Ethical Hacking for Beginners

Syllabus

Course Syllabus:

Module 1: Introduction to Ethical Hacking

• Lesson 1: What is Ethical Hacking?
  • Definitions and differences between ethical hacking, black-hat hacking, and gray-hat hacking.
  • Role of ethical hackers in cybersecurity.
• Lesson 2: The Ethical Hacker’s Mindset
  • Understanding the mindset and approach of an ethical hacker.
  • The importance of maintaining a strong ethical code.
• Lesson 3: Legal and Ethical Implications
  • Overview of laws governing ethical hacking (CFAA, GDPR, etc.).
  • Ethical considerations in hacking activities and penetration testing.

Module 2: Basic Cybersecurity Concepts

• Lesson 4: Key Cybersecurity Concepts
  • Overview of essential cybersecurity concepts: confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CIA triad).
  • Types of attacks: DoS, phishing, man-in-the-middle, etc.
• Lesson 5: Cybersecurity Tools and Terminology
  • Introduction to common cybersecurity tools: firewalls, antivirus software, VPNs, encryption, etc.
  • Understanding common cybersecurity terminology.

Module 3: Setting Up Your Hacking Lab

• Lesson 6: Setting Up a Virtual Lab Environment
  • Step-by-step guide to setting up a virtual machine environment for ethical hacking practice.
  • Installing Kali Linux and other tools commonly used by ethical hackers.
• Lesson 7: Introduction to Kali Linux
  • Overview of Kali Linux as an ethical hacking platform.
  • Familiarizing yourself with the Kali Linux terminal and tools.
• Lesson 8: Using Virtual Machines for Safe Practice
  • Setting up and managing virtual machines (VMware, VirtualBox).
  • Understanding the importance of a controlled environment for ethical hacking.

Module 4: Reconnaissance and Information Gathering

• Lesson 9: What is Reconnaissance?
  • Overview of the information-gathering phase of hacking.
  • The difference between active and passive reconnaissance.
• Lesson 10: Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT)
  • Techniques and tools for gathering information from publicly available sources.
  • Tools like WHOIS, Shodan, and Google dorking.
• Lesson 11: Tools for Reconnaissance
  • Introduction to reconnaissance tools: Nmap, Netcat, and DNS interrogation.
  • How to identify targets and gather key information.

Module 5: Scanning and Vulnerability Assessment

• Lesson 12: Understanding Network Scanning
  • Overview of port scanning, network mapping, and vulnerability scanning.
  • Tools for scanning: Nmap, Nessus, and OpenVAS.
• Lesson 13: Vulnerability Assessment Techniques
  • How to identify open ports and services running on a system.
  • Understanding the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system.
• Lesson 14: Hands-On Scanning Exercise
  • Performing basic network scans using Nmap.
  • Scanning a network and identifying live hosts, services, and vulnerabilities.

Module 6: Gaining Access through Exploits

• Lesson 15: Exploiting Vulnerabilities
  • Overview of common vulnerabilities: SQL injection, XSS, buffer overflow, etc.
  • Introduction to Metasploit for exploitation.
• Lesson 16: SQL Injection and Web Application Security
  • Understanding SQL injection attacks and how to prevent them.
  • Hands-on practice with SQLi attacks using vulnerable applications.
• Lesson 17: Buffer Overflow Attacks
  • What is a buffer overflow and how does it affect systems?
  • How ethical hackers can exploit and defend against buffer overflow attacks.

Module 7: Post-Exploitation and Maintaining Access

• Lesson 18: Post-Exploitation Concepts
  • Understanding post-exploitation techniques: privilege escalation, maintaining access, and pivoting.
  • The importance of persistence and evading detection.
• Lesson 19: Privilege Escalation
  • Techniques for escalating privileges on Windows and Linux systems.
  • Understanding local and remote privilege escalation.
• Lesson 20: Maintaining Access and Data Exfiltration
  • How hackers maintain access to systems and move laterally through networks.
  • Understanding data exfiltration methods and their detection.

Module 8: Reporting and Remediation

• Lesson 21: Ethical Hacking Reporting
  • How to document and report your findings in an ethical hacking engagement.
  • Writing professional vulnerability reports and providing remediation suggestions.
• Lesson 22: Remediation and Hardening Systems
  • Best practices for securing systems and networks after a vulnerability assessment.
  • Understanding patch management, firewalls, and other security measures.

Module 9: Ethical Hacking Tools and Techniques

• Lesson 23: Advanced Ethical Hacking Tools
  • Exploring advanced ethical hacking tools: Metasploit, Burp Suite, Wireshark, and others.
  • How to use these tools for penetration testing and network analysis.
• Lesson 24: Real-World Hacking Scenarios
  • Case studies of real-world hacking attacks and how ethical hackers responded.
  • How to simulate and defend against these attacks in a lab environment.

Module 10: Certification and Career Path in Ethical Hacking

• Lesson 25: Ethical Hacking Certifications
  • Overview of certifications such as CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional), and CompTIA Security+.
  • How these certifications can help advance your career in ethical hacking.
• Lesson 26: Ethical Hacking Career Opportunities
  • Exploring career paths: penetration tester, security analyst, and more.
  • How to build a successful career in cybersecurity and ethical hacking.