Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Syllabus

Course Syllabus:

Module 1: Introduction to Ethical Hacking

• Lesson 1: What is Ethical Hacking?
  • Understanding the role of ethical hackers.
  • The importance of ethical hacking in cybersecurity.
• Lesson 2: Types of Hackers
  • Black-hat hackers vs. white-hat hackers.
  • Gray-hat hacking and the ethical hacker’s mindset.
• Lesson 3: Ethical Hacking Methodology
  • Phases of ethical hacking: Reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, maintaining access, and reporting.

Module 2: Cybersecurity Concepts and Terminology

• Lesson 4: Cybersecurity Fundamentals
  • Understanding confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA Triad).
  • Common cybersecurity threats: Malware, phishing, DoS attacks, and more.
• Lesson 5: Cybersecurity Tools and Concepts
  • Introduction to firewalls, VPNs, encryption, and intrusion detection systems (IDS).
  • Basics of risk management and threat modeling.

Module 3: Setting Up a Hacking Lab

• Lesson 6: Creating a Virtual Hacking Lab
  • Setting up VirtualBox or VMware for safe hacking practice.
  • Installing Kali Linux and other essential tools.
• Lesson 7: Kali Linux Overview
  • Exploring Kali Linux as an ethical hacking platform.
  • Introduction to basic commands and common tools available in Kali.

Module 4: Reconnaissance and Information Gathering

• Lesson 8: Information Gathering (Reconnaissance)
  • Types of reconnaissance: Active vs. passive.
  • Introduction to OSINT (Open Source Intelligence).
• Lesson 9: Tools for Reconnaissance
  • Using Nmap for network scanning and mapping.
  • Google Dorking, WHOIS queries, and Shodan for information gathering.
• Lesson 10: Social Engineering Basics
  • Understanding social engineering attacks.
  • Techniques like phishing and pretexting to gain sensitive information.

Module 5: Scanning Networks and Vulnerability Assessment

• Lesson 11: Network Scanning Techniques
  • How to scan networks for open ports and services using tools like Nmap.
  • Identifying live hosts and services.
• Lesson 12: Vulnerability Scanning and Assessment
  • Overview of vulnerability scanners like Nessus and OpenVAS.
  • How to assess vulnerabilities and potential exploits in a network.
• Lesson 13: Hands-On Exercise: Scanning a Target Network
  • Perform a network scan to identify open ports and running services.

Module 6: Exploitation Techniques

• Lesson 14: Introduction to Exploitation
  • How ethical hackers use exploits to test security vulnerabilities.
  • Introduction to Metasploit for exploitation.
• Lesson 15: Web Application Security
  • Understanding common web application vulnerabilities like SQL injection and Cross-Site Scripting (XSS).
  • Demonstrating how these vulnerabilities are exploited.
• Lesson 16: Buffer Overflow Attacks
  • Understanding buffer overflow attacks and how to exploit them.
  • Techniques for exploiting buffer overflow vulnerabilities.

Module 7: Post-Exploitation and Privilege Escalation

• Lesson 17: Post-Exploitation Techniques
  • What happens after exploiting a vulnerability?
  • Techniques for maintaining access to compromised systems.
• Lesson 18: Privilege Escalation
  • How attackers escalate privileges to gain full control of a system.
  • Techniques for privilege escalation on Windows and Linux systems.
• Lesson 19: Persistence and Lateral Movement
  • Methods for creating persistence in compromised systems.
  • Moving laterally through networks to gain access to other systems.

Module 8: Using Ethical Hacking Tools

• Lesson 20: Metasploit Framework
  • Introduction to Metasploit for penetration testing.
  • Exploiting vulnerabilities and launching attacks using Metasploit.
• Lesson 21: Wireshark for Network Analysis
  • Capturing and analyzing network traffic using Wireshark.
  • How to detect potential security threats and attacks using Wireshark.
• Lesson 22: Burp Suite for Web Application Testing
  • Introduction to Burp Suite for web application security testing.
  • Using Burp Suite to find and exploit web application vulnerabilities.
• Lesson 23: Password Cracking with John the Ripper
  • How to use John the Ripper to crack weak passwords.
  • Best practices for securing passwords.

Module 9: Legal and Ethical Considerations

• Lesson 24: Legal Implications of Hacking
  • Understanding the laws governing ethical hacking.
  • Introduction to the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) and GDPR.
• Lesson 25: Ethical Guidelines for Ethical Hackers
  • Importance of maintaining an ethical mindset.
  • Best practices for staying within legal and ethical boundaries.

Module 10: Reporting and Remediation

• Lesson 26: Writing Vulnerability Reports
  • How to document findings from penetration tests and ethical hacking engagements.
  • Structuring a vulnerability report with remediation suggestions.
• Lesson 27: Remediation Strategies
  • Understanding how to fix vulnerabilities and harden systems.
  • Best practices for securing networks and applications.
• Lesson 28: Final Project: Ethical Hacking Simulation
  • Conducting a simulated ethical hacking engagement from start to finish.
  • Submitting a comprehensive report with findings and recommendations.