Hackers get a bad rap. Usually, when people think of hacking, they imagine cybercriminals breaking into databases and stealing sensitive information to either sell or use for some other nefarious purpose. And while this does happen, hacking also has a more practical, beneficial application: It’s called ethical hacking.
Like regular hackers, Ethical Hackers also break into systems — but they do so with the organization’s consent. Ariel Garcia, a Senior Community Operations Manager for the penetration testing company HackerOne, explains how companies turn to Ethical Hackers to find and resolve security vulnerabilities, which helps keep their systems, data, and users more secure. “We help companies avoid being hacked — by hacking them,” he said in an interview.
Not only does ethical hacking play a huge role in cybersecurity, but it can also be pretty lucrative. Want to learn more about how it works? We’ll show you in our new course: Introduction to Ethical Hacking.
Who is this course right for?
If you’re considering a career in cybersecurity, you’ll want to check out this course. Ethical hacking is a tool used by Penetration Testers, Cybersecurity Analysts, Information Security Managers, and more.
Or maybe you’ve always wanted to try your hand at hacking without worrying about legal repercussions. If so, this is the course for you. “There are demos and interactive parts of the course that’ll either put you in the shoes of the hacker or the person being hacked,” says Codecademy Cybersecurity Curriculum Manager Sarai Fernandez.
What will you learn from the new course?
Our new course sheds light on the distinction between ethical and unethical hacking. You’ll also learn about the tools and techniques used by Ethical Hackers, like social engineering and denial of service attacks, along with cybersecurity measures like firewalls and cryptography.
“This course features lots of demos of different vulnerabilities, ethical hacking tools, and strategies,” Sarai says. “You won’t come away as an Ethical Hacker, but you’ll understand what ethical hacking is, some of the basic tools and skills behind it, and if it’s something you want to learn more about.”
Ready to get started? Check out our Introduction to Ethical Hacking!
And if you do decide to take up hacking, remember to only use your skills for good. “The key word is ‘ethical,’” Sarai says. “If you want to explore these skills further, make sure to do it safely and ethically. Happy hacking!”
Lastly, even if hacking isn’t your thing, a career in cybersecurity can still be a great choice. “While ethical hacking is definitely an exciting, flashy part of cybersecurity, you can still get into it without a technical skill set,” Sarai says. “There are lots of governance, risk, and compliance roles (among others) that are non-technical. Cybersecurity is a huge field, and there’s room for hackers and non-hackers alike!”
