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In today’s time, an ethical hacker career is one of the best and the most perfect choices for one’s own career. In this world full of technology, cyber-attacks are becoming very common, and to avoid this cyber-attack and protect the world, companies, people and government prefer the path of ethical hacking.
You don’t have to be a computer engineering student to learn ethical hacking. Non-IT students can also learn ethical hacking, and if you keep practicing, you can hack even better than them
To learn ethical hacking, you should know the basics of computer. How does a computer work? about the network, how do the devices connected to the network work? about some of the protocols, how the website works? and many more things that I will tell you further.
Because ethical hacking means hacking the system and finding its weakness and fixing them, Therefore, it is very important to know about how all these components work.
Today I will guide you step-by-step on how you can make your career in ethical hacking, what you must learn, and I will also recommend some books to you so that you can learn a lot by reading them as an ethical hacker.
What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking means hacking any system, network and web application in a legal manner, finding and fixing vulnerabilities in it.
Ethical hackers, we can also call them white hat hackers, are crucial in the field of cybersecurity. An ethical hacker uses their skills to protect the data, personal information and networks of companies and organizations, government and people.
So that no one can misuse malicious and red hat hackers and cybercriminals by cyber-attacking us.
The role of an ethical hacker is essential in defending against cyber threats.
Major Key Factor About Ethical Hacking:
- Ethical Hacker finding vulnerabilities by hack system, software, or networks in a legal Way, so that no criminal can exploit them and misuse them.
- They always check security by following all permissions and rules of law.
- Ethical hackers use the same tools and techniques as a malicious hacker, but for good reason.
- Ethical hacker protects everyone from cyber fraud or cyber-attack happening in the world.
- Ethical hacker uses his skills to make the system strong, safe and secure.
10 Steps to Become an Ethical Hacker
Before learning ethical hacking, you should know that if you want to learn ethical hacking on your own, then you need to have discipline yourself. You will need to have a lot of patience and complete concentration.
Get ready for a step-by-step guide to help you get started:
1. Understand The Basics of cyber security & Computer Basics
Before learning cyber security basics, we should be computer basic clear. Because when you do not know what fundamentals and basics computers work on, then you can have a lot of difficulties in protecting the system from hackers. Cyber security basics mean we must learn some fundamental concepts, so that we know how the system is attacked, how the system is protected, how the firewall works, etc.
What should you learn:
- Computer Basics:
- First, it is important to clear the computer basics.
- Hardware Working (CPU, RAM, Hard Disk, Motherboard etc.)
- Software (Windows, Linux, Applications)
- Working of Operating System (OS) [like Windows, macOS, Linux]
- Networking fundamental (LAN, Wi-Fi, Internet)
- First, it is important to clear the computer basics.
- Cyber Security Basics:
- Cybersecurity means protecting your systems, data, and networks from hackers and cybercriminals.
- Why and how do attacks happen?
- Working of System protection (firewall, antivirus, Encryption etc.)
- Common Risks (phishing, malware, ransomware, DDOS attack etc.)
- How hackers find vulnerabilities and fixing them.
- How to create a strong password so that the network can be secured?
- Cybersecurity means protecting your systems, data, and networks from hackers and cybercriminals.
2. Networking & operating systems
Ethical hackers should have a strong understanding of networking and operating systems, such as Linux and Windows. These are the environments where attics often occur, so understanding their function is essential to recognizing vulnerabilities.
Why is it important for an Ethical Hacker to know about Networking & OS (Operating Systems)?
Reasons:
- Most hackers attack networks and OS (like services, ports, user accounts, permissions etc.)
- In any system, vulnerabilities will only be punished if you know about their internals.
- Only when you know about the network, you will know what open ports are, how hacking works, how any data flows etc.
- How many types of network protocols?
3. Build a good understanding of programming languages
You don’t need to learn coding, and you don’t need to be a master or an expert in it. But understanding the code is very important to understand its work, so that you can understand how any website, software and application work.
But if you have basic knowledge and understanding of coding, then you can automate your hacking with it. This will make it easier for you to hack.
Now you have a good understanding and basic knowledge of which programming languages:
- PYTHON {must-learn}(Best for scripting and automation)
- SQL (best for Web/app pen testing and SQL injection)
- Bash for Linux & PowerShell for Windows
- HTML, CSS AND JAVASCIRPT (Best for web-related security)
- C/C++ (for low level system, bugs and understanding for OS internals)
- (Optional) JAVA
4. Learn hacking tools & labs
Well, there are many tools for ethical hacking, but I can start hacking and practice, so I tell you the best popular tools.
Best and Popular tools for hacking:
- Kali Linux {best and popular with preinstalled security platform for practice}
- NMAP {Best for scanning ports and services}
- Burp suite {for find weakness or vulnerability in website}
- Wireshark {for analyze protocol & capture packets}
- SQLMAP {this is Kali Linux tool use for SQL injection}
- John The Riper / Hash cat {for password crack}
- Metasploit {best for exploit vulnerabilities}
Visit for Top Best Penetration Testing Tools: Top 10 Free and best Penetration Testing Tools (2025) | Full Guide
5. Setup a home lab
To learn and practice ethical hacking, it is very important for you to have a home lab setup that you can do your hacking. For this, you will need VMWARE and VirtualBox. It gives you a very safe environment so that you can practice hacking without any interruption and without any problem.
What will you get in this setup:
- You can run different types of operating systems in them.
- In this, you get a prebuilt ISO image available. (e.g. Kali1, Metasploit, and windows).
- It’s free+ open source, and it’s also beginner friendly.
- Best and very suitable for quick setup.
- 3D or GPU support
6. Practice on platforms for hacking skills
To enhance your hacking skills even more, it is best to try the challenge. Like CTF (Capture the Flag Challenge), here you are given security puzzles. You must hack them to solve them.
The advantage of the CTF Challenge is that you know about the tools and techniques in it, how they work.
This is best and safe platform for CTF Challenge:
7. Acquire and build expert knowledge for ethical hacking fields of
- Knowledge about networking and network security
- Different types of protocols
- Learn about network traffic
- How firewall works and how to breach firewall
- Network scanning, finding vulnerabilities and fixing them, pen testing and many more.
8. Get certifications or degrees for job
You can learn ethical hacking yourself, but the job requires a degree or certification that proves you’re the best person for the ethical hacking job role. However, you don’t need to buy a course or attend college.
Let me tell you about some popular ethical hacking certificates:
- CEH – Certified Ethical Hacker (EC-Council) : best for offensive security certificate
- OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional / OSCP+)
- CompTIA Security+
- CompTIA PenTest+
- OSCE / OSWE / GXPN / eCPPT
- eJPT (eLearn Security Junior Penetration Tester)
- GIAC Certified Penetration Tester (GPEN) by SAN and GIAC
9. Keep updated and keep practicing
In today’s time of technology, everything keeps happening. Therefore, ethical hacking is important that you continue to learn. You always must keep practicing regularly, so that you stay updated with the latest tools, technology and cyber-attacks.
What do you have to do for this:
- First join with us for latest updates about cyber security
- Read our Latest newsletter and blogs about ethical hacking and cyber security
- Always keep practicing on platforms like Hack the Box or Try Hack Me
10. Always keep practicing
Always keep practicing, so that you remember everything you have learned like hacking tools, techniques and more about hacking related. Which you can do to do real world hacking.
Reading only gives you knowledge, but by practicing, you get confidence in yourself, and you become an expert in it. Solving a real challenge increases your self-confidence.