesses and governmental organisations strengthen their security measures by hiring independent hackers to look for flaws that endanger their overall security.
How to Become An Ethical Hacker
Experience and education are crucial. A solid educational foundation or bachelor’s degree in computer science is very beneficial. Working in network support, network engineering, or any other position related to information security can help you gain experience early in your career.
Certifications for ethical hackers
Professional certifications are important in the job market for ethical hackers. The Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) credential from the EC-Council is sought after by many employers hiring ethical hackers. Various other well-known cybersecurity credentials include:
(CISSP) Information systems security professional with certification
(CISM) Information Security Manager with certification
(CISA) Information Systems Auditor with Certification
Certification by SANS/GIAC
Education: Benefits of a Master’s Degree
Although advanced education is not necessary for all roles in cybersecurity, many employers require or prefer candidates with master’s degrees. However, many practising and aspiring cybersecurity professionals opt for an advanced degree for significant reasons. For instance, obtaining a degree
Provides you with in-depth knowledge and useful skills
allows you to demonstrate your work experience through detailed exercises and practical sandbox lab work that closely resembles real-world situations.
provides you with a significant competitive edge in the job market
You can enrol in a career-building degree programme at the highly regarded cybersecurity industry thought leader and education provider. Learn more by reading Tutorials Freak Ethical Hacking Tutorial.
Read: Top Features and Benefits of Using ReactJS for Web Development
Happy Learning!
