Ethical hacking involves authorized attempts to identify vulnerabilities in a system, similar to those exploited by malicious hackers.
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White Hat Hacking:
- Description: Ethical hackers, also known as "white hats," use their skills to strengthen security by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities.
- Role:
- Conduct authorized penetration tests.
- Work towards enhancing cybersecurity defenses.
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Black Hat Hacking:
- Description: Malicious hackers, or "black hats," exploit vulnerabilities for personal gain, often engaging in illegal activities.
- Role:
- Exploit vulnerabilities for malicious purposes.
- Engage in unauthorized and illegal activities.
Ethical hacking must adhere to legal and ethical standards to ensure responsible and authorized testing.
Key Considerations:
- Authorized Access:
- Only perform hacking activities on systems with explicit permission.
- Responsible Disclosure:
- Report vulnerabilities to the system owner responsibly.
- Adherence to Laws:
- Comply with local and international laws related to cybersecurity.
Metasploit is a powerful open-source penetration testing framework used for developing, testing, and executing exploit code.
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Overview:
- Metasploit provides a comprehensive platform for penetration testing, allowing testers to automate the process of exploiting vulnerabilities.
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Architecture:
- Metasploit follows a modular architecture with various components for exploit development, payload generation, and post-exploitation.
Ethical hackers use Metasploit to simulate real-world attacks, understand exploitation techniques, and perform post-exploitation activities.
Key Concepts:
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Exploitation:
- Metasploit includes a vast database of exploits for various vulnerabilities.
- Example Exploit Command:
use exploit/windows/smb/ms17_010_eternalblue
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Post-Exploitation:
- After successful exploitation, ethical hackers perform post-exploitation tasks.
- Example Meterpreter Command:
background use post/windows/manage/migrate
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