The Tools of Ethical Hackers - Business

Malicious hackers have been around as long as there have been computer networks. Improvements in technology and Internet access have made the problem worse. Corporate networks are connecting to the public Internet as the rest of the world is plugging in. Hackers are becoming more brazen and skilled.

Companies are realizing that they need to be more and more vigilant. Many security professionals are taking certified ethical hacker training courses to get ahead of this never-ending cat-and-mouse battle. They've discovered that the best way to protect against hackers is to know how they work and think.

Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking involves the tools and tricks of malicious hackers but without the mischievous or criminal intent. In fact, ethical hackers' intent is to discover vulnerabilities so that they can be fixed before malicious hackers can exploit them. To become a certified ethical hacker, you must have a deep knowledge of networks, complete training courses and pass an exam.

Varieties of Hackers

There are several types of hackers in the world - and each uses his or her knowledge and skills for different purposes. "Black hat" hackers break into networks to gain fame, notoriety and confidential data. Their actions are not authorized and are illegal. "White hat" hackers, on the other hand, use the same tools and tricks but do so to uncover vulnerabilities, detect threats and take preventative measures.

They work closely with the companies whose networks they hack. Ethical hackers fall into the category of "white hat" hackers. "Gray hat" hackers are a mix of the two categories. They work the same way as other hackers, but they do so to show off to their peers in the hacking community. Unlike "white hat" hackers, the "gray hats" often report their findings to fellow hackers without telling the affected companies.

Tests for Judging Security System's Efficiency

Security professionals who have completed CEH training will run a number of tests to determine the efficacy of your network. Here's a sampling:

Physical Infrastructure Hack

Your system is illegally accessed by getting into your areas, concentrating more on landing up confidential information such as passwords or any such clue from which they may get an idea about how to perform security breaches.

IP Hack

In this attack, a specific IP address is targeted. The hacker gets no other information than the address and attempts to break into your network through open ports, software vulnerabilities, common usernames and passwords, and other techniques.

Wireless Hack

This test attempts to penetrate your network by attacking wireless security - a common technique used by malicious hackers. Such tests also look for passwords that aren't encrypted and other vulnerabilities that are essentially open doors for hackers.

Application Hack

Specific applications also can create security vulnerabilities. In this test, client-side software and backend servers and databases are targeted. These can be extremely complicated tests, and only certified professionals should be allowed to conduct them.

Regardless of the test, companies need to be careful when hiring security professionals and ethical hackers. You want to make sure that the person you hired can be trusted with whatever he finds while attacking your systems. Those who charge less than other professionals might have reasons besides money for taking your job. Make sure the person you hire is certified by a legitimate body.

Tools of Ethical Hackers

A number of tools are available for hacking computer networks and systems. They're generally easy to use - opening the door to anyone who wants to become a hacker. Most hacking programs, including those for hacking IP addresses and wireless networks, are freely available on the Internet. Here's a sampling of some of the most popular tools:

Coldlife 4.0

This tool is an example of a "flooder," which overwhelms connections through rapid pinging or sending malformed requests. When Coldlife is installed on a number of unsuspecting PCs, the hackers will target a specific site to bring down in a Denial of Service (DoS) attack.

DeCSS 1.2b

This tool is designed for cracking, or removing usage restrictions on software. It breaks encryption schemes and, once successful, the hacker is free to patch the software in any way desired. One of its many uses is to remove license restrictions from a program or other copyright-protected content, such as DVDs.

Certified ethical hacker training are in strong demand as cybercrimes and cyber-attacks are on the rise ethical hackers demand in the market is increasing day by day. Many companies are rushing to find ethical hackers to test their corporate defenses. Still, it's an important decision, and one that should not be rushed.

Companies need to know as much as possible about the people they are hiring, including their background, qualifications, experience and certification. Most important, make sure the person agrees to the rules of ethical hacking. You don't want a black hat or even a gray hat when you're trying to find a white hat.