How to Become an Ethical Hacker

RapidVPN/ April 4, 2017/ Blog/

Network security is of major concern not only to governments but also businesses. As computer technology continues to advance, more internet security threats are bound to be introduced. As a result, the demand for ethical hackers who have the skills and expertise required to prevent systems from being penetrated by cybercriminals will rise.

Here are tips on how to become an ethical hacker.

Getting Started

According to PC World, the first step to becoming an ethical hacker is determining the IT field that you specialize on. For people who are yet to join the IT industry, the military service can help to kick start your career as it offers numerous IT opportunities.

The systems have over the years advanced, but that does not mean that you should ignore the basics. Therefore, it is recommendable to first enroll for A+ certificate so as to acquire the skills needed to get employed as a tech support technician. After a few years, take another advanced course such as CCNA and Network+.

Other courses that you should take to get the skills and expertise needed to work as an ethical hacker are CISSP, Security+, or TICSA. While undertaking this course, concentrate more on system penetration testing. Then apply to get Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) accreditation that is provided by the International Council of Electronic Commerce Consultants. With the skills acquired from the above courses, you can start marketing yourself as an ethical hacker.

Stay Legal

Once you start operating, you need to stay legal by not engaging in any form of black hat tactics such as penetrating private networks without the consent of the owners. Engaging in such illegal vices can ruin your reputation and even your hacking career.

Most of the organizations that hire ethical hackers including governments do require polygraph testing and security clearances. Therefore, you need to make sure that your track record is clean to increase your chances of getting hired.

Required Soft Skills

Unlike popular believe, hacking is not all technical. There are some soft skills that you need to work in this profession. Some of the soft skills that you need include:

  • Problem solving
  • Strong work ethic
  • Good communication skills
  • Ability to stay dedicated and motivated to the course

Also, you need to have some degree of talent manipulation and be street smart to persuade the target audience to do certain tasks that are directly linked to the ultimate goal such as shutting down systems, executing files, disclosing credentials and much more.