The Ethical Hacking Process By Shivam Maurya

 In ethical hacking, a systematic process is followed to identify vulnerabilities and strengthen security. Here are the key steps involved in the ethical hacking process:

1. Reconnaissance:

   • Purpose: The first step involves gathering information about the target system, network, or organization. This includes identifying potential entry points and weaknesses.
   • Commands/Tools: Common tools used in reconnaissance include nmap, whois, nslookup, and Shodan.

2. Scanning:

   • Purpose: In this step, the ethical hacker scans the target to discover open ports, services, and vulnerabilities. This provides a better understanding of the target's attack surface.
   • Commands/Tools: Tools such as Nessus, OpenVAS, and Nikto are commonly used for scanning.

3. Exploitation:

   • Purpose: Once vulnerabilities are identified, the ethical hacker attempts to exploit them. This step involves gaining unauthorized access to the target system for further assessment.
   • Commands/Tools: Depending on the vulnerabilities, tools like Metasploit, Hydra, and custom scripts are used for exploitation.

4. Post-Exploitation:

   • Purpose: After successful exploitation, the hacker focuses on maintaining access, gathering more information, and covering their tracks. This phase is critical for understanding the full extent of the vulnerability.
   • Commands/Tools: Post-exploitation tools can include Netcat, Meterpreter, and various post-exploitation scripts.