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What Is Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking, or penetration testing, is the authorized practice of simulating cyber attacks to identify and address security vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. It is crucial for protecting sensitive data and preventing cyberattacks, especially in sectors like healthcare, where threats are increasingly sophisticated. The importance of ethical hacking is underscored by the rising incidence of ransomware attacks, highlighting the need for robust cyber security measures.

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Loitongbam Leishemba
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10 views1 page

What Is Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking, or penetration testing, is the authorized practice of simulating cyber attacks to identify and address security vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks. It is crucial for protecting sensitive data and preventing cyberattacks, especially in sectors like healthcare, where threats are increasingly sophisticated. The importance of ethical hacking is underscored by the rising incidence of ransomware attacks, highlighting the need for robust cyber security measures.

Uploaded by

Loitongbam Leishemba
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What Is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hacking involves the authorized attempt to gain access to computer systems,
applications or data by duplicating the strategies and methods that would be used by a
malicious hacker. Also known as penetration testing, the practice has been established to
test an organization’s cyber security methods and safeguards, as well as identify security
vulnerabilities that can be addressed and resolved before a malicious hacker can exploit
them.
An ethical hacker is a cyber security professional with in-depth knowledge of computer
systems, networks and security. They should be well-versed in potential threats and
vulnerabilities that can hack – or bring down – organizational systems.

Why is Ethical Hacking Important?


To understand the importance of ethical hacking in the cyber security world, let’s look at
some of its many applications. Ethical hacking can be used to:

 Test password strength


 Penetration test after software updates or a new security patch
 Test the validity of authentication protocols
 Ensure data communication channels cannot be intercepted
Deterring threats from malicious hackers is often a top priority of corporate, e-commerce,
banking and financial systems operators who need to ensure customer data – like
birthdays, payment information and passwords – are protected. Without this protection,
successful cyberattacks can result in catastrophic results – including loss of data, fines
and other penalties, lost revenue and diminished consumer confidence.
As more aspects of our lives involve online transactions, the internal systems, software
and servers required to make it all run smoothly remain vulnerable to cyberattacks. For
this reason, institutions, such as those who handle sensitive electronic medical records,
have made cyber security measures a vital component of their risk management
strategies.

According to a report from the cybersecurity firm Sophos, 66% of healthcare organizations
were hit by ransomware attacks last year, demonstrating that adversaries are becoming
“considerably more capable at executing the most significant attacks at scale,” and that
the complexity of the attacks is growing, according to the report.

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