In the world of hackers who eradicate crucial information from users’ databases and makes it unsafe to share even the smallest amount of information on the web there is a group of people known as ethical hackers who efface such people. Since the advent of new technology , there is an increasing number of people who have hacked one’s data system without their access and used it for destructive purposes.
To understand what ethical hacking is all about , first I would like the readers to understand what hacking really is. According to many websites and dictionaries, hacking is the act of compromising digital devices and networks through unauthorised access to an account or computer system. Hacking is not always a malicious act, but it is most commonly associated with illegal activity and data theft by cyber criminals. Ethical Hackers are the people who use hacking not for malicious use but use it for a better and much larger purpose : to protect people’s privacy and safeguard company’s much important database . Ethical hacking as a job perspective is considered a hot and booming field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, information security experts will employ 33% more individuals by 2030, which is far quicker than projected. Around $103,590 ($49.80 per hour) is also the ethical hacker’s average yearly salary. These stats clearly depict the demand for ethical hackers.
There are great significance of ethical hacking. Some of the prominent ones are : Ethical hacking assists organisations in strengthening their cybersecurity infrastructure. By identifying weaknesses in software, hardware, and network architecture, organisations can take preventive measures to mitigate risks and safeguard sensitive information. Also , In the event of a cyber incident, ethical hackers can provide valuable insights into the attack vectors and assist in incident response and recovery efforts. Their expertise aids in understanding the attack methodology, minimising damage, and restoring systems to normalcy. In India especially hackers help police to eject crucial information from the culprit’s database and a large number of people are able to get justice due to the efforts of ethical hackers.
Also ethical hackers have helped to reduce a terrorism . The phones of people who are very close to their respective gang leader are tracked down and the location of the Terrorists phones is able to be known . This has helped a lot to reduce a lot of malicious crimes which could result in great deleterious effects and provide utmost harm to the society.
The advantages of ethical hackers are many but ethical hackers should comply with the regulations , while ejecting crucial information as a lot of data could be personal and of no use to the hacker. Ethical hacking must be performed within a strict ethical framework, respecting legal requirements, confidentiality, and responsible disclosure . This is very important and will serve as a bridge between ethical hackers and the trust which people owe to them. To conclude , as the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve, ethical hackers play a pivotal role in safeguarding our digital world and maintaining trust in the online environment.
Author – Hitansh Gupta
Wynberg Allens School.