What Does 'CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)' Mean?

A Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) is a professional who understands and knows how to find vulnerabilities and weaknesses in target systems and uses the same knowledge and tools as a malicious hacker, but instead using their skills and knowledge in a lawful and ethical manner to assess the security of target systems. The CEH certification program is a vendor-neutral certification program, meaning it is not tied to any specific vendor or technology.

The purpose of the CEH certification is to give professionals the necessary skills to identify, counter, and mitigate hacking attacks. It is not meant to teach individuals how to hack, but rather how to protect systems from being hacked.

To become a CEH, individuals must first meet certain prerequisites. These include having at least two years of experience in the field of information security or completing an approved course in the field. Once these prerequisites are met, individuals can then register for and sit for the CEH exam.

The CEH exam consists of 125 multiple-choice questions and must be completed in four hours. The CEH exam is designed to test a candidate’s knowledge and understanding of a broad range of topics related to ethical hacking.

These topics include:

Footprinting and Reconnaissance: The process of gathering information about a target system or organization in order to identify its vulnerabilities. This may involve using a variety of tools and techniques, such as network mapping and social engineering, to gather data about the target system.

Scanning Networks: The use of tools and techniques to scan target systems for vulnerabilities. This may include using network scanners, port scanners, and vulnerability scanners to identify weaknesses in the target system.

Enumeration: The process of gathering more detailed information about target systems and their vulnerabilities. This may involve using tools and techniques such as password cracking and banner grabbing to gather data about the target system.

Vulnerability Analysis: The identification and analysis of vulnerabilities in target systems. This may involve using tools and techniques such as vulnerability assessments and penetration testing to identify weaknesses in the target system.

System Hacking: The exploitation of vulnerabilities in target systems in order to gain unauthorized access. This may involve using tools and techniques such as rootkits and backdoors to exploit weaknesses in the target system.

Malware Threats: An understanding of the different types of malware and how they can be used to attack target systems. This may involve knowledge of viruses, worms, trojans, and other types of malware and how they can be used to compromise a target system.

Sniffing: The interception and analysis of network traffic in order to gather information and potentially exploit vulnerabilities. This may involve using tools such as packet sniffers and protocol analyzers to intercept and analyze network traffic.

Social Engineering: The manipulation of individuals in order to gain access to sensitive information or systems. This may involve using techniques such as phishing, baiting, and pretexting to deceive individuals and gain access to sensitive data.

Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: The overwhelming of a target system with traffic in order to make it unavailable to legitimate users. This may involve using tools and techniques such as botnets and distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to disrupt the availability of a target system.

Session Hijacking: The interception and takeover of an active communication session between two systems. This may involve using techniques such as TCP session hijacking and ARP poisoning to take control of a communication session.

Hacking Webservers: The exploitation of vulnerabilities in web servers in order to gain unauthorized access. This may involve using tools and techniques such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks to compromise a web server.

Hacking Web Applications: The exploitation of vulnerabilities in web-based applications in order to gain unauthorized access. This may involve using tools and techniques such as input validation flaws and cross-site request forgery (CSRF) attacks to compromise a web application.

SQL Injection: The injection of malicious code into a database in order to gain unauthorized access or manipulate data. This may involve using SQL injection attacks to compromise a database and gain access to sensitive data.

In addition to these technical topics, the CEH exam also covers legal and ethical issues related to hacking. This includes understanding the laws and regulations that govern hacking, as well as the ethical principles that should guide the actions of ethical hackers.

Upon passing the CEH exam, individuals are awarded the CEH certification, which is valid for three years. To maintain the certification, individuals must earn 120 continuing education credits within those three years and pay an annual maintenance fee.

The CEH certification is widely recognized as a benchmark for professionals working in the field of information security. It is often required or preferred by employers and can lead to increased job opportunities and higher salaries. Many professionals also choose to pursue additional certifications, such as the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) or the Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP), to further their skills and knowledge in the field.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the CEH certification is an important asset for professionals looking to work in the field of information security. It demonstrates a thorough understanding of the tools and techniques used by hackers, as well as the legal and ethical considerations involved in the practice of ethical hacking.

With the increasing reliance on technology and the internet in modern society, the demand for skilled ethical hackers is only expected to grow. The CEH certification helps professionals stand out in this field and demonstrates their dedication to staying up-to-date with the latest trends and best practices in information security.