Is Programming Necessary To Learn Hacking?
The simple answer to the question is programming necessary for hacking is no. It is not necessary to know programming to learn hacking or to have a successful career in the cyber security field. However, I would like to add that even though programming is not necessary to learn hacking, it is recommended to understand a few programming languages. The stronger your command of programming, the more in-depth your knowledge will be about ethical hacking, and the lesser the dependency will be on the limitations of tools created by other programmers.
This article will cover how programming knowledge can make your ethical hacking education journey more fulfilling, even though not necessary.
Table Of Contents.
- Why is programming important to learn hacking?
- What programming language should you learn for hacking?
- Additional skills to learn for hacking.
- Conclusion.
Why Is Programming Important To Learn Hacking?
Before I get into this, I would like to repeat that it is not necessary to know programming to learn how to hack computers.
Though knowing or learning programming is not a prerequisite, there are situations when it is helpful to understand the basics.
The first reason it is helpful to learn programming is that it will enable you to modify scripts to hack into other systems. As a beginner, you will mainly be using automated tools such as Metasploit and Burpsuite, or scripts created by other programmers. Most beginner hackers without programming knowledge are not familiar with the details of attacks and can’t write their own scripts to automate them. Therefore a good understanding of programming is beneficial for beginners who would eventually like to write their own scripts or modify existing scripts to suit their needs better.
Solid understanding of a programming language will allow you to be independent and give you the ability to better understand the inner workings of exploits.
Knowledge of programming languages like C or C++ will enable you to create your own exploits and limit your dependency on frameworks like Metasploit. With the knowledge of programming, you can create your own custom malware, making it difficult for antivirus software to detect it.
Though there are many tools for hacking that are open-source and freely available, the knowledge of programming will give you the ability to better understand how the exploits work on a code or logic level.
Lastly, understanding programming (creating and executing complete computer programs) can help you better understand different cyberattacks. Attacks like SQL injections and cross-site scripting or command line injection all use lines of source code as their attack vector. It is extremely beneficial to have a solid understanding of languages such as javascript, SQL, and Powershell.
What Programming Language Should You Learn For Hacking?
In this section, we will talk about some important programming languages to learn.
Please note the term platform-agnostic means whether it can work on different operating systems such as Windows, Linux based, MAC, etc.
1.
Language name:
HTML
What is it?:
HTML is the standard markup language used to create Web pages.
Is it platform agnostic?:
Yes
Benefits to hackers:
Login forms and other data entry methods on the Web use HTML forms to obtain data. Knowledge of HTML will make it easier for you to spot and exploit flaws in code.
2.
Language name:
Javascript
What is it?:
JavaScript is the Programming Language for the Web, it can update and change both HTML and CSS and calculate, manipulate and validate data.
Is it platform agnostic?:
Yes
Benefits to hackers:
JavaScript code executes on the client browser. It can be used to save cookies, perform cross-site scripting, and other functions.
3.
Language name:
PHP
What is it?:
PHP is an open-source general-purpose scripting language. It is widely used and can be embedded in HTML.
Is it platform agnostic?:
Yes
Benefits to hackers:
PHP is the most popular web programming language. It’s used to process HTML forms and perform other custom tasks. If you have a good understanding of PHP, a custom PHP application that modifies web server settings and exposes the server to attacks could be written by you.
4.
Language name:
SQL
What is it?:
SQL, which stands for structured query language, is a domain-specific programming language that can be used to manage data in relational databases management systems (RDBMS) or stream processing in relational data stream management systems (RDSMS). It is instrumental in handling structured data, i.e., data that includes relations between entities and variables.
Is it platform agnostic?:
Yes
Benefits to hackers:
A solid understanding of SQL will help you better understand attacks such as SQL injection, which is used to bypass weak web application login algorithms, delete data from the databases, and so on.
5.
Language name:
Python
What is it?:
Python is an object-oriented, high-level programming language that can be interpreted and has dynamic semantics.
Is it platform agnostic?:
Yes
Benefits to hackers:
A good understanding of Python is instrumental when creating automation tools and scripts. You can also use the knowledge to customize and understand existing tools.
6.
Language name:
C & C++
What is it?:
C and C++ are the two of the oldest programming languages. Although C++ is derived from C, it is more efficient and offers modern tools.
Is it platform agnostic?:
Yes
Benefits to hackers:
Knowledge of C & C++ is valuable when you create your own shellcodes, exploits, or rootkits or expand on existing ones.
Additional Skills To Learn For Hacking.
1) Computer Networking Skills.
Networking skills are vital to be an ethical hacker. Networking skills are essential for ethical hackers. Computer networking is the interconnection between multiple devices. These devices are generally called Hosts. They can be connected via multiple routes to send/receive media or data. Ethical hackers will be able to understand network concepts such as DHCP, Supernetting, and Subnetting, potential security threats, and how they can help deal with security threats.
2) Linux Operating System Skills.
Linux is an open-source Unix-like operating system that is based on Linux Kernel. Linux is an open-source, free operating system. The source code can be modified by anyone and distributed under the GNU General Public License. Linux is often considered to be the most secure operating system in terms of security. This is why ethical hackers should learn Linux. Linux does not have 100% security, it does have some malware that can be used against it, but generally, they are less vulnerable than other operating systems.
3) Basic Computer Hardware Knowledge.
Computer hardware is the physical component of a computer. This includes the CPU, monitor, mouse, keyboard, sound card, speakers, motherboard, and computer data storage. On the other hand, the software is the collection of instructions that can be stored and run by hardware. Imagine that one wishes to hack a computer-controlled machine. He must first learn about the machine and how it works. Having a better understanding of what CPU does or how motherboard works will make you much more successful when launching attacks against a system or machine.
4) Database Skills.
DBMS is essential for creating and managing databases. A company could be at risk if unauthorized users have access to a database containing all its information. It is therefore essential to ensure that the database is secure. Good knowledge of the different databases engines and data schemas is essential for an ethical hacker to help the company build a robust DBMS.
5) Problem-Solving Skills.
Problem-solving skills are essential to identify the root cause of a problem and provide a solution. Aside from technical skills, ethical hackers must also be critical thinkers and problem solvers. They should be open to learning new techniques and ensure that security breaches are properly checked. This takes a lot of testing and a creative penchant for problem-solving.
Conclusion.
For beginners, it is not necessary to learn programming. But as you develop your hacking skills, a good command of programming will make it easier and quicker for you to read and modify other people’s codes. It’s no coincidence that good hackers can read and write in multiple programming languages. This makes them more efficient. You do not need to be a programming expert. Instead, you need to learn the basics of programming languages and get comfortable with reading, modifying, or writing them.
Hope you liked this article on is programming necessary to learn hacking.
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