CEH vs. Pentest+: Which Certification is Right for You?

Introduction

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, certifications play a crucial role in validating an individual's skills and knowledge. Two of the most respected certifications in the field are the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) and CompTIA Pentest+. Both of these certifications focus on penetration testing and ethical hacking but have distinct differences in their approach, content, and industry recognition. This article will provide a comprehensive comparison of CEH and Pentest+, helping you decide which certification is right for your career path.

Overview of CEH

What is CEH?

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification, offered by the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC-Council), is one of the most recognized certifications in the cybersecurity industry. It focuses on identifying vulnerabilities in computer systems and understanding how to secure them.

CEH Curriculum and Exam Details

The CEH certification covers a broad range of topics, including:

• Ethical hacking introduction: Understanding the role and responsibilities of an ethical hacker.
• Reconnaissance techniques: Gathering information about the target system.
• Scanning networks: Identifying live systems and open ports.
• Gaining access: Exploiting vulnerabilities to access systems.
• Maintaining access: Ensuring continued access to the system.
• Covering tracks: Techniques to hide the presence and actions of the hacker.

The CEH exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions, and candidates have four hours to complete it. The exam tests a wide range of skills, from theoretical knowledge to practical hacking techniques.

CEH Prerequisites and Cost

Candidates for the CEH certification must have at least two years of work experience in the information security domain or complete an official EC-Council training. The cost of the CEH exam is around $850, with additional costs for training materials and courses.

Overview of Pentest+

What is Pentest+?

The CompTIA Pentest+ certification is a newer addition to the field of cybersecurity certifications, focusing specifically on penetration testing. It is designed to validate the skills required to identify, exploit, report, and manage vulnerabilities on a network.

Pentest+ Curriculum and Exam Details

The Pentest+ certification includes the following domains:

• Planning and Scoping: Defining the scope of penetration testing activities.
• Information Gathering and Vulnerability Identification: Techniques to gather information and identify vulnerabilities.
• Attacks and Exploits: Performing attacks and exploiting vulnerabilities.
• Reporting and Communication: Documenting findings and communicating results to stakeholders.
• Tools and Code Analysis: Using tools and scripts for penetration testing.

The Pentest+ exam is composed of a maximum of 85 questions, including multiple-choice and performance-based questions, and candidates have 165 minutes to complete it.

Pentest+ Prerequisites and Cost

There are no formal prerequisites for the Pentest+ certification, although it is recommended that candidates have at least three to four years of information security experience. The exam costs approximately $404.

CEH vs. Pentest+: Key Differences

Focus and Depth of Content

CEH provides a comprehensive overview of various hacking techniques and tools, with a strong emphasis on the theoretical aspects of ethical hacking. It covers a wide range of topics, making it suitable for those who want a broad understanding of cybersecurity.

Pentest+, on the other hand, is more focused on practical penetration testing skills. It emphasizes hands-on experience and real-world scenarios, making it ideal for professionals who want to specialize in penetration testing.

Industry Recognition and Career Impact

The CEH certification is well-established and recognized globally, often considered a benchmark for ethical hacking skills. It is particularly valued by employers in government and large corporations.

Pentest+ is gaining recognition and is respected for its practical approach. It is ideal for roles that require in-depth penetration testing skills, such as penetration testers, vulnerability assessment analysts, and network security specialists.

Cost and Time Investment

The CEH certification is more expensive, with higher costs for the exam and training. It also requires prior work experience or completion of official training, which can be a barrier for some candidates.

Pentest+ is more affordable and accessible, with no formal prerequisites. This makes it a cost-effective option for professionals looking to enter the field of penetration testing.

Choosing the Right Certification for You

Consider Your Career Goals

If your goal is to have a broad understanding of ethical hacking and cybersecurity, and you aim to work in roles that require a recognized certification, CEH may be the better choice. It is particularly valuable for those looking to work in government or large enterprises.

If you are focused on becoming a specialized penetration tester and want to gain practical, hands-on experience, Pentest+ is likely the better fit. It provides a more focused curriculum and is designed to prepare you for real-world penetration testing challenges.

Evaluate Your Experience and Resources

Consider your current experience and resources. If you have the necessary work experience or can afford the cost of CEH training, the CEH certification can be a valuable investment. However, if you are newer to the field or looking for a more affordable option, Pentest+ offers a practical and cost-effective pathway.

Assess Industry Demand

Research the demand for each certification in your target job market. While both certifications are respected, certain regions or employers may prefer one over the other. Understanding the specific requirements of your desired career path can help you make an informed decision.

Conclusion

Both CEH and Pentest+ certifications offer valuable skills and knowledge for cybersecurity professionals. Your choice between the two should be guided by your career goals, current experience, and the specific demands of the job market. By carefully considering these factors, you can select the certification that best aligns with your aspirations and sets you on a path to success in the dynamic field of cybersecurity.

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Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis: What, Why, and How to Learn

What Is the Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis?

The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis is a cybersecurity framework that helps organizations analyze cyber intrusions. The model was first proposed by Sergio Caltagirone, Andrew Pendergast, and Christopher Betz in a 2013 U.S. Department of Defense technical report titled “The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis” (Caltagirone et al., 2013).

The main objectives of the Diamond Model are to identify specific attackers, understand the tactics, threats, and procedures they use, and more effectively respond to cyber incidents as they occur.

Just as there are four points in a diamond, the Diamond Model has four key components: adversaries, infrastructure, capabilities, and targets. These components also have various links or relationships (such as adversary-victim, adversary-infrastructure, and victim-capability).

Unlike many other cybersecurity frameworks, the Diamond Model heavily focuses on the task of attribution: identifying those responsible for a cyber incident. The Diamond Model is also a highly flexible schema and can be applied to everything from advanced persistent threats (APTs) to ransomware attacks.

How Does the Diamond Model Work?

As mentioned above, there are four main components of the Diamond Model of Intrusion:

• Adversary: The attacker or group responsible for a cyber incident.
• Infrastructure: The technical resources or assets the adversary uses during the attack (e.g., servers, domains, and IP addresses).
• Capability: A method, tool, or technique the adversary uses during the attack (e.g., malware or exploits).
• Victim: The individual or organization the adversary targets during the attack.

There are also various relationships between these components, including:

• Adversary-victim: The interaction between the attacker and target. This relationship concerns questions such as why the attacker selected this target and the attacker’s motivations and objectives.
• Adversary infrastructure: The attacker uses various technical resources and assets. This relationship concerns how the attacker establishes and maintains its cyber operations.
• Victim-infrastructure: The target’s connection to the attacker’s technical resources. This relationship concerns the attacker’s use of various channels, methods, and vectors against the target.
• Victim-capability: The target’s connection to the attacker’s tools and techniques. This relationship concerns specific tactics and attack signatures used against the target.

What Are the Benefits of Using the Diamond Model?

The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis offers advantages such as:

• Holistic understanding: The Diamond Model examines the technical aspects of a cyberattack and the human and organizational aspects (in the form of the adversary and victim).
• Structured analysis: The Diamond Model provides a clear, organized way for cybersecurity experts to structure and process data relating to cyber threats and attacks, making it easier to collaborate and share information.
• Incident response and threat intelligence: The Diamond Model offers benefits both for threat intelligence (before an attack) and incident response (after an attack), helping analysts collect and analyze valuable data.

The Diamond Model is particularly skillful at visualizing and understanding complex attack scenarios. By modeling the relationships between adversaries, victims, infrastructure, and capabilities, the Diamond Model helps cyber analysts see how the different elements of a cyberattack interact with and influence each other. The Diamond Model condenses large amounts of data into a simple diagram, making exploring different links and patterns easier.

What Are the Key Attributes Within Each Element of the Diamond Model?

Each element of the Diamond Model possesses different attributes that include valuable additional information. For example, below are some key attributes of the adversary element:

• The adversary’s identity, name, or pseudonym.
• The adversary’s motivations and objectives (e.g., financial gain or corporate espionage).
• The adversary’s technical capabilities, skills, and knowledge.
• The adversary’s tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).
• The adversary’s attribution indicators (pieces of evidence that link the adversary to a particular group, such as code similarities or similar tactics).

Below are some key attributes of the infrastructure element:

• The geographic locations, IP addresses, and domains of servers in the adversary’s command and control infrastructure.
• The communication protocols used (e.g., HTTPS or DNS).
• Domain registration details (e.g., the registration date and name of the registering party).
• The websites or servers hosting malware or phishing scams.
• Abnormal traffic patterns indicating communication with the adversary’s command and control systems.

How Does the Diamond Model Align with Other Cybersecurity Frameworks?

The Diamond Model is notably distinct from other cybersecurity frameworks such as Lockheed Martin’s Cyber Kill Chain or MITRE ATT&CK. However, the main differences between the Diamond Model and other cybersecurity frameworks are as follows:

Diamond Model vs. Cyber Kill Chain: Whereas the Diamond Model concentrates on the relationships between adversaries and victims, the Cyber Kill Chain focuses on the stages of a cyberattack, from surveillance to carrying out the attack’s objectives.

Diamond Model vs. MITRE ATT&CK: Unlike the Diamond Model, the MITRE ATT&CK framework focuses much more on detailing the adversary’s TTPs, mapping specific tactics to defensive strategies.

As a result, the Diamond Model can work in tandem with other frameworks such as MITRE ATT&CK and the Cyber Kill Chain. Each framework focuses on different components or elements of a cyberattack, helping analysts obtain a holistic picture of the incident.

What Are Some Real-World Examples of Using the Diamond Model?

The Diamond Model of Intrusion Analysis has been used effectively in practical, real-world use cases. For example, cybersecurity analysts Meghan Jacquot and Kate Esprit used the Diamond Model to analyze the LAPSUS$ ransomware and hacking group. (Esprit and Jacquot, 2022) They used the framework to collect information about the adversary (LAPSUS$) and its infrastructure, capabilities, and victims:

• Infrastructure: Open-source hacking tools, Telegram, underground forums
• Capabilities: Social engineering, DDoS attacks, stolen certificates, credential dumping, etc.
• Victims: Companies in the telecommunications, software, technology, and gaming industries

The Diamond Model was also used by researchers John Kotheimer, Kyle O’Meara, and Deana Shick at Carnegie Mellon University. In their case study “Using Honeynets and the Diamond Model for ICS Threat Analysis,” these researchers examined how adversaries interacted with industrial control system honeynets (fake networks designed to lure attackers) and mapped these interactions to the different components of the Diamond Model. (Kotheimer et al., 2016)

Source: eccouncil.org

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Ethical Hacking Demystified: Your Path to C|EH Certification

In the fast-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, staying one step ahead of potential threats has become paramount. With the exponential rise in cyberattacks, organizations are seeking professionals who can safeguard their digital assets. This is where Ethical Hacking comes into play, and in this comprehensive guide, we will demystify the journey to becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH).

Understanding Ethical Hacking

Ethical Hacking is a skill that involves mimicking the techniques of malicious hackers to identify vulnerabilities within a system's defenses. This process aids organizations in fortifying their security measures proactively. By simulating real-world cyber threats, ethical hackers can pinpoint weaknesses and recommend preventive measures, ensuring robust protection against potential breaches.

The Significance of C|EH Certification

C|EH Certification is a globally recognized credential that validates a professional's expertise in ethical hacking. This certification not only enhances your cybersecurity skills but also opens doors to a plethora of career opportunities. As organizations across industries recognize the value of cybersecurity, having the C|EH certification prominently displayed on your resume can make you a sought-after candidate.

Your Path to C|EH Certification

1. Building a Strong Foundation

Before embarking on the journey towards C|EH certification, it's essential to have a solid understanding of networking, operating systems, and basic security concepts. A strong foundation will provide you with the necessary knowledge to grasp advanced ethical hacking techniques.

2. Formal Training and Education

Enrolling in a reputable C|EH training program is a critical step. These programs offer in-depth knowledge and hands-on experience with tools and methodologies used in ethical hacking. Look for accredited courses that cover a wide range of topics, including penetration testing, malware analysis, and vulnerability assessment.

3. Hands-on Practice

Theory alone won't suffice in the realm of ethical hacking. Engage in practical exercises and simulations to apply what you've learned. Experiment with various hacking techniques in controlled environments to gain practical insights into real-world scenarios.

4. Staying Updated

The world of cybersecurity is dynamic, with new threats emerging regularly. Subscribing to cybersecurity news, following industry experts on social media, and participating in online forums can help you stay updated with the latest trends and vulnerabilities.

5. Exploring Specializations

Ethical hacking encompasses a wide array of specializations, such as web application security, network security, and mobile device security. Depending on your interests and career goals, you can dive deeper into these areas to become a specialist in a particular domain.

6. Practice Makes Perfect

Ethical hacking is a skill that improves with practice. Participate in Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions, solve challenges on hacking platforms, and collaborate with fellow ethical hackers to tackle complex problems. This hands-on experience will refine your skills and boost your confidence.

Benefits of Ethical Hacking and C|EH Certification

Earning your C|EH certification offers a multitude of benefits that extend beyond career growth:

1. High Demand

Cybersecurity professionals, particularly those with C|EH certifications, are in high demand. As breaches become more sophisticated, organizations require experts who can defend against evolving threats.

2. Lucrative Salaries

Due to the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals, individuals with C|EH certifications command competitive salaries. The value of your expertise is reflected in your compensation package.

3. Contribution to Security

By becoming a certified ethical hacker, you contribute to the broader security landscape by identifying vulnerabilities and preventing potential cyber disasters. Your efforts contribute to a safer digital world.

4. Continuous Learning

Ethical hacking is a continuous learning journey. With each new challenge you tackle, you gain insights and skills that make you an even more proficient professional. This field is intellectually stimulating and rewarding.

The Insider's Views

If you're eager to delve deeper into the world of ethical hacking, The Insider's Views offers a plethora of resources to boost your knowledge. From detailed guides on cybersecurity concepts to practical tips on mastering hacking techniques, this platform equips you with the insights you need to excel in the field.

In conclusion, ethical hacking has evolved from a niche skill to a critical component of modern cybersecurity. Acquiring your C|EH certification not only enhances your skill set but also positions you as a guardian of digital landscapes. The dynamic nature of this field ensures that every day brings new challenges and opportunities for growth. As you embark on your journey, remember that ethical hacking is not just a profession—it's a commitment to making the digital world safer for everyone.

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CEH Certification Demystified: Worth the Hype or Just Another Credential?

In the ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity, staying ahead of the curve is paramount. With digital threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, professionals are constantly seeking ways to fortify their skills and knowledge. One certification that has garnered considerable attention is the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification. In this comprehensive article, we delve into the depths of CEH certification, deciphering whether it truly lives up to the hype or if it's just another credential in the vast sea of options.

Unveiling the CEH Certification

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification is a meticulously designed program tailored for individuals seeking to specialize in ethical hacking and penetration testing. In essence, CEH aims to equip cybersecurity professionals with the tools and techniques employed by malicious hackers, enabling them to identify vulnerabilities and safeguard systems proactively. This coveted certification is recognized globally as a benchmark for ethical hacking prowess.

The Journey to Attaining CEH

Embarking on the journey towards becoming a Certified Ethical Hacker is no small feat. The certification process entails rigorous training, hands-on experience, and an in-depth understanding of various cybersecurity domains. Candidates must delve into areas such as network security, cryptography, web application security, and more. The training often culminates in a grueling exam that assesses the candidate's theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

CEH: Setting the Bar High

What sets CEH apart from the myriad of certifications available? The answer lies in its comprehensive curriculum and real-world applicability. CEH not only equips professionals with theoretical knowledge but also challenges them to apply this knowledge in simulated environments. This emphasis on practicality ensures that certified individuals are well-prepared to tackle the dynamic landscape of cybersecurity.

Industry Recognition and Credibility

When evaluating the worth of a certification, industry recognition plays a pivotal role. CEH boasts recognition from top organizations, governmental bodies, and corporations worldwide. This recognition is not merely a testament to the certification's prestige but also a testament to the skills it imparts. Many employers actively seek professionals with CEH certification, as it signifies a commitment to ethical hacking practices and a profound understanding of cybersecurity nuances.

Keeping Pace with Technological Advancements

The realm of cybersecurity is far from static, with new threats emerging and technology evolving regularly. CEH stays relevant by consistently updating its curriculum to align with the latest cybersecurity trends. This commitment to staying current ensures that certified professionals remain equipped to handle contemporary challenges effectively.

CEH vs. Competing Certifications

To truly understand CEH's worth, a comparative analysis with competing certifications is imperative. While there are several certifications catering to ethical hacking and penetration testing, CEH stands out due to its extensive curriculum, hands-on approach, and global recognition. While some certifications might focus solely on theoretical knowledge, CEH bridges the gap between theory and practical application.

The ROI of CEH Certification

Investing time, effort, and resources into acquiring a CEH certification yields tangible returns. Professionals who hold this certification often find themselves in high demand across various industries. The salary potential for CEH-certified individuals is also notably higher than that of their non-certified counterparts, further underscoring the value of this credential.

Conclusion: CEH - A Credential of Substance

In the grand scheme of cybersecurity certifications, the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification emerges as a credential of substance rather than just another option. Its comprehensive curriculum, emphasis on practical skills, global recognition, and alignment with industry demands make it a formidable choice for professionals seeking to excel in the ethical hacking domain.

If you're ready to take your cybersecurity career to the next level, CEH certification is undoubtedly a pathway worth considering. In a world where digital threats continue to evolve, arming oneself with the skills to combat these threats ethically is not only commendable but essential.

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What is Spear Phishing and How Can You Prevent It

Spear phishing is one of the biggest cybersecurity threats that organizations must know. According to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report (ISRT), 65% of threat actors have used spear phishing emails to attack. Deloitte estimates that 91% of successful cyberattacks begin with a phishing email.

So, what is spear phishing, and how can you best protect yourself? This article discusses everything you need to know, including a few common examples and their types.

What Is Spear Phishing?

Spear phishing means using targeted emails to a specific person from an attacker attempting to impersonate a trusted third party. A spear phishing email aims to trick the recipient into taking an action that allows the sender to execute a cyberattack.

Users may be fooled into downloading malware or revealing their credentials, such as their username and password. This tactic lets the attacker enter the user’s network undetected and steal data or bring down the environment from within. Attackers may also seek information such as credit card numbers, Social Security numbers, and bank accounts that allows them to commit financial fraud.

Because it involves a targeted attack on a single individual or business, spear phishing requires malicious actors to conduct research and reconnaissance on their would-be victims. Hackers may use knowledge such as the targets’ personal and business connections, employers, residence, and even recent online purchases.

Phishing vs. Spear Phishing: What’s the Difference?

It can be easy to get confused about phishing vs. spear phishing. Both terms refer to email attacks that attempt to extract confidential or personal information by impersonating a trusted third party. In particular, spear phishing (a targeted spoof email to a specific recipient as the prelude to a cyberattack) is a subtype of a phishing attack.

The difference between phishing and spear phishing is that phishing is not necessarily aimed at a single target (i.e., an individual or organization). Importantly, many phishing emails do not fall under spear phishing.

For example, mass phishing campaigns attempt to cast their nets to reach as wide an audience as possible. These attacks often impersonate a large, trusted business — such as Amazon or a credit card company — that thousands or millions of people patronize.

On the other hand, spear phishing always has an intended victim in mind. By customizing their attacks to use knowledge of the target, threat actors hope to make spear phishing more sophisticated and effective than a general phishing campaign.

4 Types of Spear Phishing

Spear phishing is a subclass of phishing, but you should be aware of also varieties of spear phishing. Below are some common types of spear phishing:

◉ Whale phishing: Also called “whaling,” whale phishing aims at particularly wealthy or important individuals, such as business executives. Whaling is an effective spear phishing because these targets often have access to funds or IT resources that lower-level employees do not.

◉ Angler phishing: This type of spear phishing targets dissatisfied customers of a business on social media. The attackers pose as representatives of the company, asking customers to provide them with sensitive data to “investigate” their cases.

◉ Barrel phishing: Barrel phishing is a phishing attack that targets many individuals or organizations at once, using a standardized message or template. The name “barrel phishing” refers to the idea that a large number of victims are targeted at once, like fish in a barrel

◉ Clone phishing: An attempt to mimic the previous messages of a legitimate sender is known as clone phishing. However, the attackers replace the attachments or links in the previous email with malware or a spoofed website that steals users’ data.

Best Practices and Tips

The good news is that there are steps you can take to prevent spear phishing attacks. Follow the security tips and best practices below to defend yourself against spear phishing:

◉ Educate and train employees on recognizing phishing and spear phishing campaigns.

◉ Conduct phishing simulations to evaluate the effectiveness of training campaigns.

◉ Scan external links and email attachments for suspicious behavior.

◉ Install antivirus and antimalware software.

◉ Regularly update software and hardware to patch security vulnerabilities.

In particular, spear phishing attacks can be stopped or limited by practicing good cyber hygiene, making it more difficult for attackers to learn about their targets. For example, businesses should avoid publishing email and phone numbers for their employees on their website; visitors can use a contact form to reach out. This method makes it harder for malicious actors to impersonate employees by faking the address in an email header.

Why Should You Pursue the C|EH?

Want to take an active role in preventing spear phishing and other cybercrimes? EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) covers all social engineering techniques in-depth, including identifying theft attempts, assessing human-level vulnerabilities, and proposing social engineering countermeasures. Learn how to detect a phishing attack and perform security audits through hands-on lab exercises. The C|EH helps you master the foundations of ethical hacking and tackle real-world threats. Learn more!

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Five Security Vulnerabilities Ethical Hacking Can Uncover

While the term “ethical hacking” may sound like an oxymoron, ethical hackers are an incredibly valuable resource for organizations today. Whereas malicious hacking is harmful, ethical hacking is beneficial—when done right, it can protect a company’s digital assets and ensure the security of its network.

As a result, ethical hacking skills are in high demand today: A recent report projects that there will be 3.5 million cybersecurity job openings by 2025 (Cybersecurity Ventures, 2021), and ethical hackers in the United States make an average of $102,400 per year (Salary.com, 2021). If you’re looking to develop your ethical hacking skills and become a Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH), now is the perfect time.

An ethical hacker’s job is to attempt to break into a company’s network, understand its security protections and precautions, and identify weaknesses (EC-Council, 2021c). After doing so, they present the company with a list of its security vulnerabilities as well as recommendations for improving security. Ethical hacking often goes hand in hand with other security measures, like penetration testing (EC-Council, 2021b).

In the course of their work, ethical hackers can find many types of network and security vulnerabilities. In this article, we’ll outline five major security vulnerabilities that ethical hacking can reveal.

1. Security Misconfigurations

Security misconfigurations happen when an organization improperly configures or fails to properly utilize all of a system’s security settings, enabling hackers to gain access to its network. A security misconfiguration is often a precursor to a powerful and aggressive attack on a network. Programs like the C|EH train ethical hackers to spot security misconfigurations and then provide recommendations for how a business can remedy them.

2. Injection Attacks

In an injection attack, a malicious actor injects a line of code into a program to gain remote access to an organization’s network (IBM, 2014). Injection attacks are often precursors to larger-scale cyberattacks on a database or website (IBM, 2014). However, appropriate security protocols can stop the malicious injection of code and, if enforced correctly, alert a network administrator. There are many types of injection attacks, with SQL injections among the most prevalent and damaging.

3. Vulnerable System Components 

One of the fundamental challenges in network security is ensuring that all aspects of a network’s systems are secure and up to date—a network is only as secure as its individual components. Using components with known vulnerabilities can create serious network security problems. Ethical hackers can identify these vulnerabilities and determine how to fix them. These fixes may include making improvements to existing security programs and providing recommendations for better security software.

4. Social Engineering

Malicious actors use social engineering tactics to break into an organization’s network by inducing individuals to provide information that enables the hacker to gain illicit access to the organization’s systems (National Institute of Standards and Technology, n.d.). Social engineering attacks may involve, for example, a malicious actor posing as a network administrator and sending out a phishing email to an organization’s members. If users are tricked into giving out their usernames and passwords, the attacker can gain unlawful access to the company’s network. 

Ensuring that employees are aware of social engineering and phishing techniques can lower the odds that such attacks will be successful (EC-Council, 2021a). A company is only as strong as its weakest link. Ethical hacking can help identify these weak links.

5. Authentication Vulnerabilities

Although every network has an authentication process, some networks have particular vulnerabilities that allow a skilled hacker to bypass these authentication measures and breach the network. A C|EH is trained to know what these vulnerabilities are, where to find them, and how to spot them.

Source: eccouncil.org

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What Is Fog Computing? Importance, Applications, and Everything You Need to Know (C|EH)

Fog computing is an important trend to understand for anyone working in or planning to work in technology. It has many potential applications, from industrial and manufacturing settings to hospitals and other healthcare facilities. But what is fog computing, and how does it differ from cloud computing? Let’s take a look.

What Is Meant by Fog Computing?

Fog computing is a form of distributed computing that brings computation and data storage closer to the network edge, where many IoT devices are located. By doing this, fog computing reduces the reliance on the cloud for these resource-intensive tasks, improving performance and reducing latency (TechTarget, 2022).

Mist computing takes cloud fog computing even further by bringing computation and data storage even closer to the edge, often using devices such as mist computing servers, which are low-power servers that can be deployed in large numbers.

Why Is Fog Computing Used?

There are several reasons why fog computing is used:

◉ To improve latency and performance: Because fog nodes are often deployed at the network edge, closer to the IoT devices themselves, they can substantially reduce the processing time and enhance performance for applications that demand low latency.

◉ To improve decision-making: It can help improve decision-making in real-time as fog computing allows for real-time data collection and analysis from IoT devices.

◉ To reduce costs: Fog computing can also help reduce costs associated with data storage and analysis. This is because, by bringing computation and data storage closer to the network edge, fog computing reduces the amount of data that needs to be transmitted back to a central location for processing.

What Are the Four Types of Fog Computing?

Fog computing is a term for technology that extends cloud computing and services to the edge of an enterprise’s network. It allows data, applications, and other resources to be moved closer to, or even on top of, end users.

The four main types of fog computing are mentioned below.

◉ Device-level fog computing runs on devices such as sensors, switches, routers, and other low-powered hardware. It can be used to gather data from these devices and send it to the cloud for analysis.

◉ Edge-level fog computing runs on servers or appliances located at the edge of a network. These devices can be used to process data before it is sent to the cloud.

◉ Gateway-level fog computing runs on devices that act as a gateway between the edge and the cloud. These devices can be used to manage traffic and ensure that only relevant data is sent to the cloud.

◉ Cloud-level fog computing runs on servers or appliances located in the cloud. These devices can be used to process data before it is sent to end users.

Where Is Fog Computing Needed?

There are many potential applications for fog computing, including:

◉ Connected cars — collecting and processing data from sensors in real-time to enable features such as autonomous driving and infotainment.

◉ Smart cities — monitoring traffic flows, managing public transportation, optimizing energy use, and more.

◉ Industrial IoT — enhancing efficiency and safety in factories, power plants, mines, and other industrial infrastructure.

◉ Connected health — supporting remote patient monitoring, telemedicine, and other healthcare applications.

◉ AR/VR — enabling low-latency, high-quality augmented and virtual reality experiences.

Fog computing can be used to support a wide range of applications that require data to be processed at the edge of the network. In many cases, moving compute and storage resources closer to the data source improves performance and reduces costs. For example, connected cars generate a significant volume of data that needs to be analyzed in real-time to enable features such as autonomous driving.

Who Uses Fog Computing?

Fog computing is often used in cases where real-time response is needed, such as with industrial control systems, video surveillance, or autonomous vehicles. It can also be used to offload computationally intensive tasks from centralized servers or to provide backup and redundancy in case of network failure.

Components of Fog Computing

Some of the key components of cloud fog computing include the following:

◉ Edge devices: These are the devices located at the edge of the network, closest to the data source. Edge devices include sensors, PLCs (programmable logic controllers), and gateway routers.

◉ Data processing: Data processing is done locally on edge devices rather than sent to a central location for processing. The result is improved performance and reduced latency.

◉ Data storage: Edge devices can store data locally rather than sending it to a central location for storage. This improves security and privacy, as well as reduces latency.

◉ Connectivity: Fog computing requires high-speed connectivity between edge devices and the rest of the network. This is achieved through wired or wireless means.

Why Is Fog Computing Beneficial for IoT?

The internet of things (IoT) is a system of interconnected devices, sensors, and software components that share data and information. The power of the IoT comes from its ability to collect and analyze massive volumes of data from various sources. This data can be used to improve efficiency, optimize operations and make better decisions.

Fog computing in IoT is a decentralized computing model that brings computation and data storage closer to the edge of the network. In other words, fog computing moves processing power and data storage away from centralized server farms and into local networks where IoT devices are located.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Fog Computing?

There are several advantages to using a fog computing architecture:

1. Reduced latency: By processing data at or near the edge of the network, fog computing can help reduce latency.

2. Improved security and privacy: By keeping data and applications closer to the user, fog computing can help improve security and privacy.

3. Increased scalability: Fog computing can help increase scalability as more resources may be added at the edge of the network.

There are also several disadvantages to using a fog computing architecture:

1. Limited resources: Because fog computing relies on devices at the edge of the network, there may be limited resources available. This can impact performance.

2. Complex architecture: Fog computing can be complex to implement and manage because of the distributed nature of the architecture.

3. Limited coverage: Because fog computing is still a relatively new technology, there may be limited coverage in terms of devices and locations that support it (HiTechWhizz, 2022).

Fog vs. Edge Computing

Edge computing, a distributed computing model, processes data and applications at the edge of the network, close to the data source. By contrast, in the traditional centralized model of cloud computing, data and applications are stored in a central location and accessed over the network.

The main difference between fog and edge computing is that fog computing extends cloud services and connectivity to devices at the edge of the network. In contrast, edge computing brings computation and data storage closer to devices at the edge of the network.

What Is Heavy.AI?

Heavy.AI is a powerful artificial intelligence platform that enables businesses and developers to easily build and deploy AI-powered applications. Heavy.AI is built on top of the popular TensorFlow open-source library, making it easy to get started with deep learning and neural networks. With Heavy.AI, you can quickly train and deploy your custom models or use one of the many pre-trained models available in the Heavy.AI marketplace.

How Is Heavy.AI Related to a Fog Computing Solution?

Heavy.AI also offers a fog computing solution that can be used to manage and process data from IoT devices at the edge of the network. This solution can improve the performance of IoT applications by reducing latency and ensuring data is processed locally.

iFogSim is also an open-source fog computing simulator that can evaluate the performance of different fog computing architectures. iFogSim includes a library of modules that can simulate various aspects of fog computing, such as network topologies, device types, and application characteristics.

Aspiring ethical hackers can get certified through EC-Council’s C|EH course. The comprehensive C|EH course covers a wide range of topics related to ethical hacking, including network scanning, enumeration, social engineering, denial-of-service attacks, web application attacks, SQL injection, buffer overflows, and much more.

Source: eccouncil.org

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Edge Computing - Its Importance and Everything You Need to Know

With huge volumes of data being stored and transmitted today, the need for efficient ways to process and store that data becomes more critical. This is where edge computing comes in — we can improve performance and reduce latency by deploying processing power and storage closer to the data generation sources. Edge computing can help us manage our ever-growing data needs while reducing costs. This blog discusses the importance of edge computing, its advantages, and its disadvantages.

What Is Edge Computing?

Edge computing is a distributed computing paradigm that brings computation and data storage closer to the location needed to improve response times and save bandwidth.

Read More: 312-50: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

It involves putting resources physically closer to users or devices — at the “edge” of the network — rather than in centralized data centers. Edge computing can be used in conjunction with fog computing, which extends cloud-computing capabilities to the edge of the network.

Examples of Edge Computing

There are many potential applications for edge computing, including the following:

◉ Connected cars: Mobile edge computing can be used to process data from onboard sensors in real time, enabling features such as autonomous driving and real-time traffic monitoring.

◉ Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT): Edge network computing can be used to collect and process data from industrial sensors and machines in real time, enabling predictive maintenance and improved process control.

◉ 5G: Cloud edge computing will be critical for supporting the high bandwidth and low latency requirements of 5G networks.

Importance of Edge Computing

Edge computing can help to improve many aspects of an organization:

◉ The main importance of edge computing is to reduce latency and improve performance by bringing computation and data storage closer to the devices and users that need them.

◉ Multi-access edge computing can also help save on bandwidth costs and improve security by processing data locally instead of sending it over the network to central servers.

◉ Edge computing can be used in conjunction with other distributed computing models, such as cloud edge computing and fog computing. When used together, these models can create a more flexible and scalable system that can better handle the demands of modern applications.

How Does it Work?

Edge computing can be considered a compliment or an extension of cloud computing, with the main difference being that edge computing performs these computations and stores this data locally rather than in a central location.

Edge network computing nodes are often located at the “edge” of networks, meaning they are close to the devices that generate the data. These nodes can be deployed on-premises or in a colocation facility. They can also be embedded in devices, such as routers, switches, and intelligent sensors.

The data generated by these devices is then processed and stored locally at the edge node. This data can be analyzed in real-time or transmitted to a central location for further processing.

What Are the Benefits of Edge Computing?

The following are just some of the benefits of edge computing:

◉ Efficiency increases: Edge computing can make networks more efficient. When data is processed at the edge, only the needed data is sent to the central location, rather than all data being sent and filtered at the central location.

◉ Security improvements: Cloud edge computing can also improve security. By processing data locally, sensitive data can be kept within the network and away from potential threats.

◉ Reduction of latency: Edge computing can help to reduce latency. Processing data at the edge of the network, close to the source of the data, means there is no need to send data back and forth to a central location, which can take time.

What Are the Disadvantages of Edge Computing?

One disadvantage of cloud edge computing is that it can introduce additional complexity to the network. This is because data must be routed to the appropriate location for processing, which can require extra infrastructure and management.

In addition, edge computing can also be less reliable than centralized processing, as there may be more points of failure.

Another potential disadvantage of edge computing is that it may only be suitable for some applications. Examples include applications that require real-time processing or that are particularly latency-sensitive.

Why Is Edge Computing More Secure Than Centralized Processing?

Edge computing is more secure for several reasons.

◉ First, data is stored and processed at the edge of the network, closer to the source of the data. This reduces the time data is in transit and the chances that data will be intercepted.

◉ Second, data is processed in a distributed manner, meaning that if one node in the network is compromised, the rest of the network can continue to function.

◉ Finally, edge computing systems are often designed with security in mind from the ground up, with security features built into the hardware and software.

Edge vs. Cloud vs. Fog Computing vs. Grid Computing

There is no one-size-fits-all answer to which type of computing is best for a given organization. It depends on the specific needs and goals of the organization. However, some general trends can be observed.

◉ Organizations are increasingly moving towards cloud computing, as it offers many advantages in terms of flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency.

◉ Edge computing is also becoming more popular because it can provide faster data processing and improved security.

◉ Fog computing is another option that is gaining traction. Fog computing offers many of the benefits of cloud computing but has lower latency.

◉ Grid computing is typically used for high-performance applications that require large amounts of data to be processed in parallel.

Edge computing comes with numerous security challenges that cybersecurity professionals need to know of to keep their IT infrastructure and systems secure. With IoT devices growing at an unprecedented rate, the way data is analyzed and transmitted is also evolving. So, IT and security professionals need to acquire the latest best practices to safeguard their edge computing infrastructure.

Edge Computing in C|EH v12

EC-Council’s C|EH v12 certification equips participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand, design, and implement solutions for edge computing systems. Learn the latest commercial-grade hacking tools and techniques hackers use with C|EH. The modules also cover common security threats and vulnerabilities associated with edge computing systems and mitigations and countermeasures.

Source: eccouncil.org

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What Is Ethical Hacking, and Why Is It Important?

Though it may seem like it at first, ethical hacking isn’t a contradiction. While some individuals use their hacking knowledge for ill, others use it to help companies detect flaws in their IT environment. (Think of the difference between a burglar and a home security consultant: both are looking for vulnerabilities, but they do very different things with this information.)

But what is ethical hacking, exactly, and why is it such an important part of an organization’s IT security posture? This article will cover everything you need to know about ethical hacking, including how to become an ethical hacker.

What Are Ethical Hackers, and Why Are They Useful?

The term ethical hacking, also called white-hat hacking, refers to the use of hacking skills and techniques with good intentions and with the full consent and approval of the target. Ethical hackers use their tools and knowledge to probe an IT system, database, network, or application for security vulnerabilities. They then inform the target of any flaws they find and provide recommendations for patching them.

Both parts of the definition above—good intentions and the target’s consent—are necessary to be an ethical hacker. If one or both parts are missing, the individual is known as a black hat or a gray hat hacker, depending on the motivation:

◉ Black hat hackers are malicious, lacking both good intentions and the consent of their targets. These individuals are what the term hacker means in the popular imagination. They break into IT environments, steal confidential data, or install ransomware that charges a fee for users to regain access to their computers. These individuals often have self-serving motivations, such as money or fame, and may work for political activism or government entities as part of a cyber warfare team.

◉ Gray hat hackers occupy a morally gray area between black-hat and white-hat. Their activities are often technically illegal, probing systems for vulnerabilities without the consent of their targets. However, gray hat hackers are motivated by passion or curiosity rather than the intent to exploit their findings for financial gain.

For individuals to be ethical or white hat hackers, they must obey a few key concepts:

1. The activities of ethical hackers must be with the target’s full knowledge and consent and always remain within legal boundaries.

2. They should work with the target to define the scope of their activities and must not go beyond this scope unless otherwise agreed upon.

3. They must report all the vulnerabilities they discover during their work and offer their best advice for fixing them.

4. They must respect the target’s privacy and security, including any sensitive or confidential information.

Ethical hackers are useful because they help organizations identify vulnerabilities in their IT environments before black hat hackers can exploit them. Businesses usually employ ethical hackers on internal IT teams or external contractors. The designation of an ethical hacker is usually not an official job title; instead, ethical hackers occupy roles such as security analysts, security engineers, and penetration testers.

What Are the Uses of Ethical Hacking?

Ethical hackers have many use cases within an organization. Depending on their skills and specializations, ethical hackers may work on detecting vulnerabilities in one or more of the following ways:

◉ Social engineering: Social engineering refers to manipulating targets through social or psychological means rather than technical ones, tricking them into revealing sensitive information. For example, employees might be fooled into divulging their login credentials after they receive a phishing email.

◉ Web application hacking: Many web applications have hidden security flaws that attackers can exploit. These vulnerabilities may include failure to sanitize user input (such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting) and issues with authentication and user credentials.

◉ Web server hacking: Servers and databases are also subject to various problems that ethical hackers can detect. For example, a server might inadvertently expose sensitive information or be vulnerable to denial-of-service attacks that seek to overwhelm it with too much traffic.

◉ Wireless network hacking: Networks, too, are susceptible to unauthorized entry by black hat hackers, and it’s up to their ethical hacker counterparts to stop them. Potential network vulnerabilities include password and encryption issues, rogue access points, and even lost or stolen company devices.

◉ System hacking: Last but not least, attackers may try to exploit individual systems or machines within a company network and install viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware, keyloggers, and other malware. Ethical hackers look for system flaws, such as password cracking and privilege escalation.

Advantages of Ethical Hacking

Both the number and the intensity of cyberattacks are increasing rapidly—and there’s no sign that they will slow down any time soon. According to IBM, for example, the average data breach cost for companies now stands at $4.35 million, the highest figure ever on record (IBM Security, 2022).

Given the tremendous business risk of suffering a cyberattack, organizations must be proactive in defending against black hat hackers. Working with ethical hackers is an excellent way for companies to use black hat tools against them. Institutions as important as banks, the military, and national intelligence services all rely on ethical hackers as crucial parts of their cybersecurity strategies.

When starting their work, ethical hackers perform a vulnerability assessment of the client’s IT environment, including networks, databases, servers, applications, and endpoints. This may include the use of automated tools and manual checks and verifications. At the end of the assessment, ethical hackers produce a report listing any vulnerabilities detected, their severity, and recommendations for fixing each one.

As part of their work, ethical hackers may also help with training and education programs for employees. Even basic cybersecurity practices, such as choosing stronger passwords and using multi-factor authentication, can go a long way to help strengthen an organization’s IT security posture.

How to Become an Ethical Hacker

Being an ethical hacker can be a tremendously rewarding position. Ethical hacking enables you to satisfy your curiosity, use problem-solving skills and technical knowledge, and help organizations protect themselves against dangerous cybercriminals. This brings us to the question—how do you become an ethical hacker?

Getting an ethical hacking certification is an excellent start if you’re looking to begin a career as an ethical hacker. Ethical hacking certifications prove you have the knowledge and experience to start helping companies patch their security vulnerabilities.

EC-Council offers a Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) certification to help jumpstart your IT career. This certification verifies that the recipient is a skilled professional who understands and knows how to look for weaknesses and vulnerabilities in target systems and uses the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker, but in a lawful and legitimate manner to assess the security posture of a target system(s).

Taking a C|EH course and passing the C|EH certification test is the perfect way to show businesses that you have the skills for an ethical hacking job. Want to learn more about how to become an ethical hacker? Check out EC-Council’s page on the C|EH certification.

Taking a C|EH course and passing the C|EH certification test is the perfect way to show businesses that you have the skills for an ethical hacking job. Want to learn more about how to become an ethical hacker? Check out EC-Council’s page on the C|EH certification.

Source: eccouncil.org

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What is Vulnerability Analysis, and How Does It Work?

Did you know that 60% of all data breaches were made possible by unpatched vulnerabilities (Willis, V. 2019)? That staggering figure shows why a vulnerability assessment is critical to any cybersecurity strategy.

Read More: 312-50: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

There is no denying that every system has vulnerabilities. Detecting them quickly is key to properly identifying, prioritizing, and mitigating them. However, as organizational architecture grows more complex, it’s difficult to fully understand it without utilizing a systematic vulnerability analysis.

Read on to learn why vulnerability analysis is important and how it can be utilized to help your organization overcome its cybersecurity risks.

What Is Vulnerability Assessment?

The purpose of vulnerability analysis, or vulnerability assessment, is to create a structured process for discovering vulnerabilities in a system, prioritizing them, and creating a mitigation strategy. Cybersecurity professionals often use vulnerability analysis alongside other detection methods, such as penetration testing, to better understand an organization’s system and its most significant risks.

Since there are multiple uses of vulnerability analysis, there are many different types of assessments to choose from (Computer Security Resource Center, 2022):

◉ Application assessments to determine vulnerabilities within the web applications your organization uses.

◉ Network assessments that require a review of your procedures and policies to protect you against unauthorized access.

◉ Database assessments to discover configuration issues, unprotected data, and other vulnerabilities within your infrastructure.

◉ Host assessments to reveal vulnerabilities of your critical servers that could impact operations and security if not properly tested and protected.

Most organizations need to run a combination of these assessments regularly. As with most cybersecurity practices, you need to invest time into vulnerability assessments on a routine basis and adjust practices and policies accordingly as an organization’s architecture and cyberthreats evolve.

Vulnerability Assessment Checklist

Even if you’ve conducted vulnerability assessments in the past, staying up to date on the best practices of vulnerability assessment methodology helps you get the most out of the process. As such, here’s a checklist to follow that ensures an assessment is thorough, efficient, and productive (New York State Department of Health, 2022):

1. Define desirable business outcomes in advance: Some organizations make certain processes, such as pen tests and vulnerability assessments, mandatory and routine. That is okay, but desirable outcomes need to be defined before every assessment, or it may not be as productive or impactful as a team hopes. Prioritizing risks, achieving compliance, preventing data breaches, or reducing recovery time are all reasonable goals.

2. Prioritize before you assess: While a vulnerability assessment can help you prioritize risks, you must also prioritize your assets before moving forward. Conducting a thorough assessment can be an exhaustive process, especially for the first time, so you must first assess the most important components. This also means understanding the different types of assessments you can conduct and how to best structure them before you dive in.

3. Prepare for your assessment: Rarely is a vulnerability assessment run with the click of a button. Technical preparation involves conducting meetings, constructing a threat model, interviewing your system developers, and verifying the details of your test environment. Both passive and active vulnerability testing is valuable but knowing when and where to use each VA testing method is essential for success. In addition to knowing your testing options, you need to understand the environment you’re working in and the biggest risks you must prioritize, explore, and mitigate.

4. Review as you go: During the test, you must manually check your results to filter out false positives and prioritize true positives. It would help if you also recorded the steps taken and collected evidence to ensure that the process for getting a given result is fully understood and repeatable, as you’ll need to explore it more closely later.

5. Create detailed reports after each assessment: A vulnerability assessment is only as valuable as the knowledge it provides, so creating a comprehensive account alongside each assessment is critical to ensuring information is remembered, shared, and used to take action. A complete description of all vulnerabilities, associated risk levels, mitigation steps, and remedies should be compiled.

6. Invest in continued education and training: Aside from continuing your education through certification programs, retaining the results and reports of each vulnerability assessment you conduct proves valuable for teaching yourself and others how to better prevent and respond to incidents that may occur in the future. Detailed reports are also helpful in communicating issues to non-technical stakeholders, such as those in the C-suite who need to be aware of significant risks and strategies for dealing with them.

If you stick to these best practices the next time you plan a vulnerability assessment, you’re sure to get a lot more out of the process. Of course, getting to the point where you’re confident enough to conduct a vulnerability assessment takes knowledge and hands-on practice, which is why pursuing further education can help prepare you.

Vulnerability Analysis Tools

Conducting a vulnerability analysis is rarely fully automated, but it’s not completely manual. In most cases, while there will be some hands-on input from a security professional, you’ll also be leveraging various tools to discover vulnerabilities and learn more about them (University of North Dakota, 2022).

Some of the most common vulnerability analysis tools include:

◉ OpenVAS for All Systems: OpenVAS is one of the most far-reaching scanning tools as it covers not only web apps and web servers but also your network, operating systems, virtual machines, and databases. When vulnerabilities are discovered, the risk assessments and recommendations will help you decide what to do next.

◉ SolarWinds for Network Errors: SolarWinds offers a network configuration manager that allows vulnerability testing in areas many other tools don’t cover. By revealing misconfigured equipment on your network, SolarWinds can help you discover missing information about your system and the risks it is exposed to.

◉ Intruder for Cloud Storage: While Intruder is not free, it is a powerful tool for scanning cloud-based storage systems, and the best part is that it monitors constantly and scans automatically, ensuring vulnerabilities are detected as quickly as possible. It also offers recommendations and quality reports to guide your strategy.

◉ Nikto2 for Web Apps: If you’re looking for an open-source tool to help you scan web applications, Nikto2 is capable software that can alert you to web server vulnerabilities. The downside is that it does not offer any risk assessment features or recommendations, so you’ll have to decide what to do with the vulnerabilities that are found.

◉ Nexpose for New Vulnerabilities: Nexpose is another open-source tool that’s completely free to use to scan your web apps, devices, and networks. Plus, since it’s updated with the newest vulnerabilities every day via its active community, you can trust Nexpose to provide a reliable scanning solution. The tool also categorizes vulnerabilities based on risk, allowing you to focus on the most pressing issues.

In your work as a cybersecurity professional, you’ll likely come across all of these tools already being used by an organization or your colleagues. Of course, the list doesn’t stop here—there are dozens of other tools in the market like those listed above and finding the right one for your use case means spending some time familiarizing yourself with them.

Become a Vulnerability Analysis Expert

Whether you’ve conducted vulnerability assessments in the past, architecture, threats, and mitigation strategies evolve every day. That’s why investing in your continued education is essential to ensure you hold the most up-to-date and actionable knowledge.

You can confidently proceed with your next vulnerability assessment by pursuing a training program such as the Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) course from EC-Council. Interested in exploring the curriculum?

Source: eccouncil.org

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How Ethical Hackers Can Defend Against IoT and OT Hacking

The world is increasingly becoming a more connected place. With the rise of the Internet of Things (IoT), more and more devices can connect online. This trend has led to increased cybercrime, as criminals find new ways to exploit these devices for their own gain (Splunk, 2021a). IoT and OT are two of the most commonly exploited targets in industrial control systems and critical infrastructure attacks. In this article, we’ll explain what IoT and OT hacking are and how ethical hackers can assess and defend against the threats posed by these technologies.

What Is IoT Hacking?

The IoT is a term used to describe the growing number of devices connected to the internet. These devices include smart home appliances like thermostats and refrigerators, medical sensors, and security and alarm systems, among others. The growth of the IoT has led to a corresponding increase in cybercrime and hacking.

Read More: 312-50: Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)

The main risks posed by IoT hacking include:

◉ Theft of data: Hackers can access sensitive data stored on IoT devices, including passwords, credit card numbers, and health information.

◉ Tampering with data: IoT devices can be used to alter data. This could include tampering with critical infrastructure systems.

◉ Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks: A DDoS attack occurs when many devices are used to flood a website or other online resource with traffic, causing it to crash or become unavailable.

◉ Spying: Cybercriminals can spy on targets using cameras and microphones on IoT devices.

What Is OT Hacking?

OT refers to the systems that control industrial processes and other critical infrastructure. These systems are often connected to the internet, making them a target for hackers.

The main risks posed by OT hacking include:

◉ Damage to equipment: Hackers can damage or destroy equipment by accessing it remotely. This can cause physical harm to people or disrupt vital services.

◉ Data theft: As with IoT devices, criminals can steal data from OT systems for financial gain or other nefarious purposes.

◉ Hijacking of devices: Control systems are vulnerable to hijacking by hackers, who can use them for their own purposes or to launch attacks on other systems.

◉ Sabotage: Hackers can also use OT systems for acts of sabotage, such as disabling critical infrastructure.

How Can Ethical Hackers Assess IoT and OT Threats?

The primary way that ethical hackers can assess the threats posed by IoT and OT devices is performing vulnerability assessments. A well-trained ethical hacker who’s gone through a course like EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) program can use various tools and techniques to identify security vulnerabilities in IoT devices (Kranz et al., 2021). This involves scanning devices for known vulnerabilities and exploiting them to see what damage they can do.

When cybersecurity experts are performing ethical hacking, they need to be aware of the various ways that criminals can exploit IoT and OT devices.

These include:

◉ Brute-force attacks: In a brute-force attack, hackers attempt to guess passwords or other credentials needed to access devices.

◉ Malware: Malicious software can take control of IoT and OT devices, allowing cybercriminals to steal data or launch attacks on other systems.

◉ Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts files on an infected device and demands payment for the decryption key (Splunk, 2021b).

◉ Social engineering: Social engineering exploits human vulnerabilities, such as trust, greed, or ignorance, to access devices or information.

◉ Phishing: Phishing is a form of social engineering in which attackers send fraudulent emails masquerading as legitimate ones to steal user credentials or install malware.

◉ Data theft: Criminals can use stolen data from IoT and OT devices for financial gain or other nefarious purposes.

◉ DoS attacks: Cybercriminals can launch DoS attacks on other systems by flooding them with traffic.

By understanding these threats, ethical hackers can develop strategies to protect organizations—for example, implementing security measures such as firewalls, antivirus software, and password policies and educating employees on the dangers of IoT and OT hacking.

The Future of Cybersecurity

The growth of IoT and OT hacking is a clear sign that the cyberthreat landscape is evolving. As more devices come online, the risks posed by cybercrime will continue to increase. Therefore, organizations need to have systems in place to protect themselves against these threats.

Ethical hackers play a pivotal role in helping organizations stay safe in this increasingly hostile environment. Cyberattacks are becoming more sophisticated, but advanced educational programs like EC-Council’s certification courses are ready to teach the next generation of ethical hackers how to fight back.

Source: eccouncil.org

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How Ethical Hackers Are Changing the Game in Cybersecurity

It’s strange to think about, but imagine walking into a business and saying, “Yes, hello. I’d like to hack your entire computer network…ethically.”

If the company was smart, they’d respond: “That sounds great—let’s talk.”

The Need for Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking has become a highly in-demand field. Ethical hackers can conduct a variety of useful assessments (Ahmed, 2021), including:

◉ Exploring a company’s security system to find vulnerabilities

◉ Assisting a company in developing appropriate training tools to close security loopholes and prevent social engineering and phishing attacks

◉ Making recommendations about network vulnerabilities and how to address them

Ethical hacking works well when combined with other cybersecurity measures, such as penetration testing. Penetration testers check for weak points in computer networks, analyze security systems, and identify openings that ethical hackers can exploit. Penetration testing is the first step in testing a network’s security, since it often happens after a vulnerability assessment (a test that helps show where weaknesses lie).

What Is a Certified Ethical Hacker?

EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker (C|EH) certification allows cybersecurity professionals to demonstrate their competency in the technical skills required to perform ethical hacking. The certification teaches learners how they can use the most up-to-date hacking tools and information about security flaws to better protect their clients.

The C|EH certification from EC-Council is the leading ethical hacking course available today, as it teaches an array of skills unavailable elsewhere. In the C|EH program, you’ll learn about numerous essential topics, including vulnerability assessments, social engineering and phishing tactics, and penetration testing.

Certified Ethical Hackers Create Value

Ethical hackers have a significant and positive impact on the business community. Consider the following:

◉ Billions of records—including sensitive personal information—have been compromised in hundreds of attacks over the past few years (Lazic, 2021), and businesses are growing increasingly nervous about cybercrime’s potential impact.

◉ By October, the number of cyberattacks in 2021 had already eclipsed all of 2020 (Brooks, 2021).

◉ The average cost and overall number of cyberattacks continue to grow, with ransomware attacks becoming increasingly common (Insurance Information Institute, 2021).

The fact that cybercrime has become such a massively pressing issue demonstrates the importance of ethical hackers. Businesses increasingly need to develop robust anti-hacking protocols, and ethical hackers are a vital part of these security plans.

Career Opportunities for Certified Ethical Hackers

Ethical hacking certifications are not only good for businesses that hire certified ethical hackers—they’re also good for ethical hackers themselves.

What does this mean, exactly? Career opportunities. The demand for ethical hackers is rising, and as many as 3.5 million new computer security positions may open up in the next 3 years; however, hundreds of thousands of these jobs will go unfilled unless more people become qualified cybersecurity professionals (Morgan, 2021).

The laws of supply and demand will likely apply here, pushing salaries higher. As of March 2022, the average salary for a certified ethical hacker is around USD 103,000 (Salary.com, 2022). This salary is well above the average American’s annual pay, and it seems likely to increase in the future.

Comparing Cybersecurity Certifications

EC-Council’s C|EH is the leading certification for those seeking a career in ethical hacking. While you may have seen the C|EH compared with other certifications, like CompTIA’s Security+ and PenTest+, you should know that these comparisons are misleading. Directly comparing the C|EH certification with Sec+ or PenTest+ fails to consider the C|EH’s unique strengths.

The truth is, there’s no one-to-one comparison for these certifications—each is designed to achieve different things. A better comparison would be EC-Council’s Certified Cybersecurity Technician (C|CT) versus Security+ or EC-Council’s Certified Penetration Tester (C|PENT) versus PenTest+. These offerings from EC-Council have numerous advantages, including flexibility, more up-to-date curricula, and integration of real-world examples and practice.

How to Become an Ethical Hacker

Becoming an ethical hacker can be exceptionally useful. Ethical hacking is a valuable skill that can protect an organization and position you for significant career success.

At EC-Council, we’ve developed a robust curriculum for the C|EH program: a serious, in-depth certification designed to give you the industry-relevant skills necessary to become an ethical hacker.

In the C|EH course, you’ll learn about a wide variety of aspects of ethical hacking, including:

◉ The 18 most common attack vectors used by hackers

◉ Modern exploit technologies, including application to existing, new, and emerging vulnerabilities

◉ Contemporary and ongoing cyberattacks, including what you can learn from them and how ethical hackers could have helped prevent them

◉ How to stay on top of the latest technological developments to ensure that your skills are always as sharp and up to date as possible

Source: eccouncil.org

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