Ethical hacking is an essential skill in today’s cybersecurity landscape. Whether you’re an IT enthusiast, a beginner in cybersecurity, or someone curious about how hackers exploit systems, ethical hacking provides the foundation to protect networks and systems. This comprehensive guide will give you a detailed breakdown of what you’ll learn in the “Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch” course for 2024, and how it equips you to hack like a black-hat hacker but secure systems like a cybersecurity expert.
What You Will Learn
This course is designed for complete beginners, requiring no prior knowledge of hacking, cybersecurity, or even Linux. Through hands-on examples and real-world scenarios, the course covers over 145+ videos (15+ hours) that walk you through the essential hacking skills and cybersecurity practices. Below is a glimpse of the critical skills you will acquire:
- Network Hacking
You’ll start with the basics of wired and wireless networks. Learn about how networks function, how devices communicate, and the various types of vulnerabilities that exist within these networks. The course is broken down into:- Pre-connection attacks: Gather information about networks without needing access to them.
- Gaining access: Crack passwords and network encryption like WEP, WPA, and WPA2.
- Post-connection attacks: Monitor and manipulate network traffic, and perform Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks to control network activities.
- Gaining Access to Systems
The course teaches you two primary approaches for gaining access to computer systems:- Server-side attacks: Learn how to identify vulnerabilities in servers, use scanning tools like Nmap and Metasploit, and exploit server weaknesses to gain control.
- Client-side attacks: Learn how to use social engineering techniques, hijack software updates, and backdoor common file types to gain access to systems without user knowledge.
- Post-Exploitation
Once you gain control of a system, this section teaches you how to maintain access, extract sensitive information, and spy on the target using keyloggers, webcams, and other tools. You will also learn how to use compromised systems to attack other devices, a technique known as pivoting. - Website / Web Application Hacking
This section focuses on attacking web applications and servers:- Learn how to exploit common vulnerabilities like SQL injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Local File Inclusion (LFI), and more.
- Understand how websites function, gather sensitive information about them, and launch attacks to steal data or gain unauthorized access.
Tools You’ll Master
Throughout the course, you’ll use over 30+ hacking tools, all of which are crucial for ethical hackers and penetration testers. Here’s a quick overview of some tools you’ll become familiar with:
- Kali Linux: A Linux distribution specifically built for penetration testing.
- Metasploit: A powerful tool for exploiting system vulnerabilities.
- Wireshark: A network protocol analyzer that helps you monitor and analyze network traffic.
- Aircrack-ng suite: Used for cracking Wi-Fi encryption keys.
- SQLmap: Automates the process of detecting and exploiting SQL injection flaws.
- BeEF (Browser Exploitation Framework): For exploiting browser-based vulnerabilities.
- OWASP Zap: Helps identify vulnerabilities in web applications.
These tools, along with many others, will give you the practical skills needed to hack, analyze, and secure systems.
Learning by Doing: Practical, Hands-On Approach
The course prioritizes practical learning, with 85+ hands-on real-life hacking examples. Rather than focusing on theory, you’ll spend time exploiting vulnerabilities and securing systems in real-world scenarios. Here’s how it works:
- Practice in a Virtual Lab: You’ll install hacking labs on Windows, macOS, or Linux, and perform attacks within a controlled environment.
- Hacking Simulated Targets: Each section walks you through hacking a variety of simulated targets, including networks, cloud servers, websites, and personal computers.
- Securing Systems: After learning how to hack systems, the course also teaches you how to secure them from the same attacks. This ensures you not only understand how vulnerabilities are exploited but also how to prevent them.
No Prior Experience Required
One of the greatest advantages of this course is that no prior hacking, programming, or even Linux knowledge is required. All you need is:
- Basic IT skills and familiarity with using computers.
- A computer with at least 4GB of RAM.
- A wireless adapter supporting monitor mode (if you’re interested in Wi-Fi hacking).
You’ll be guided step-by-step on how to install and use Kali Linux, get comfortable with Linux commands, and start hacking without having to dive deep into programming.
Who Should Take This Course?
This course is designed for a wide range of learners:
- Beginners interested in starting their journey in ethical hacking or cybersecurity.
- IT professionals looking to enhance their cybersecurity knowledge.
- Network engineers and security analysts who want to understand how hackers think and operate.
- Anyone curious about learning how to hack and secure systems.
By the end of the course, you’ll have built a strong foundation in ethical hacking and penetration testing. You’ll know how to perform attacks on different systems, secure those systems, and adapt your knowledge to a wide range of real-world scenarios.
Conclusion
The “Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch” course for 2024 is a comprehensive resource for anyone wanting to dive into the world of ethical hacking. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to sharpen your cybersecurity skills, this course provides the tools, techniques, and knowledge to help you hack like a black-hat hacker while learning how to secure systems like a professional.
Start your ethical hacking journey today, and by the end, you’ll have the confidence and skills to protect networks, systems, and websites from a wide range of cyber threats.