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A Thorough Insight into Common Ethical Hacking Tools and Resources

In today’s advanced digital space, ethical hacking has become essential, especially for organisations, to fortify their defences against various cyber threats. To effectively carry out ethical hacking, professionals make use of several tools and resources that are specially developed for accomplishing this purpose. 

This article will focus on offering extensive knowledge of various ethical hacking resources and tools as well as providing some insights into their applications and functionalities. 

What Is Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking is the professional term for the authorised practice of assessing the system of security of a computer system, network, or application and identifying any weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Through this identification, the owner can stay safe from cyber threats and prevent valuable data from being compromised.

Importance of Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking is important in today’s interconnected world. It ensures proactive security by mimicking potential hackers. They identify the weaknesses beforehand and help organisations to implement necessary strategies to strengthen overall security.

What are the Roles and Responsibilities of an Ethical Hacker?

The roles and responsibilities of an ethical hacker involve the following.

• Analysing and scanning systems to discover weaknesses in the system’s security.
• Carrying out authorised tests to identify vulnerabilities. 
• Testing and developing exploits for verifying vulnerabilities and recommending strategies for mitigation.
• Carrying out comprehensive system audits.
• Raising potential threat awareness and educating stakeholders to stay safe.

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Skills Required to Become an Ethical Hacker

To become an ethical hacker, an individual must develop a combination of technical knowledge, skills, and personal qualities. Some of the essential skills include

Proficiency in various programming languages such as C, C++, and other scripting languages. Some common skills required are

• Detailed understanding of various network protocols.
• Familiarity with tools that are used in penetration testing.
• Strong knowledge of web application security and common vulnerabilities.
• Possession of problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Reporting and communication skills
• Ethical mindset for aligning to ethical standards and respecting privacy.

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There are various types of ethical hacking tools that are available for use; these are

Network Scanning and Mapping Tools

These tools help in the identification of live hosts, open ports, and network topology. Some common tools are NetScanTools, Nmap, and Angry IP Scanner.

Vulnerability Scanning Tools

These tools offer automatic scans for the identification of vulnerabilities in security. This involves common tools such as Qualys, OpenVAS, and Nessus.

Exploitation Tools

These tools offer frameworks to assist in the procedure of exploitation of vulnerabilities and gaining authorised access. Some mentionable tools are Canvas, Metasploit, and Cobalt Strike. 

Password Cracking Tools

These tools help in cracking passwords and testing their strength, such as Hydra, Hashcat, and John the Ripper. You can also learn about what is P-hacking in data science from here.

Forensics and Incident Response Tools

Forensic and incident response tools are helpful in digital forensics and response against incidents, thereby assisting in analysing and investigating security incidents.

Wireless Network Tools

These tools are used for securing wireless networks and monitoring network traffic. The most useful tools are Wireshark, Aircrack-ng, and Kismet. 

Social Engineering Tools

The use of these tools is for various social engineering attacks like client-side attacks or phishing. Examples include BeEF and SET.

Web Application Security Tools

These identify vulnerabilities in web applications like XSS, CSRF, etc. Common tools that are used are OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, and Acunetix.

Reporting and Documentation Tools

As the name suggests, these help in documenting, reporting, and organising results and finding ethical hacking activities. The tools that are commonly used are Faraday and Dradis.

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Advantages of Ethical Hacking

• Identification of vulnerabilities
• Proactive approach toward security
• Adherence to security standards of the industry
• Ensures immediate incident response
• Improved awareness concerning security

Disadvantages of Ethical Hacking

• A false sense of security may make organisations negligent to several cyber threats.
• Concerns regarding ethics and law 
• It entertains a limited scope, leaving some gaps in security unaddressed.
• It can be a costly process for smaller organisations.

Resources for Ethical Hackers

Ethical hackers can access a wide variety of resources to enhance their knowledge and skills in the oeuvre of cyber security. Most common resources include online forums and communities that offer spaces for exchanging knowledge, training courses and certifications, publications, and books on the subject, blogs by subject experts, and tutorials. 

What is the Difference Between Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security? 

Below is the Difference Between Ethical Hacking and Cyber Security for a better understanding: