Are you a computer enthusiast who’d love to change your hobby into a career?
Over the past several years, bad hackers have been getting all the media attention. Despite this, there’s a massive need for good hackers across all industries.
If you’re interested in learning how to become an ethical hacker, then keep reading to get the basics.
What’s the Difference Between a Black and White Hat Hacker?
What exactly is a hacker? The term is often brought up in the media referencing criminals, so are hackers all bad?
Berkeley experts define a computer hacker as someone who is passionate about computers. They often play with computers as more of a hobby than a job. There’s nothing inherently deviant or criminal about being a computer enthusiast.
Hackers can wear different hats, though.
Black hat hackers use their computer skills for personal gain. Some are malicious, while others hack for profit. Black hats are the stereotypical hacker you hear about on the news.
A white hat hacker, though, uses his computer superpowers for good. They’re ethical and only hack with explicit permission.
White hats help businesses protect themselves from black hats. Businesses who use white hat hackers are seen as being more ethical and safe than those who don’t.
Where Do I Start?
So, you want to know how to be a white hat hacker and where to start. If you have a passion for computers and a basic knowledge of how they work, then you’re already off to a great start.
Educational requirements for white hat hacker jobs vary. Getting a cybersecurity degree from an accredited school is beneficial. Dozens of schools, like Cyber Degree Hub, offer online courses to help you get your degree.
While this degree is significant, skills are what matter in this growing field. A degree in the following fields can be used to get a hacking job:
- Information security
- Computer science
- Mathematics
- Military intelligence
If you haven’t gotten a degree in these areas, then don’t count yourself out. Many top-level hackers have scored amazing positions by teaching themselves. Several are self-proclaimed online activists.
What’s the real key to scoring a major cybersecurity position? It’s obtaining your white hat certification!
How to Become an Ethical Hacker: Getting Certified
After getting a few years of tech experience under your belt, you should seek out a certification. You can get a Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification from the EC-Council.
To prepare for the test, you can take a five-day training course or use self-study guides. Once you pass the test, you’ll be certified. This certification also includes an agreement to uphold ethical standards when hacking.
Once you get certified, you can officially call yourself a white hat hacker! The average certified ethical hacker salary is around $72,000.
Are You Ready to Put on Your White Hat?
Now that you know how to become an ethical hacker, what’s stopping you? The cyber industry is only expected to grow bigger in the future.
What do you think about ethical hacking? Would you ever consider pursuing a career in cybersecurity?
If you don’t think it’s for you make sure you browse our website to see how else you can succeed in business, leadership, and in other areas of life.
Leave a Reply