The lowdown
An ethical hacker is employed by an organisation to protect its computer network. He has to be trustworthy enough to undertake an attempt to penetrate networks and/or computer systems, using the same methods as a hacker would – but his job is to devise a foolproof system to prevent hacking of the network, too. Hacking is felony, but when it is done on request and under a contract between an ethical hacker and an organisation, it is legal
Clock Work
9am: Leave for office
10am: Start work, carry out tests and checks
10.30am: Attend team meeting
12pm: Study current needs and steps required to check them
2pm: Lunch
2.30pm: Work on firewalls and sort out network glitches to protect it from hackers
5.30pm: Leave for home
The payoff
After becoming a penetration tester or ethical hacker, one can make Rs20,000 to Rs25,000 and can grow rapidly depending on his/her skills. There are people who have grown by leaps and bounds and reached top technical positions. In the West, one can make around $50,000-$70,000 a year as an ethical hacker
Skills/TRAITS
. The most important prerequisite before one studies to become an ethical hacker is to ace computer networking knowledge
. Expertise in at least one application like Java or C++
. Knowledge of the functioning of UNIX
. One should have an analytical approach and should probe every functioning with a critical bent of mind
Getting There
First of all, one should work in a company on networking designs, administration principles, system designs or application software. Then do a certificate/ diploma programme in ethical hacking to gain an edge over competitors
Institutes
. Koenig Solutions (Indian centres of EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker)
www.eccouncil.org/ceh.htm and www.koenig-solutions.com
. Innobuzz Knowledge Solutions
www.innobuzz.in
. IMT Ghaziabad
www.imt.edu/cnm
Institutes
. Koenig Solutions (Indian centres of EC-Council’s Certified Ethical Hacker)
www.eccouncil.org/ceh.htm and www.koenig-solutions.com
. Innobuzz Knowledge Solutions
www.innobuzz.in
. IMT Ghaziabad
www.imt.edu/cnm
n pros and cons
n It is a challenging and enterprising job
n Industry estimates show that there is a scarcity of IT security professionals, which means good job prospects
n Becoming a pro is a little difficult. Few institutes offer training in ethical hacking and some even ask for prior experience
n Professionals must continuously improve and update themselves as technology changes at breakneck speed
n The profession may require a lot of travelling in India and abroad