What is Ethical Hacking - Eligibility, Courses, Fees, Syllabus, Job Profile

A massive Yahoo data breach in 2013 compromised billions of user accounts. WannaCry ransomware attack in 2017 affected computers in over 150 countries, resulting in huge losses of millions of dollars. These incidents show the dark side of hacking, where vulnerabilities are exploited to cause widespread damage. 

To combat these threats and attacks, Big companies like Google and Facebook hire ethical hackers, also known as white hat hackers. With permission, they rigorously test their systems for weaknesses and vulnerabilities. This sums up what an ethical hacking professional does. These hackers are armed with various ethical hacking tools and techniques to fight against potential data breaches and threats to the company. 

Ethical hackers' jobs are not just about fixing holes but about staying several steps ahead of malicious black hat hackers, who exploit vulnerabilities for nefarious purposes. By identifying and addressing security issues, ethical hackers help safeguard the digital fortress, preventing potential disasters and saving companies from the kind of breaches that have made headlines in the past.

What is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking is the practice of intentionally trying to break into computer systems or networks to find and fix security vulnerabilities. Unlike malicious hackers, ethical hackers operate with permission from the organization they are testing. Their goal is to improve security by identifying weaknesses before they can be exploited by attackers. In lay terms, ethical hackers help make systems safer by thinking like a hacker but acting to protect the system.

Key Concepts of Ethical Hacking

Here are the key concepts of ethical hacking:

Key Concepts of Ethical Hacking	Details
Stay Legal	Ensure proper approval is obtained before accessing systems or conducting security assessments.
Define the Scope	Clearly establish the boundaries of the assessment to keep the work legal and within approved limits.
Disclose Findings	Report all identified vulnerabilities to the organization and provide recommendations for fixing them.
Respect Data Sensitivity	Adhere to data sensitivity rules, including signing nondisclosure agreements and meeting other requirements set by the organization.

Difference Between Ethical Hackers and Malicious Hackers

Here's the key differences between ethical hackers and malicious hackers:

Aspect	Ethical Hackers	Malicious Hackers
Purpose	Secure and improve organizational technology.	Gain unauthorized access for financial gain, personal fame, or harm.
Actions	Identify vulnerabilities, report them to the organization, and suggest fixes.	Exploit vulnerabilities for personal benefit without reporting them.
Impact	Help strengthen security and prevent breaches.	Damage systems, deface websites, or cause financial and reputational harm.
Follow-Up	Perform retests to ensure vulnerabilities are resolved.	Do not assist in improving security or resolving issues.
Ethics	Work legally with approval to protect resources and data.	Operate illegally, often targeting sensitive data for malicious purposes.

Skills and Certifications for Ethical Hacking

Skills	Certifications
Expertise in scripting languages	EC Council: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Certification
Proficiency in operating systems	Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP) Certification
Thorough knowledge of networking	CompTIA Security+
Strong foundation in information security	Cisco’s CCNA Security
	SANS GIAC
	Offensive Security Web Expert (OSWE)

Common Vulnerabilities Discovered by Ethical Hackers

Here are some of the common vulnerabilities that ethical hackers try to fnd:

Vulnerability	Description
Injection Attacks	Occur when untrusted data is sent to an interpreter, leading to unauthorized access or data leakage.
Vulnerability Chaining	Exploiting multiple vulnerabilities together to achieve a more significant security breach.
Sensitive Data Exposure	Happens when sensitive information, like personal or financial data, is not properly protected.
Security Misconfigurations	Result from improper settings in applications or servers, exposing systems to attacks.
Business Logic Vulnerabilities	Exploiting flaws in the application's workflow to bypass intended processes or gain access.
Broken Authentication and Authorization	Weak or flawed mechanisms that allow attackers to impersonate users or access restricted resources.
Use of Components with Known Vulnerabilities	Using outdated or insecure software components that can be exploited by attackers.

Ethical Hacking Course Highlight

Particulars	Details
Course Level	Diploma, Undergraduate, Postgraduate, Online Programmes
Duration	Online Courses - 6 weeks to 25 weeks Diploma 1-2 years UG- 3-4 years PG-2 years
Eligibility	For Online Courses - 10+2 in any stream For Undergraduate Courses -10+2 in any stream For Postgraduate Courses- Bachelor's degree
Fees	Up to INR 10 lakh
Top Institutions	DOEACC/NIELIT, Calicut HITS Chennai IIIT Hyderabad NIIT University, Neemrana University of Madras
Average Salary	Up to INR 6 lakh
Top Recruiters	Google, Microsoft, Apple, Facebook (Meta), Amazon, IBM, Oracle, etc.
Job Positions	Ethical Hacker, Penetration Tester, Security Analyst, Security Consultant, Cybersecurity Engineer, Information Security Manager, Vulnerability Assessor, etc.

Why Learn Ethical Hacking in 2025?

Here are some top reasons to learn about ethical hacking. 

• According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there is a high demand for ethical hackers in the job market, with an expected growth rate of 32% from 2020 to 2030. 
• Ethical hacking is a diverse field with opportunities in various industries such as finance, healthcare, government, and technology. 
• As per PayScale, the average salary for an ethical hacker in the United States is $99,000 per year. In India, the average salary of an ethical hacker is  INR 517,569 per year, as per AmbitionBox.  
• The ethical hacking field is constantly evolving, with new technologies and techniques emerging, providing ongoing learning opportunities for professionals.
• A report by Burning Glass Technologies found that cybersecurity skills can boost a worker's salary by up to 16%.  
• Learning ethical hacking can help individuals protect themselves from cyber-attacks. According to Statista, there were 1.2 billion data breaches in the first half of 2023 alone, which makes it crucial for everyone to understand how to protect their personal information online.

Why Should You Choose Ethical Hacking as a Career Option?

All big organizations and MNCs are in dire need of a good security team in this era of the internet. An Ethical Hacker can help big organizations by picking up a job as a cyber-security advisor for them. 

A very popular job profile these days, Ethical Hackers are in a lot of demand and big IT companies such as TCS, Infosys, Cognizant, Wipro and others are constantly looking for cyber security experts and ethical hackers. 

Since 2012, Ethical Hacking as a field has been growing at a rate that is widely outpacing all other spheres of cybersecurity and IT industry. As per Bureau of Labour Statistics, listings for cybersecurity jobs has increased by a whopping 75%, since 2012. The pay scale offered to Ethical Hackers is impressive too. Some reasons why should you have a career in ethical hacking, include -

1. Increased demands for information security professionals in both public and private sectors, paving way for more employment opportunities
2. Ethical Hacking has extended beyond the digital world and is entering the physical world, thereby ensuring a real-world impact
3. Booming job market, where pursuing an Ethical Hacking course may help you get a hike of 50-70%
4. Opportunity to work with big brand names like Visa, Cisco, Oracle, Reliance, GE, American Express, to name a few
5. A wonderful opportunity to network with new people and industry experts

Must Read: 5 Best Cyber Security Programming Languages to Learn

How to Learn Ethical Hacking?

Step 1: Understand the Basics of Networking and Computers

• Familiarize yourself with computer networks, how they work, and basic concepts such as TCP/IP, DNS, and HTTP/HTTPS.
• Learn about operating systems, especially Linux and Windows, as many tools used in ethical hacking are Linux-based.

Step 2: Learn Programming

• Acquire programming skills in languages relevant to security analysis, such as Python, JavaScript, or C. Programming knowledge is crucial for understanding how software vulnerabilities can be exploited and for developing your own hacking tools.

Step 3: Study Security Concepts

• Dive into cybersecurity fundamentals, including encryption, authentication, and authorization processes.
• Understand common vulnerabilities and attacks like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks.

Step 4: Get Hands-On with Ethical Hacking Tools

• Use ethical hacking tools like Metasploit, Nmap, Wireshark, and Burp Suite. 
• Engage in controlled environments like labs or virtual machines to safely apply hacking techniques without causing harm.

Step 5: Engage in Practice Scenarios

• Participate in online Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions and security challenges to test your skills in real-world scenarios.
• Use practice labs, such as those offered by OverTheWire, Hack The Box, or TryHackMe, which provide challenges from beginner to advanced levels.

Step 6: Earn Certifications

• Consider obtaining ethical hacking certifications such as the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), or CompTIA Security+. These certifications validate your knowledge and skills and are often required by employers in the cybersecurity field.

Step 7: Stay Updated and Continue Learning

• Follow the latest cybersecurity news and updates to stay informed about new vulnerabilities and hacking techniques.
• Join forums and communities like Reddit's r/netsec or security-focused groups on social media to learn from and contribute to discussions with other cybersecurity enthusiasts and professionals.

Fundamental Concepts of Ethical Hacking

Here are the fundamental concepts of ethical hacking:

Concept	Description
Ethics	The foundational principles guiding ethical hackers, emphasizing permission, legality, and the intent to improve security without causing harm.
Legality	Understanding and complying with laws related to cyber security, privacy, and data protection to ensure all hacking activities are within legal boundaries.
Footprinting and Reconnaissance	Gathering information about target systems, networks, and organizations to plan an effective security assessment.
Scanning Networks	Using tools and techniques to identify live systems, open ports, and running services to map out vulnerabilities.
Enumeration	Extracting detailed information about network resources, users, and potential entry points from the scanned systems.
Vulnerability Analysis	Identifying security holes and weaknesses in systems, software, and network infrastructures that could be exploited by attackers.
System Hacking	Gaining unauthorized access to systems and employing techniques to maintain that access, demonstrated in a controlled and legal manner for security enhancement.
Malware Threats	Understanding how malicious software operates, including viruses, worms, trojans, and ransomware, and how to defend against them.
Sniffing	Intercepting and analyzing network traffic to extract information or find vulnerabilities, using tools like Wireshark.
Social Engineering	Employing manipulation techniques to trick individuals into revealing confidential information, emphasizing defense strategies against such attacks.
Denial of Service	Learning about DoS and DDoS attacks, where services are made unavailable to legitimate users, and how to protect networks from them.
Session Hijacking	Techniques for taking over a valid user session to gain unauthorized access to information or services on a computer system.
Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots	Techniques to bypass intrusion detection systems, firewalls, and decoy systems designed to distract attackers from accessing real networks.
Cryptography	Understanding the principles of encrypting and decrypting information to protect data confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity.
Web Application Hacking	Identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities in web applications, such as SQL injection, XSS, and file inclusion vulnerabilities.
Wireless Network Security	Securing wireless networks, understanding encryption weaknesses, and protecting against threats like rogue access points and Wi-Fi spoofing.
Cloud Computing Security	Addressing security challenges unique to cloud computing environments, including data protection, resource sharing, and cloud service vulnerabilities.
IoT Security	Tackling security issues associated with the Internet of Things devices, focusing on their unique vulnerabilities and how to secure them.

Top Ethical Hacking Certification and Programs 

Certificate Name	Total Duration	Average Fees (INR)
EC-Council- Certified Ethical Hacker + CEH Master	5 Days	87,800
EC-Council- Computer Hacking Forensic Investigator Certification	5 Days	87,700
GIAC- Certified Penetration Tester	6 days	1,45,000
GIAC- Cyber Security Certification	6 days	1,45,000
GIAC- Certified Forensic Analyst	6 days	1,45,000
GIAC- Certified Intrusion Analyst	6 days	1,45,000

Ethical Hacking Diploma and Degree Programmes

Programme Name	Total Duration	Average Fees (INR)
Diploma in Ethical Hacking and IT Security	1-2 years	15,000
Diploma in Ethical Hacking	1-2 years	3,999
Diploma in Ethical Hacking & Cyber Security	1-2 years	50,000
BTech Cyber Security	4 Years	6-12 L
BSc Networking	3 years	60k-3L
BTech CSE (Cyber Security and Forensics)	4 Years	6-8 L

Minimum Eligibility for Enrolling in Online Ethical Hacking Courses

It is important to have a Bachelor’s degree (BSc, BTech, BE, BCA) in Information Technology or Computer Science to become an ethical hacker. Candidates with an advanced diploma in network security or relevant technology can also choose ethical hacking as a professional career. A certification from a reputed institute enhances the chances of getting hired by some big names in the IT sector. However, every candidate needs to fulfil the eligibility criteria prescribed below before applying for admission to Ethical Hacking Courses:

• Eligibility Criteria for UG Courses: Candidates should have passed class 12 or its equivalent from a recognized board. Admission to ethical hacking courses at maximum Indian institutes is done through entrance tests.
• Eligibility Criteria for PG Courses: Candidates must have passed a bachelor’s degree in the related subject from a recognized university. A large number of colleges offer admission to their PG-level Ethical Hacking course through entrance tests.

Who Should Go For Online Ethical Hacking Courses?

• Freshers interested in cybersecurity want to learn more about ethical hacking techniques and tools. 
• Professionals working in the tech industry who want to upskill and stay relevant in their field. 
• Professionals working in a different industry who want to switch to a career in cybersecurity need to learn the basics of ethical hacking. 
• IT professionals who want to add ethical hacking skills to their existing skills to enhance their career prospects. 
• Business owners and managers who want to understand better the security risks to their organization and how to mitigate them.
• Anyone interested in protecting their personal information and devices from cyber threats.

Top Online Ethical Hacking Courses

Here are the top online ethical hacking courses:

Course	Duration
Hacking in Practice: Certified Ethical Hacking MEGA Course	2 hours
Complete Ethical Hacking Bootcamp : Zero to Mastery	27 hours
The Complete Nmap Ethical Hacking Course : Network Security	5 hours
Certified Ethical Hacker Certification	40 hours
Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE)	15 hours
Metaxone Certified Ethical Hacker	2 months
CERTIFIED SECURITY PROFESSIONAL	12 weeks
CEH V11 Certification Training	40 days
Cyber Forensics	1 hour

Syllabus for Online Ethical Hacking Courses

Candidates learn the following topics in the maximum ethical hacking courses in India:

Training Area	Topics Covered
Ethical Hacking	Cyber Ethics-Hacking Introduction Information Gathering 1 and 2 Scanning 1 and 2 Google Hacking Database Virus and Worms  Trojans & Backdoors Sniffers & keyloggers Social Engineering Email, DNS, IP and Email spoofing HoneyPots System Hacking & Security
Website Hacking & Security	Vulnerability Research SQL Injection  XSS Attacks & Countermeasures LFI/ RFI Attacks & Countermeasures Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities Buffer Overflow & Session Hijacking Attacks Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing Exploit Writing Secure Coding Practices
Mobile & Wireless Security	Wireless Hacking & Security SMS Forging & Countermeasures VoIP Hacking & Countermeasures

Tools To Look Out in a Ethical Hacking Course

Tool	Purpose	Use in Ethical Hacking
Nmap	Network Mapping	Identifying devices on a network, open ports, and services running on hosts.
Wireshark	Packet Analysis	Capturing and analyzing network traffic to detect vulnerabilities and malicious activities.
Metasploit	Exploitation Framework	Developing and executing exploit code against a remote target machine.
Burp Suite	Web Vulnerability Scanner	Testing and finding vulnerabilities in web applications.
John the Ripper	Password Cracking	Cracking weak passwords to test password strength and enforce stronger policies.
Aircrack-ng	Wireless Network Security	Testing network security and cracking Wi-Fi passwords to assess wireless network security.
Kali Linux	Penetration Testing OS	Providing a comprehensive suite of tools for penetration testing and security auditing.
OWASP ZAP	Web Application Testing	Automatically finding security vulnerabilities in web applications during development and testing phases.
Nessus	Vulnerability Scanner	Scanning networks for vulnerabilities to prevent potential attacks before they happen.
SQLmap	Automated SQL Injection	Detecting and exploiting SQL injection flaws and taking over database servers.
Acunetix	Web Vulnerability Scanner	Scanning web applications to detect SQL injection, XSS, and other vulnerabilities.
Ghidra	Reverse Engineering	Analyzing malicious code and binaries to understand their behavior and origin.
Snort	Network Intrusion Detection	Monitoring network traffic for signs of intruders and analyzing system logs.
Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET)	Social Engineering Attacks	Crafting phishing campaigns and other social engineering attacks to assess an organization's susceptibility.

Conclusion

Ethical hacking has its limitations. Hackers must operate within a defined scope, which can restrict their ability to uncover all potential issues. They often face constraints like limited time, budget, and computing resources, unlike their malicious counterparts. Besides this, some organizations impose restrictions on testing methods to avoid disrupting their systems, such as prohibiting denial-of-service attacks. 

Despite these challenges, ethical hacking is essential for enhancing cybersecurity. It presents exciting career opportunities for those interested in the field. The demand for skilled ethical hackers is growing as more organizations recognize the need to protect their digital assets from cyber threats. 

Apart from all this, ethical hacking offers attractive salary prospects and allows individuals to contribute positively to society by securing sensitive information and preventing cybercrimes. With various educational options available, including certifications and degree programs, aspiring ethical hackers can acquire the skills necessary to excel in this rewarding profession. 

Following are the most popular Ethical Hacking Colleges in India. Learn more about these Ethical Hacking colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.

Following are the most popular Ethical Hacking courses, based on alumni reviews. Explore these reviews to choose the best course in Ethical Hacking.

Following are the most popular Ethical Hacking UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

Following are the most popular Ethical Hacking PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

Following are the top exams for Ethical Hacking. Students interested in pursuing a career on Ethical Hacking, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.