Explore Courses
course iconScrum AllianceCertified ScrumMaster (CSM) Certification
  • 16 Hours
Best seller
course iconScrum AllianceCertified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) Certification
  • 16 Hours
Best seller
course iconScaled AgileLeading SAFe 6.0 Certification
  • 16 Hours
Trending
course iconScrum.orgProfessional Scrum Master (PSM) Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconScaled AgileSAFe 6.0 Scrum Master (SSM) Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconScaled Agile, Inc.Implementing SAFe 6.0 (SPC) Certification
  • 32 Hours
Recommended
course iconScaled Agile, Inc.SAFe 6.0 Release Train Engineer (RTE) Certification
  • 24 Hours
course iconScaled Agile, Inc.SAFe® 6.0 Product Owner/Product Manager (POPM)
  • 16 Hours
Trending
course iconKanban UniversityKMP I: Kanban System Design Course
  • 16 Hours
course iconIC AgileICP Agile Certified Coaching (ICP-ACC)
  • 24 Hours
course iconScrum.orgProfessional Scrum Product Owner I (PSPO I) Training
  • 16 Hours
course iconAgile Management Master's Program
  • 32 Hours
Trending
course iconAgile Excellence Master's Program
  • 32 Hours
Agile and ScrumScrum MasterProduct OwnerSAFe AgilistAgile CoachFull Stack Developer BootcampData Science BootcampCloud Masters BootcampReactNode JsKubernetesCertified Ethical HackingAWS Solutions Artchitct AssociateAzure Data Engineercourse iconPMIProject Management Professional (PMP) Certification
  • 36 Hours
Best seller
course iconAxelosPRINCE2 Foundation & Practitioner Certificationn
  • 32 Hours
course iconAxelosPRINCE2 Foundation Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconAxelosPRINCE2 Practitioner Certification
  • 16 Hours
Change ManagementProject Management TechniquesCertified Associate in Project Management (CAPM) CertificationOracle Primavera P6 CertificationMicrosoft Projectcourse iconJob OrientedProject Management Master's Program
  • 45 Hours
Trending
course iconProject Management Master's Program
  • 45 Hours
Trending
PRINCE2 Practitioner CoursePRINCE2 Foundation CoursePMP® Exam PrepProject ManagerProgram Management ProfessionalPortfolio Management Professionalcourse iconAWSAWS Certified Solutions Architect - Associate
  • 32 Hours
Best seller
course iconAWSAWS Cloud Practitioner Certification
  • 32 Hours
course iconAWSAWS DevOps Certification
  • 24 Hours
course iconMicrosoftAzure Fundamentals Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconMicrosoftAzure Administrator Certification
  • 24 Hours
Best seller
course iconMicrosoftAzure Data Engineer Certification
  • 45 Hours
Recommended
course iconMicrosoftAzure Solution Architect Certification
  • 32 Hours
course iconMicrosoftAzure Devops Certification
  • 40 Hours
course iconAWSSystems Operations on AWS Certification Training
  • 24 Hours
course iconAWSArchitecting on AWS
  • 32 Hours
course iconAWSDeveloping on AWS
  • 24 Hours
course iconJob OrientedAWS Cloud Architect Masters Program
  • 48 Hours
New
course iconCareer KickstarterCloud Engineer Bootcamp
  • 100 Hours
Trending
Cloud EngineerCloud ArchitectAWS Certified Developer Associate - Complete GuideAWS Certified DevOps EngineerAWS Certified Solutions Architect AssociateMicrosoft Certified Azure Data Engineer AssociateMicrosoft Azure Administrator (AZ-104) CourseAWS Certified SysOps Administrator AssociateMicrosoft Certified Azure Developer AssociateAWS Certified Cloud Practitionercourse iconAxelosITIL 4 Foundation Certification
  • 16 Hours
Best seller
course iconAxelosITIL Practitioner Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconPeopleCertISO 14001 Foundation Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconPeopleCertISO 20000 Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconPeopleCertISO 27000 Foundation Certification
  • 24 Hours
course iconAxelosITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support Training
  • 24 Hours
course iconAxelosITIL 4 Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value Training
  • 24 Hours
course iconAxelosITIL 4 Strategist Direct, Plan and Improve Training
  • 16 Hours
ITIL 4 Specialist: Create, Deliver and Support ExamITIL 4 Specialist: Drive Stakeholder Value (DSV) CourseITIL 4 Strategist: Direct, Plan, and ImproveITIL 4 Foundationcourse iconJob OrientedData Science Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Trending
course iconJob OrientedData Engineer Bootcamp
  • 289 Hours
course iconJob OrientedData Analyst Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
course iconJob OrientedAI Engineer Bootcamp
  • 288 Hours
New
Data Science with PythonMachine Learning with PythonData Science with RMachine Learning with RPython for Data ScienceDeep Learning Certification TrainingNatural Language Processing (NLP)TensorflowSQL For Data Analyticscourse iconIIIT BangaloreExecutive PG Program in Data Science from IIIT-Bangalore
  • 12 Months
course iconMaryland UniversityExecutive PG Program in DS & ML
  • 12 Months
course iconMaryland UniversityCertificate Program in DS and BA
  • 31 Weeks
course iconIIIT BangaloreAdvanced Certificate Program in Data Science
  • 8+ Months
course iconLiverpool John Moores UniversityMaster of Science in ML and AI
  • 750+ Hours
course iconIIIT BangaloreExecutive PGP in ML and AI
  • 600+ Hours
Data ScientistData AnalystData EngineerAI EngineerData Analysis Using ExcelDeep Learning with Keras and TensorFlowDeployment of Machine Learning ModelsFundamentals of Reinforcement LearningIntroduction to Cutting-Edge AI with TransformersMachine Learning with PythonMaster Python: Advance Data Analysis with PythonMaths and Stats FoundationNatural Language Processing (NLP) with PythonPython for Data ScienceSQL for Data Analytics CoursesAI Advanced: Computer Vision for AI ProfessionalsMaster Applied Machine LearningMaster Time Series Forecasting Using Pythoncourse iconDevOps InstituteDevOps Foundation Certification
  • 16 Hours
Best seller
course iconCNCFCertified Kubernetes Administrator
  • 32 Hours
New
course iconDevops InstituteDevops Leader
  • 16 Hours
KubernetesDocker with KubernetesDockerJenkinsOpenstackAnsibleChefPuppetDevOps EngineerDevOps ExpertCI/CD with Jenkins XDevOps Using JenkinsCI-CD and DevOpsDocker & KubernetesDevOps Fundamentals Crash CourseMicrosoft Certified DevOps Engineer ExperteAnsible for Beginners: The Complete Crash CourseContainer Orchestration Using KubernetesContainerization Using DockerMaster Infrastructure Provisioning with Terraformcourse iconTableau Certification
  • 24 Hours
Recommended
course iconData Visualisation with Tableau Certification
  • 24 Hours
course iconMicrosoftMicrosoft Power BI Certification
  • 24 Hours
Best seller
course iconTIBCO Spotfire Training
  • 36 Hours
course iconData Visualization with QlikView Certification
  • 30 Hours
course iconSisense BI Certification
  • 16 Hours
Data Visualization Using Tableau TrainingData Analysis Using Excelcourse iconEC-CouncilCertified Ethical Hacker (CEH v12) Certification
  • 40 Hours
course iconISACACertified Information Systems Auditor (CISA) Certification
  • 22 Hours
course iconISACACertified Information Security Manager (CISM) Certification
  • 40 Hours
course icon(ISC)²Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
  • 40 Hours
course icon(ISC)²Certified Cloud Security Professional (CCSP) Certification
  • 40 Hours
course iconCertified Information Privacy Professional - Europe (CIPP-E) Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconISACACOBIT5 Foundation
  • 16 Hours
course iconPayment Card Industry Security Standards (PCI-DSS) Certification
  • 16 Hours
course iconIntroduction to Forensic
  • 40 Hours
course iconPurdue UniversityCybersecurity Certificate Program
  • 8 Months
CISSPcourse iconCareer KickstarterFull-Stack Developer Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
Best seller
course iconJob OrientedUI/UX Design Bootcamp
  • 3 Months
Best seller
course iconEnterprise RecommendedJava Full Stack Developer Bootcamp
  • 6 Months
course iconCareer KickstarterFront-End Development Bootcamp
  • 490+ Hours
course iconCareer AcceleratorBackend Development Bootcamp (Node JS)
  • 4 Months
ReactNode JSAngularJavascriptPHP and MySQLcourse iconPurdue UniversityCloud Back-End Development Certificate Program
  • 8 Months
course iconPurdue UniversityFull Stack Development Certificate Program
  • 9 Months
course iconIIIT BangaloreExecutive Post Graduate Program in Software Development - Specialisation in FSD
  • 13 Months
Angular TrainingBasics of Spring Core and MVCFront-End Development BootcampReact JS TrainingSpring Boot and Spring CloudMongoDB Developer Coursecourse iconBlockchain Professional Certification
  • 40 Hours
course iconBlockchain Solutions Architect Certification
  • 32 Hours
course iconBlockchain Security Engineer Certification
  • 32 Hours
course iconBlockchain Quality Engineer Certification
  • 24 Hours
course iconBlockchain 101 Certification
  • 5+ Hours
NFT Essentials 101: A Beginner's GuideIntroduction to DeFiPython CertificationAdvanced Python CourseR Programming LanguageAdvanced R CourseJavaJava Deep DiveScalaAdvanced ScalaC# TrainingMicrosoft .Net Frameworkcourse iconSalary Hike GuaranteedSoftware Engineer Interview Prep
  • 3 Months
Data Structures and Algorithms with JavaScriptData Structures and Algorithms with Java: The Practical GuideLinux Essentials for Developers: The Complete MasterclassMaster Git and GitHubMaster Java Programming LanguageProgramming Essentials for BeginnersComplete Python Programming CourseSoftware Engineering Fundamentals and Lifecycle (SEFLC) CourseTest-Driven Development for Java ProgrammersTypeScript: Beginner to Advanced

Ethical Hacking Learning Path – A Complete Roadmap

By Abhresh Sugandhi

Updated on Jan 13, 2025 | 11 min read

Share:

In today's increasingly interconnected world, data security is more important than ever before. As the name suggests, ethical hacking is all about using your skills to improve security systems and protect organizations from potential cyber threats. It is a form of security testing that is used to identify vulnerabilities in computer systems and help organizations to improve their security and prevent data breaches.

An ethical hacker course offers a highly skilled and challenging role that can be both exciting and rewarding. It gives you the opportunity to use your skills for good. As the demand for ethical hackers is expected to continue to rise, now is the perfect time to start learning about this important field.

If you are looking to get started in this field, then you’ve come to the right place. Here, we will give you a complete learning path to being an ethical hacker and choosing a successful career in information security. This learning path will take you from the introduction to ethical hacking and the basics of cybersecurity all the way up to more advanced concepts in ethical hacking. Let’s begin.

What is Ethical Hacking, and Why is It Increasingly in High Demand?

Many people view hacking as a criminal activity, but there is such a thing as ethical hacking. Ethical hackers are computer experts who use their skills to find security vulnerabilities in systems and help organizations fix them. While the methods used by ethical hackers are similar to those used by malicious hackers, the intent is completely different.

Ethical hackers act with the permission of the owners of the systems they are testing and always have the approval of their target before they launch an attack. As a result, CEH certified ethical hacker is valuable for organizations looking to improve their cybersecurity.

The need for ethical hacking and hackers has increased dramatically in recent years, as businesses and organizations have become increasingly aware of the need to protect themselves from cyber-attacks. With the cost of data breaches rising and the frequency of attacks increasing, businesses are willing to pay for expert help in protecting their systems.

Ethical hackers can play a vital role in keeping businesses safe, and the demand for their skills is only likely to grow in the years to come. There are many reasons why an organization might want to hire an ethical hacker with a CEH v12 training certificate.

  1. It’s a cost-effective way to assess their security posture: By hiring someone to try and break into their systems, they can quickly identify any areas that need improvement.
  2. It helps mitigate the risk of a real attack: By finding and fixing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, organizations can reduce the chances of being successfully attacked.
  3. It can help build public trust: By showing that an organization is taking proactive steps to improve their security, they can win the confidence of customers and stakeholders.

What Does an Ethical Hacker Do?

An ethical hacker, also known as a white hat hacker, is someone who uses their skills to improve security systems. They do this by finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks.

Ethical hackers are employed by organizations to find vulnerabilities in their computer systems and networks and to recommend ways to fix them. In many cases, ethical hackers are able to find weaknesses that have not been discovered by the organization's own security staff. To do this, they use the same tools and techniques that are used by malicious hackers, but they do so with the permission of the organization.

Ethical hacking and hacking classes can be divided into two main types of activity: proactive and reactive. Proactive ethical hacking involves manually looking for vulnerabilities in systems and trying to exploit them. Reactive ethical hacking involves responding to incidents that have already happened, such as data breaches. In both cases, ethical hackers document their findings and make recommendations to the organization on how to fix the problem.

The goal of an ethical hacker is not to cause damage or steal data, but rather to help the organization improve their security posture. By doing so, they can prevent future attacks from happening. Ethical hacking can also help organizations to assess their overall security posture and to identify areas where improvements are needed.

How to Become an Ethical Hacker?

Ethical hacking is an important skill in the modern world. With the rise of the internet, more and more businesses are becoming reliant on digital systems. This means that there is a greater need than ever for people who can identify and fix security vulnerabilities.

If you are interested in computer security, then you may be looking to learn hacking for beginners for free. Here are some key steps that you will need to take:

  1. Gain a strong understanding of computer networks and security. 
  2. Start practicing your hacking skills on your own systems. 
  3. Keep up to date with the latest security news and trends. 
  4. Master the cehv11 course and start looking for ethical hacking jobs. 

Ethical Hacker Education

If you want to become an ethical hacker, you need to have a strong foundation in IT and computer networking. You should also learn how to code and understand programming languages. And lastly, you need to get certified. 

The best way to gain all of these skills is to get a degree in computer science or a related field. However, if you don’t have the time or money for formal education, try an ethical hacking course free via online resources to learn everything you need to know. 

Ethical Hacker Certifications

Ethical hacking certifications are designed for IT professionals who want to specialize in penetration testing and ethical hacking. These certifications cover the tools and techniques used by hackers to exploit systems, as well as countermeasures that can be used to prevent such attacks.

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) from EC-Council can be considered the best ethical hacking course and the most popular ethical hacking certification. This certification requires candidates to complete a training course and pass an exam. Once you have your CEH certification, you’ll be able to find jobs as an ethical hacker in both the private and public sectors. 

Other ethical hacking certifications include the GIAC Security Essentials Certification (GSEC), Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP). While not required, these certifications can give job seekers an edge in the competitive field of information security. 

Ethical Hacker skills

Ethical hacking and cyber security are a growing field that requires a range of skills in order to be successful. Perhaps the most important skill for an ethical hacker is the ability to think like their adversaries. This requires not only a technical understanding of how hacking works, but also an understanding of human behavior and the motivations of hackers.

In addition, ethical hackers need to be creative in order to come up with new ways to test systems and find vulnerabilities. They also need to have strong communication skills in order to clearly explain their findings to their clients. Finally, they must be highly ethical and trustworthy, as they will be working with sensitive information. 

Computer skills

In order to become an ethical hacker by obtaining top cybersecurity certifications, one must first possess a strong foundation in computer skills. This includes an understanding of how computer systems work, how to encrypt data, and how to troubleshoot common problems.

An ethical hacker should know how to code and understand programming languages and have the ability to develop custom code. With these skills, you can get a certified ethical hacker certification to help businesses and organizations keep their systems secure from malicious attacks.

Penetration testing skills

It is essential to have strong penetration testing skills. This involves being able to identify and exploit security vulnerabilities in systems and networks. Ethical hackers use a variety of tools and techniques to perform penetration tests, including port scanning, social engineering, and password guessing. 

In addition to having strong technical skills, ethical hackers must also be able to think like malicious attackers. It includes common attack strategies and being able to anticipate the next move of an adversary. Some of the most important skills you’ll need include: 

  • Knowledge of operating systems (Linux, Windows, etc.) 
  • Ability to use hacking tools and techniques. 
  • Knowledge of networking concepts (TCP/IP, HTTP, DNS, etc.) 
  • Knowledge of coding languages (Java, Python, etc.) 
  • Ability to think like a hacker. 
  • Ability to communicate effectively. 

With these skills, ethical hackers can help organizations to shore up their defenses against real-world threats. 

Knowledge of Linux

To succeed in an ethical hacker course, knowledge of Linux is crucial as ethical hacking relies on a strong understanding of how computer systems work, and Linux is one of the most popular operating systems in use today. While Windows and macOS are both closed-source platforms, Linux is open source, meaning that its code is publicly available and can be modified by anyone.

This makes it an ideal platform for ethical hackers, who need to be able to understand and alter code in order to find vulnerabilities. In addition, Linux is typically more secure than other operating systems, making it harder for malicious hackers to exploit weaknesses. As a result, knowledge of Linux is essential for anyone interested to learn to be a hacker

Cryptography skills

Cryptography is the practice of secure communication in the presence of third parties. It is used in a variety of applications, including email, file sharing, and secure communications. Cryptography is a critical tool for ensuring privacy and security on the internet. Without it, anyone could intercept and read private messages or access sensitive files. 

It is an important tool for ethical hackers as they use their skills to find security vulnerabilities in systems and help organizations fix them. In order to find these vulnerabilities, they need to complete the ethical hacking certification training and understand how cryptography works and how to break it. Without these skills, ethical hackers would not be able to do their job effectively. 

Programming skills

Ethical hacking requires a deep understanding of how computer systems work and how to exploit vulnerabilities. Without strong programming skills, it would be impossible to find and exploit these vulnerabilities.

Ethical hacking also requires the ability to write custom code to create new tools and programs. This can be achieved while working on ethical hacking projects. Without strong programming skills, an ethical hacker would be limited to using existing tools and programs, which may not be effective against all threats.

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills

If you truly want to learn to be a hacker, you need to have strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills. This is because ethical hacking is all about finding creative solutions to complex challenges. It's not enough to simply identify a security vulnerability; you also need to be able to come up with a plan to fix it.

As an ethical hacker, you will need to think outside the box and be willing to experiment. This means that you need to be comfortable with failure; not every solution will work, but that's okay. The important thing is that you keep learning and expanding your ethical hacking skillset. This will allow you to identify potential security vulnerabilities and devise solutions to fix them. 

Ethical Hacker Job Outlook

The job outlook for ethical hackers is extremely positive, as there is a shortage of qualified professionals in the field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of information security analysts is projected to grow 32 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average for all occupations.

Ethical hacking is a growing field with immense potential. Jobs for ethical hackers are expected to grow because there is an increasing need for computer and network security. Ethical hackers are in high demand as they possess the skills and knowledge necessary to protect organizations from cyberattacks.

There are many opportunities for career advancement, and the white hat hacker salary is very commendable. If you are interested in a career in ethical hacking, now is the time to get started. There has never been a better time to enter this exciting and rapidly growing field. There are many different types of jobs for ethical hackers. Some examples include: 

  • Information security analyst 
  • Security engineer 
  • Security consultant 
  • Security researcher. 

Roles and Responsibilities of an Ethical Hacker

The roles and responsibilities of an ethical hacker vary depending on the organization they work for. However, some common duties include: 

  • Identifying security vulnerabilities in systems and networks 
  • Developing and implementing plans to mitigate security risks. 
  • Conducting penetration tests 
  • Writing reports on findings
  • Training staff on cybersecurity best practices 
  • Responding to security incidents 
  • Monitoring trends in cybersecurity threats and vulnerabilities.

Ethical Hacker Career Path

The term "ethical hacker" may conjure up images of a shadowy figure hunched over a computer in a dark basement, but the reality is far different. Ethical hackers are information security experts who use their skills to protect computer systems from malicious attacks. While hackers are often associated with illegal activities, ethical hackers use their knowledge for good, acting as the "white hats" of the cyber world. 

The demand for ethical hackers is growing as businesses and organizations become increasingly reliant on computer systems. With the rise of online banking, e-commerce, and cloud computing, there is a greater need than ever before for people with the skills to identify and defend against potential threats.

There are many different paths you can take to become an ethical hacker. Some people choose to get a formal education by earning a degree in computer science or a related field. Others develop their skills through self-study and hands-on experience. No matter which routes you choose, there are certain core competencies that all ethical hackers need to possess. These include strong problem-solving skills, creativity, and technical expertise.

Ethical Hacker Salary

The average certified ethical hacker salary in the United States is $82,361 per annum. (Source: PayScale) However, it depends on the level of expertise. For example, entry-level ethical hackers may earn an annual salary of $50,000 while senior-level professionals can earn upwards of $100,000 per year.

In addition to their base salary, many ethical hackers also receive bonuses and other forms of compensation. Overall, ethical hacking is a well-paid profession that offers plenty of opportunities for growth. If you have the necessary skills and experience, you could be earning a six-figure salary in no time. 

How to Get Experience as an Ethical Hacker?

If you want to become an ethical hacker, you’ll need to have strong technical skills and a good understanding of computer systems and networks. The best way to gain these skills is by getting a certified ethical hacker practical. Some of the most common ways include:

  • Completing online courses 
  • Attending bootcamps or training programs 
  • Working as an intern or apprentice 
  • Volunteering for organizations 
  • Participating in bug bounties or capture the flag competitions.

No matter how you choose to get experience, make sure you are gaining the skills that will help you succeed as an ethical hacker. 

Conclusion

Ethical hacking is a challenging and rewarding field, and those who are skilled in it can help to make the world a safer place. If you wish to join an ethical hacking course to become an ethical hacker, you’ll need to have strong technical skills and a good understanding of computer systems and networks. The job outlook for ethical hackers is positive, so if you have the skills and experience, you should have no problem finding a job!

While the role of an ethical hacker is critical in today's digital world, it is important to remember that they are not invincible. They are only as good as their skills and knowledge allow them to be. Therefore, it is important to continue to educate yourself with KnowledgeHut’s CEH v12 training on new hacking techniques and tools in order to stay one step ahead of the criminals.

Master Right Skills & Boost Your Career

Avail your free 1:1 mentorship session

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What should I learn before ethical hacking?

2. What is the path for ethical hacker?

3. Can a beginner learn ethical hacking?

4. How many days it will take to learn ethical hacking?

5. What is ethical hacker salary?

Abhresh Sugandhi

Abhresh Sugandhi

78 articles published

Get Free Consultation

By submitting, I accept the T&C and
Privacy Policy

Suggested Blogs