7 Myths About Ethical Hacking

Even if there is a rising awareness regarding ethical hacking and people have learned about what is ethical hacking, there are still numerous fallacies floating around about it. These misunderstandings might be a roadblock on the path to more efficient security.

The first thing you need to do to make sure that your company is protected from any threats is to differentiate fact from fiction, urban legend from established fact.

In this section, we will dispel some of the most widespread myths around ethical hacking. Continue reading to find out which of the following statements you believed to be true.

1. It will cause havoc in my company

One common worry regarding ethical hacking is that the assessment may interfere with regular business operations. Even these testing mimic the tactics used by real cybercriminals and hackers, they shouldn’t cause too much trouble for users.

The goal of every test conducted by a competent cybersecurity company is to securely find and exploit defects across all in-scope networks, systems, and apps without disrupting mission-critical services. While it’s preferable if the test replicates the conditions of a real-world assault, it’s not essential to put your company through significant disruption.

Consider, also, how much more stressful it would be to cope with the aftermath of a successful hacking or data breach perpetrated by cybercriminals compared to the inconvenience you’ll experience now. In fact, having the pen testing done after going through proper cyber security course may be a strategy to assist avoid disruptions to business as usual.

2. It’s too expensive.

The cost of testing is a concern for some companies. Quality penetration testing calls for the expertise of trained professionals and, depending on the scope of the test, might eat up to several days each test.

Penetration testing may be tailored to the specific demands of an organization and its available resources. This allows you to allocate your limited security testing resources where they will provide the most return. By clearly outlining the goals of each test, pen testers may provide businesses an idea of how long each test will take and how much it will cost.

3. You Only Need a Vulnerability Scan

If you’ve previously had a vulnerability scan done, you may think you don’t need a pen test. While vulnerability scans are helpful, pen tests provide a far more in-depth analysis of your network’s security.

A vulnerability scan is an automated procedure that employs technologies to look for security holes in systems, programs, and applications. A penetration test, or “pen test,” combines automated vulnerability scanning with manual analysis to seek for and, hopefully, exploit a wide variety of security flaws in your company’s infrastructure.

While the former may look for security holes in the program, the latter can evaluate how well your team is prepared to fend against intruders. As an example of a pen test assault, hackers might try to trick employees into opening phishing emails sent to the organization. If your workforce isn’t prepared to handle cyber threats, it won’t matter how well-prepared you are.

4. The Integrity of Private Information Will Be Compromised by Testers

Some companies fear that testers may take sensitive information from them while conducting a penetration test, while others worry that the whole point of the exam is to find vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.

Differentiating between criminal hackers, whose main goal is to steal information, and penetration testers, who are highly-trained cybersecurity experts, is essential here. Obviously, it’s crucial to only partner with reputable businesses. In your search for a trustworthy company, be sure they have a proven track record of handling sensitive customer information and have received the CREST approval seal.

Members of CREST, the organization that regulates and enforces processes and procedures within the technical information security business, are subject to strict guidelines and oversight. Using a company that has been granted CREST membership guarantees that you will get ethical hacking services that adhere to industry standards.

5.  My company has excellent cyber defenses.

Many companies assume they are safe from pen testing because their security measures are so robust. Unfortunately, in the realm of cybersecurity, the definition of “strong” is very malleable, and new vulnerabilities appear on a regular basis.

One of the biggest threats to your safety is really complacency. Even if your defenses are bulletproof right now, cybercriminals are always improving their methods. As a result, keeping up with the most recent methods used by criminals necessitates that you do a security review on a frequent basis.

Although these fallacies may discourage some businesses from considering ethical hacking or penetration testing, the activity is really rather prevalent, and many businesses credit their sustained cybersecurity to the frequent ethical hacking that they have carried out for them. Don’t put off penetrating testing because of misconceptions; it may make a huge impact for your organization and help you protect against cybercriminals.

6. Clever hackers and other digital wizards are behind it all.

Hacking is a skill that may be learned by anybody; IT knowledge is not necessary. You can learn the ropes and become quite proficient in less than 6 months, and you don’t even need expensive or complex software for this. You just need time, commitment, fundamental computer abilities, and a solid instruction. You can learn the fundamentals in no time at all with the help of some excellent online resources.

7. The same virus may simultaneously compromise several different types of computers.

The assumption that a single command or piece of malware can reach thousands of different systems at once and “hack” them is another example of Hollywood’s hacking world depictions that is both implausible and comical.