What is Ethical Hacking?

The word ‘Hacker’ was devised to showcase experts who used their skills to re-develop large systems, increasing their competence and allowing them to multi-task.
Ethical Hacking involves an authorized approach to acquire unauthorized access to a computer system, application, or data. Carrying out an ethical hack involves detailing strategies and actions of hostile attackers. In addition, this practice consists in identifying security vulnerabilities that can be later resolved before a malicious attacker has the opportunity to exploit them.
With the increased risk of cyber attacks prevalent globally, it is essential to protect the security of IT systems. To understand the loopholes being exploited by the hackers, the specialized knowledge of understanding hacking to mitigate the risk, ethical hacking has become an essential and legitimate profession.
Who was the first hacker in history?
Also known as Captain Crunch, John Draper is often named the first-ever hacker. Moreover, rather than having a lot of high-tech hacking tools in his hand, he managed to do it with a toy whistle from a cereal packet.
In the early 1970s, the telephone system was the most prominent computer network accessible to the general public. Moreover, at the time, to place calls, specific analogue frequencies were used, which used an automated system that managed telephones. A toy whistle came free in boxes of
Cap’n Crunch cereal (hence the nickname) through which Draper exploited the system. He made free long distance and international calls. This technique was known as “Phreaking”.
Ethical Hacking came into force to counter-attack hacking. Hacking, especially social media or bank accounts, affects millions of lives. Some of the global hacking incidents which significantly impacted the lives of the people are:-
Yahoo (2016): 3000 million users affected globally
This has been the biggest-ever hacking attack in internet history till now. In August 2013, the data breach at Yahoo affected every single customer account that existed at the time, Yahoo parent company Verizon announced. This makes it 3 billion and includes Tumblr, Fantasy and Flickr accounts (other than the email accounts).
SBI, HDFC, ICICI, Axis and Yes Banks debit cards compromised: 3.2 million users affected globally.
In what can be seen as one of the most significant breaches of financial data in India, debit cards of around 3.2 million users were compromised, enabling fraudsters to steal their money. The worst affected banks were Axis Bank, ICICI, HDFC, Yes Bank and SBI. The breach in the debit card took place after malware attacked the Hitachi Payment Services between May and July 2016. Later, the company acknowledged that a sophisticated malware injected into its network led to the breach.
LinkedIn (2016): 117 million users affected globally
LinkedIn was hacked in 2012, and some 6.5 million
accounts were affected. However, In May 2016, four years later, the company said many more users had been affected. In addition, the company had made a statement that an additional set of data has been released claiming to email and hashed passwords combinations of more than 100 million LinkedIn members and are taking immediate steps to invalidate the accounts’ passwords.
Zomato (2017):Â Therestaurant app suffered a major security breach in May 2017 when 17 million users were affected globally as their data were stolen.
Zomato had acknowledged the hacking attack claimed that no payment information or credit card data was stolen/leaked.
Facebook (2018): 87 million users affected globally
Facebook was facing one of the biggest scandals in its history. The company was under fire for improperly sharing users’ data with a UK-based company called Cambridge Analytica. The data had been used later to influence US election results. Earlier Facebook claimed that 87 million users had been affected by the data breach. As for India, the figures are around 562,120 people as per the social networking company.
The risk associated with hacking as evidenced in the past few years (phishing in the banking arena, hacking of government websites.) The role of ethical hacking has gained prominence by leaps and bounds. Given the wide usage of the internet and the growing importance of information technology across the world, the role of ethical hacking as a profession to protect from attacks on IT systems has become a specialized and critical function.
Read Your Next Blog

How BBA LL.B. Degree can Help You Shape Law, Understand Business and Lead the Future

Shape Narratives, Build Brands & Lead Media with a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication

B.A. LL.B. Course Details: Duration, Fees, Subjects, Syllabus, and Admission 2025

Unveiling the World of Hospitality Management: Crafting Memorable Experiences

What is Journalism and Mass Communication: Crafting Stories That Shape the World

How to Become a Lawyer: A Step-by-Step Guide to a Rewarding Legal Career

Be a Master of the Smallest Particle Alive and Know What is Nanotechnology

Engineering Aspirations: Your Guide to B.Tech Courses and Admissions 2025

Mastering the Law: Your Ultimate Guide to the 3-Year LLB Course Syllabus

Take a Flight to Success by Knowing the Answer of What is Aerospace Engineering

LL.B. Course Details: Everything You Need to Know to Kickstart Your Legal Career

From Classrooms to Coding: Courses After 12th Computer Science for Aspiring Tech Wizard

What is Mechanical Engineering: The Science Behind Machines and Mechanics

From Courtrooms to Corporate Offices: Government Jobs You Can Land with a BBA LL.B.

Essential BBA Course Details: All You Need to Know About Business Studies

Design the Future with a B.Des – Where Creativity and Strategy Collide

Explore the Future: Top B.Tech. Courses to Kickstart Your Engineering Career

From Guest Services to Executive Suites: Navigating Your Journey with B.Sc. in Hospitality Management Course

From Resorts to Restaurants: Exploring Jobs After Hospitality Management

From Data to Discovery: How Biomedical Data Science is Accelerating Breakthroughs in Medicine

Step into the World of Finance: Your Guide to BBA Finance Admissions and Opportunities

Climbing the Academic Ladder: Your Ultimate Guide to Doing a Ph.D. in India

Power Up Your Potential: Best Engineering Courses After 12th For Tech Enthusiasts

System Engineering: Building a Resilient Career in a Rapidly Changing World

Making the Right Choice: Exploring the Best Career Options After 12th Grade

More Than Just Litigator: 10 Rewarding Career Options After B.A LL.B. (Hons.)

Develop Media Literacy and Form a Career in Journalism and Mass Communication

Is Mechanical Engineering a Good Career? Exploring Career Paths & Benefits

Innovate Infrastructure Development – Different Types of Civil Engineering

Give a Boost to Your Technologically-advanced Career with M.Tech. Courses

Different Types of MBA Courses – Gain Valuable Skills for the Business World

Elevate Your Leadership Expertise with a Doctorate in Business Administration

Lay a Solid Foundation for Your Career with the Exploration of Types of Mechanical Engineering

Embrace the Science of Healing and Innovation with Biotechnology Engineering Scope

Discern Your Dream Career in Media with the Scope of Journalism and Mass Communication

Exploring Law Courses After 12th: Your Gateway to a Diverse Legal Landscape

The Power of Connectivity: Unveiling the Scope of Electronics and Communication Engineering

Exploring the Expansive Horizons: The Scope of Journalism and Mass Communication

Achieving Educational Excellence: A Deep Dive into Master’s Degree in Education

Beyond the Degree: Unveiling the Multifaceted Benefits of Doing an MBA

Bridging Gaps, Building Futures: Exploring the Endless Scopes of Civil Engineering

Choosing Your Legal Path: BA LLB vs BBA LLB – Which Course is Better?

Kickstart Your Journey With Mass Communication Courses After 12th Grade

Decoding the Difference Between Electrical and Electronics Engineering

Next Steps: Exploring Top Computer Science Engineering Courses After 12th

Journalism Courses After 12th – Understanding the Significance of a BA in Journalism and Mass Communication

Forge Your Path to Excellence with Ph.D. Admission – Dive Into Details

Why MBA After Engineering: Transcending from Technical Wizardry to Leadership Mastery

Know the Scope of PhD in Economics and uncover hidden patterns of economic brilliance.

A Closer Look Into the BBA Computational Business Analytics Admission Process

From Circuits to Codes – Discover a Wide Range of Career Options After B.Tech. ECE

The Nanotech Revolution: The Astonishing Future Impact of B.Tech. Nanotechnology

From Roads to Skies: The Limitless Horizon of the Scope of M.Tech. in Transportation Engineering

Discover a New Era of Business Education with the Immense Scope of BBA in Computational Business Analytics

From Application to Acceptance – Navigate the Ph.D. Information Science and Technology Admission Process

Pave Your Path to Financial Brilliance with an Enormous Scope of BA Economics and Finance

Join the Digital Revolution with Diverse Career Options After B.Tech. ECE

Discover Your Eligibility for B.Tech. Biotechnology and Kickstart Your Career

Transform Your Career Trajectory with the Lucrative Scope of an Executive MBA

M.Tech. in Power Electronics and Renewable Energy Systems – Pursue New-age Careers

Ph.D. in Economics – Discover Innovative Solutions to Economic Challenges

M. Tech. in Autonomous Electric Vehicles – Dive Into the Future of Autonomous Vehicles (AV)

Construct a Better World with B.Tech. in Civil Engineering from Mahindra University

Acquire the Futuristic Mathematical & Computing Technologies with a Computational Mathematics Course

PhD in Business Administration – Dig Deeper into the Science of Management

B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering – Become a Master of Mechanics at Mahindra University

Shape Your Engineering Career with Mahindra University – One of the Best Engineering Colleges in Hyderabad

Transform Lives & Shape the World with Mahindra University – One of the Top Civil Engineering Colleges in Hyderabad

B Tech in Artificial Intelligence – The Next Big Thing in Technological Revolution

Lead the Tech Revolution with BTech CSE at Mahindra University – One of the Best Computer Science Engineering Colleges in Hyderabad

Kickstart Your Legal Career with Mahindra University – One of the Best Colleges for BBA LLB

Top BA LLB Colleges in Hyderabad – Training Exceptional Lawyers and Leaders

BTech Electronics and Computer Engineering Course – Engage in Independent and Life-long Learning

Best Colleges for Humanities and Social Sciences – Get World-class Training and Hands-on Learning Experience
![Arm_Yourself_with_Deep_Business_Knowledge_&_Insights_with_PhD_Program_in_Business_Administration_at_Mahindra_University[1] Arm_Yourself_with_Deep_Business_Knowledge_&_Insights_with_PhD_Program_in_Business_Administration_at_Mahindra_University[1]](https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Arm_Yourself_with_Deep_Business_Knowledge__Insights_with_PhD_Program_in_Business_Administration_at_Mahindra_University1.jpg)
Arm Yourself with Deep Business Knowledge & Insights with PhD Program in Business Administration at Mahindra University
![Emerge_as_a_Forward_thinking_Mechanical_Engineer_with_B_1140x460[1] Emerge_as_a_Forward_thinking_Mechanical_Engineer_with_B_1140x460[1]](https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Emerge_as_a_Forward_thinking_Mechanical_Engineer_with_B_1140x4601.jpg)
Emerge as a Forward-thinking Mechanical Engineer with B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering at Mahindra University
![B.Tech_in_Computer_Science_Engineering_(BTech_CSE)_Your_Gateway_to_Become_a_Computer_Genius_1140x460[1] B.Tech_in_Computer_Science_Engineering_(BTech_CSE)_Your_Gateway_to_Become_a_Computer_Genius_1140x460[1]](https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/B.Tech_in_Computer_Science_Engineering_BTech_CSE_Your_Gateway_to_Become_a_Computer_Genius_1140x4601.jpg)
B.Tech in Computer Science Engineering (BTech CSE) – Your Gateway to Become a Computer Genius
![Digital_Marketing_is_Booming_Globally_1140x460[1] Digital_Marketing_is_Booming_Globally_1140x460[1]](https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Digital_Marketing_is_Booming_Globally_1140x4601.jpg)
The Scope of Digital Marketing is Booming Globally. Transform the Business Landscape with a BBA in Digital Marketing
![MU_Electrical20Computer20Engineering_1140x460[1] MU_Electrical20Computer20Engineering_1140x460[1]](https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/MU_Electrical20Computer20Engineering_1140x4601.jpg)
India Calls for Multitalented Engineers. Be the One with the Electrical and Computer Science Engineering Course
![BA_LLB_Hons_Course_at_Mahindra_University[1] BA_LLB_Hons_Course_at_Mahindra_University[1]](https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/BA_LLB_Hons_Course_at_Mahindra_University1.webp)
Do You Want to Pursue Law as a Career? Take BA LLB Hons Course at Mahindra University
![Management_&_Business_Administration_is_Tremendously_High[1] Management_&_Business_Administration_is_Tremendously_High[1]](https://www.mahindrauniversity.edu.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Management__Business_Administration_is_Tremendously_High1.jpg)
The Scope of PhD in Management & Business Administration is Tremendously High. Understanding the Significance.

Civil Engineers Are New-age Superheroes. How is Mahindra University Moulding Futuristic Civil Engineers?

Be Legally Empowered by Pursuing Law | Top BA LLB (Hons) Colleges in Hyderabad

Pursue BA in Economics & Finance and contribute to India’s economic development

A Comprehensive Outlook On One Of The Highly Sought After Courses In Law: BBA LLB (Hons)

Why Revolutionary B.Tech Computer Science and Engineering Course Is The Choice Of Every Aspiring Student?

B.Tech in Computer Science & Engineering: A course for those who want to learn to lead forward

Manifesting excellent managerial skills and a fatter salary tag? It’s just a degree away.

Why BBA LLB is the right course for Law and Business enthusiasts in 2022

Here’s why B.Tech in Mechanical Engineering is one of the emerging courses for today’s talented youngsters

How Has Digital Marketing Turned Out To Be A Boon For Creative Individuals ?

Reasons Why You Should be active in Sports, Extracurriculars at The University

Skillsets That Give You an Edge Over Others in Securing Your Dream Job

Getting Back to Campus in The Post-COVID 19 World, 5 Hacks You Should Remember

How has Computer Science Engineering (CSE) evolved to create a demand among engineering aspirants

How B.Tech In Mechatronics Engineering Contributes In Making Human Life Easier?

Most Promising Engineering Disciplines with the Best Opportunities in 2025
