Imagine this: a Bengaluru startup wakes up one morning to find its website replaced with a bold message — “Hacked by ZeroX.”
The founder panics and calls in an ethical hacker. Calmly, the expert says, “We’ll follow the five phases of ethical hacking and find out how they got in.”
That’s where every professional security test begins — with structure, not guesswork.
What Is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking is the legal and authorized process of testing systems, applications, or networks to find weaknesses before real attackers can exploit them.
Think of it like hiring a friendly burglar to check your locks before an actual thief tries them.
The concept started in the 1970s with the U.S. Air Force’s security tests and gained traction in the 1980s when IBM coined the term “ethical hacking.” Later, EC-Council popularized it through the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) course.
The 5 Phases of Ethical Hacking
Here’s a simple breakdown of the five key stages every ethical hacker follows:
Reconnaissance – Gathering public and network information about the target (domains, IPs, technologies).
Scanning – Identifying open ports, services, and vulnerabilities using tools like Nmap or Nessus.
Gaining Access – Exploiting weak points such as poor passwords or insecure applications.
Maintaining Access – Staying connected long enough to test deeper issues or confirm vulnerabilities.
Covering Tracks – Removing traces and logs after testing, so systems can be restored safely.
Why It Matters
These phases help cybersecurity professionals work in a safe, legal, and structured way. For students or developers entering the field, learning these steps gives a strong foundation in cyber defence and ethical hacking methodology.
Ethical hacking isn’t about attacking—it’s about protecting and learning how systems can be improved.
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