Author: Zeeshan Siddiqui, PhD, FHEA, SMIEEE
What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking is the legal and responsible practice of probing computer systems for vulnerabilities—before malicious hackers can exploit them. Think of it like testing the locks and windows of your digital house to ensure it’s safe from intruders. Ethical hackers follow strict rules of engagement and use professional tools to simulate attacks in controlled environments. It’s a core pillar of cybersecurity, and it’s where many pros begin their careers.
🛠 Try this at Home
Tool Highlight: Nmap
Nmap (Network Mapper) is a powerful open-source tool for network discovery and security auditing.
Basic Use: Find All Devices on Your Network
-
Install Nmap (Linux/macOS: use Homebrew or apt; Windows: installer from the official site).
-
Open your terminal or command prompt.
-
Run this command:
- nmap -sn 192.168.1.0/24
- Replace 192.168.1.0 with your local IP subnet (check using ipconfig or ifconfig (on mac))
This shows you:
-
All devices connected to your network
-
Their IP and MAC addresses
-
Whether they respond to pings
Why It Matters:
Attackers often start with network reconnaissance. Learning to do this ethically gives you a huge head start in network defence.
🎓 Why Learn Ethical Hacking?
-
Helps build a security-first mindset
-
Sharpens your analytical and technical skills
-
Opens doors to high-demand roles like Penetration Tester, SOC Analyst, and Bug Bounty Hunter
-
Paves the way for certifications like Cisco/EC Council Ethical Hacker, CompTIA PenTest+, or OSCP
🎓 Want to Learn and Become a Certified Ethical Hacker?
Our Cisco Certified Ethical Hacker Beginner Program is designed for aspiring cybersecurity professionals. Over 8–10 weeks, you’ll:
✅ Explore hacking tools and techniques
✅ Practice in virtual labs
✅ Join weekly live Q&A sessions
✅ Learn at your pace, with expert guidance
-
➡️ ENROLL NOW – Build your ethical hacking career from scratch!
About the Author
Dr Zeeshan Siddiqui is an academician and a well-know Cybersecurity researcher. He is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Recognised as an emerging leader in computing by the Royal Society (UK), he also serves as a Cisco-accredited Cybersecurity instructor. His experience includes working as a Cybersecurity Consultant with MIT (US), University of Essex, Liverpool and Roehampton. Working as a Lecturer, Senior Lecturer and Assistant Professor in Computing and Cybersecurity with the Open University, University of the West of Scotland, Modern College of Business and Science (Oman), and King Saud University (Saudi Arabia). Supervising MSc projects at the Universities of Glasgow and Arden, external examining at Kingston University London and Pearson UK, and developing/leading Computer Science and Cybersecurity programs and modules for institutions across the UK, US, and Europe. He holds a PhD in Computer Science and a PGC in Academic Practice (UWS). He has published a number of highly-ranked research articles in Remote User Digital Authentication, IoT Security, Quantum Cryptography and Command & Control Systems. These articles are published in top-ranked Journals and flag ship conference, such as IEEE IoT, JoMS, IEEE Access and IEEE ICEE. He is a senior IEEE member and collaborate with research groups at Coventry University, UTM, and King Saud University.
Add comment
Comments