Recent news events have demonstrated that Cybersecurity has become a more significant concern for government and private entities than ever before. If you are serious about your infrastructure security, you need to proactively find them before hackers, or other malicious individuals exploit them.
To find these vulnerabilities, you must be able to think like those who are looking for them. This is where ethical hackers (also known as white-hat hackers) come in.
White hat professionals have the same skills as hackers who exploit vulnerabilities for their personal gain. They help organizations evaluate and strengthen their network security.
This article will cover the following topics.
What is a White Hat Hacker?
Hackers are people who have unauthorized access to computers to do them harm. This is often true. However, white-hat hackers do not do this for the same reason.
White-hat hackers are ethical hackers. They will attempt to hack into an organization’s network or system to test their IT security. After identifying vulnerabilities in an organization’s security system, a white-hat hacker will report them to strengthen the system’s security.
They do not harm organizations but help them by performing hacking activities.
What do White Hat Hackers do?
Although many IT security personnel are trained to implement countermeasures against hacking attacks, ethical hackers use the same techniques as black hat hackers to find vulnerabilities. These methods could include:
- Trojans
- Viruses
- Social Engineering
- Worms
- Network Enumeration
- SQL Injection
- Denial of Service (DoS).
- Brute Force Hacking
White hat hackers will attempt to hack into systems using any method necessary. They may use well-known cyber-attack tools or create their own.
How to become a White Hat Hacker?
You must be proficient in the tools required to become a white-hat hacker. Knowledge and experience in information technology are prerequisites. A bachelor’s degree in Cybersecurity or a related field is required for most positions. In the world of Cybersecurity, certifications and experience are important.
After you have worked in Cybersecurity for some time and feel confident in your job, you may want to move on. There are PhDs and master’s degrees in Cybersecurity that can help you rise in your career. The world of Cybersecurity offers a rewarding career that allows you to move up.
Background and Educational requirements.
White hat hacking requires a lot of problem-solving and communication skills. White hat hackers must have intelligence and common sense, excellent technical and organizational skills, exceptional judgment, and the ability not to lose their cool under pressure.
A white-hat hacker must think and act like a black hacker. White hat hackers can be ex-black hat hackers caught and, for different reasons, decide to put their criminal past behind them and use their skills legally and positively.
A white-hat hacker does not need to have a standard education. Each organization has its own requirements. However, a bachelor’s or a master’s degree in computer science, information security, or mathematics will provide a solid foundation.
Even if you aren’t a college-bound candidate, having a military background in intelligence can help your resume stand out to hiring managers. Military service can be considered a positive trait for employers who prefer to hire people with security clearances or have required military service are also attracted.
Helpful Certifications.
1) Certified Network Defender (C|ND)
This is a good starting point. You will also learn the basics of network defense while studying for this qualification. This course will teach you how to identify and combat cyber threats.
2) Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
This certification is a common way to get started in becoming white-hat hackers. The EC Council offers this certification which teaches students the skills that they need to become ethical hackers. This certification is recognized by the United States Department of Defense (DoD) and ANSI (American National Standards Institute)-accredited.
3) EC-Council Certified Security Analyst (ECSA).
This program will teach you how to perform penetration testing.
4) Master Licensed Penetration Testing (LPT) Technician
This certification is the most prestigious you can receive from EC-Council. This program is for advanced penetration testers.
5) GIAC Certified Forensics Analyst
This course is for people who are interested in working in operating-system-based forensic investigation.
6) Physical Security Professional (PSP).
This certification is provided by ASIS international and focuses on IT security’s physical aspects.
Helpful Personality Traits.
Education is important, but you also need to have certain personality traits to be able to work as a white-hat hacker. These are:
- Being intelligent
- Common logic
- Being well-organized
- Problem-solving skills
- Communication skills
- Preemptive Imagination – To stop black-hat hackers from compromising an IT system, it is important to imagine them.
- A strong work ethic
- Dedication
- Being able to stay calm l under pressure
- Persuasion — To gain access to the IT systems, you must convince others to allow you to access sensitive security information.
In addition to these traits, it would be helpful to also learn how to code and be familiar with the basics of operating systems.
Career Opportunities for White Hat Hackers
To become a white-hat hacker, starting your career as an information security analyst/tech consultant is helpful.
These jobs are great because the demand is rising at a faster rate than average job growth. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Information security analysts’ jobs will grow by 32% between 2021 and 2028.
However, there are other jobs that you can pursue that will help you become a white-hat hacker. These roles include network security specialists, information security consultants, and penetration testers.
Conclusion
If you have the right background and certifications, you should be able to find work in ethical hacking immoderately. You’ll be able to use certification and continuing education to guide your career in the direction you want.
Hope you liked this article on How to Become a White Hat Hacker in 2022
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