Have you heard about hacker groups that perform exploits and wonder what it takes to stop them? Whether you are intrigued by Anonymous, Lulzsec, or the new kid on the block, Scattered Spider, CyberTex offers a way to learn about becoming an ethical hacker. In our Network Engineer program, you get a CompTIA Security+ and Cybersecurity CySA+ certification, giving you the skills to stop hackers and their exploits.
What is an Ethical Hacker?
Ethical hackers do similar exploits as black hat hackers (the unethical hackers), but an ethical hacker is given permission to access the vulnerabilities of a system or computer. The ethical hacker performs risk assessments, penetration tests, and tests the system for security. They also report what they find to the organization and can be contracted to minimize those vulnerabilities. So, what are some of the exploits that hackers use to penetrate computer systems and networks?
What Exploits Do Hackers Use?
Excelling as a cybersecurity analyst means knowing about the following exploits commonly used by “black hat hackers.” These exploits include:
Phishing
Phishing can occur through digital methods such as email, but it’s just as likely on the phone or in an employee’s office. Phishing attempts can involve almost any type of information. Hackers try to extract personal information to compromise a system. This might include birthdays, family names, and pets. Then, use it later to break into a person’s digital accounts.
Malware
Malware, also known as malicious software, is a term that covers exploits used by black hat hackers. An exploit works from within a compromised host system. A virus, worm, or trojan would be considered malware.
Virus
Like a biological virus attacks cells in the body and forces them to create new copies of the virus, a digital virus duplicates executables on a computer. A computer virus can insert a copy of itself into programs and spread exponentially. A virus can attack vulnerable systems by itself without the user knowing.
Worm
A computer virus and a computer worm are similar in many ways but mirror an essential difference between biological worms and viruses. A biological virus is dependent on host cells to replicate. Similarly, a computer virus needs to infect executables to spread. However, biological worms can crawl through different environments, moving through various computer systems to infect the network.
Many worms continually scan networks for vulnerabilities. When a vulnerability is found, the worm can spread over the network from one computer to another. They don’t need a human to interact with them to activate within a new system. A computer worm is far more autonomous than a computer virus. This can make it a more difficult exploit.
Trojan
Trojans mimic the function of the legendary Trojan horse of Rome. Trojans are similar to viruses because both a trojan and a virus exist as executable code that appears to be safe. However, a virus infects standard computer programs, turning a safe program into a threat. On the other hand, a trojan is coded as a threat that appears to be a safe program.
Keylogger
A keylogger will log everything you type into your computer or system, including information hidden on-screen, like passwords. This personal information can be used for identity theft and blackmail. Plus, a keylogger keeps track of every digital conversation, personal or professional, and makes it accessible to hackers.
DDoS Attack
DDoS, or Distributed Denial of Service attacks, are among the most common techniques directly leveraged against a network. A DDoS attack overloads a digital server with legitimate requests that are performed too rapidly for it to manage. A computer server that tries to fulfill too many requests will eventually go offline. A DDoS attack can take a server offline if a cybersecurity specialist does not properly counter it.
Most DDoS attacks launch from thousands of computers that some form of malware has compromised. For example, a worm can be programmed to look for a specific vulnerable location. If found, the worm can attack the specified location. If the same worm infects thousands of systems, a hacker can mobilize a small army of infected systems with a single command. These networks of infected computers are known as botnets.
SQL Injection
SQL (Structured Query Language) injections work by hijacking interaction between an external system and a company’s internal databases. SQL is a programming language that requests information from a database or tells it to store new information.
A hacker working with SQL injection can send valid SQL commands to a company’s database. This will include innocuous data like a list of users on a website. However, the same database may contain all users’ credit card information. The hacker can exploit the database and compromise those credit cards.
Ransomware
Ransomware begins with a virus, worm, or trojan. The malware infects a system and encrypts files. The only way to access those files is using a decryption key. The hackers will contact the computer’s owner and demand payment for the decryption key.
Final Thoughts
So, now you know what hackers do to exploit computers and systems. Want to become an ethical hacker and be the hero that stops hackers from compromising business systems? CyberTex offers a Network Engineer program with courses and certifications in cybersecurity. By the end of the program, you will be able to identify the vulnerabilities and close them before the hackers do. Be the hero and become an ethical hacker with CyberTex’s help.
Want to Learn More?
IT careers have become essential not just in Austin but globally, and there is no better time to pick up than now. In 2021, Austin was ranked #1 in Best Tech City for IT jobs by CompTIA, and the demand is only growing.
Ready to start a rewarding and challenging career in IT as a network engineer? The Network Engineer Program at CyberTex prepares you for advanced computer networking and security jobs. You will learn the skills and abilities to set up, install, configure, repair, and manage modern computer networks and their security.
Contact us today to learn more about our Network Engineer program.
