ethical hacker

How to Become a Security Researcher

4 years ago in Cybersecurity
How to Become a Security Researcher

A security researcher investigates security vulnerabilities in applications, websites, hardware, and internet protocols. As security threats evolve, more and more organizations are hiring security researchers to boost their security and their awareness of cybersecurity matters. 

In this guide, you will find out what security research entails and how to become a security researcher. 

What is Security Research?

Data helps organizations to make informed decisions. This is what makes security research important. As a result, a security researcher will spend hours reading news, academic journals, and listening to relevant podcasts about cybersecurity trends. 

But first, a security researcher has to decide what is worth researching since research is time-consuming. Additionally, you need to know when the research is complete so that you can publish your findings and move on to the next research task.

Security research encompasses discovering new things, raising awareness, and putting misconceptions to rest.

How to Become a Security Researcher

Security Researcher

To become a security researcher, you need a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, Network Systems or IT. Some security researchers begin by working in an IT security team or as software developers.

If you are a professional in the IT sector and you are interested in security research, you should take these steps:

  • Start learning on your own: based on what you learn during the research phase, start filling the knowledge gaps. For instance, security researchers should know programming languages like Python, Ruby, C, and C++. So, if you are not familiar with one of these languages, teach yourself. You could also learn assembly programming, web developing, steganography, Linux, cryptography, and hacking techniques. 
  • Specialize in a specific field: since there is so much to learn, it will be easier to study what most interests you. For example, if you want to specialize in vulnerability research, learn how to reverse malware and all the other relevant subjects in this field.
  • Use tools to practice: the best way to learn is through practice. Play around with software as much as you can.
  • Advance your studies: you can enroll for a master’s degree in cybersecurity then advance to a Ph.D. This is important if you want to publish authoritative journals on security research.
  • Stay up to date with cybersecurity trends: you should not wait to get hired to become a security researcher. Assuming that this is a field you are passionate about, carrying out your own security research should come naturally.

Roles and Responsibilities

Some of the roles and responsibilities of a security researcher include:

  • Creating hypotheses, new methods, and techniques to solve cybersecurity issues
  • Reverse engineering malware
  • Helping the company to become more aware of cybersecurity
  • Leading technical projects and teams
  • Conducting tests on protocols, hardware, and security controls
  • Writing reports and presenting findings of your research to relevant board members or teams
  • Researching the feasibility of proposed security products and services

Improving cybersecurity is a team effort. Therefore, being a team player is an essential skill. Also, your employer could ask you to handle other cybersecurity roles like penetration testing. This means that you should acquire a diverse set of cybersecurity skills. 

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Red Teaming

What is Red Teaming?

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Hacker for Hire: How to Hire a Professional Hacker in 2020

4 years ago in Hacking
Hacker for Hire

Companies hire hackers to strengthen their IT security. Due to the nature of the hacking profession, finding a hacker for hire can be a daunting task.

In this article, you will learn how to hire a professional hacker for your company without having to search the depths of the dark web.

What is Hacking?

Before you hire a hacker, you will have to understand what exactly they do. Hackers are individuals who identify and exploit the weakness of digital systems to compromise them.

Hacking as a skill may be for negative or positive reasons. Despite the popular notion that hacking is mostly for malicious purposes, companies hire hackers to boost their cybersecurity.

The significant difference in hackers can be identified between black hat hackers and white hat hackers. Black hat hackers infiltrate computers through devious means, steal information, and usually leave networks infected with viruses. Conversely, white hat hackers work with companies to find potential exploits in their systems to prevent other hackers from taking advantage of them.

If you are hiring hackers for your company, you will then be looking for ethical hackers. So, how do you hire a professional hacker? 

How to Hire A Hacker

professional hacker

You can hire a hacker without visiting the dark web where most people assume they lurk. Currently, there are many professional hackers available for hire. Most top of the line ethical hackers have the Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification.

Before you hire a hacker, you will have to put together guidelines for your new employee. You have to be clear on what exactly you want to achieve by hiring a hacker. 

Firstly, you should verify the background of the hacker to confirm that they are indeed ethical hackers. This is to prevent a possible scenario where you hire a security professional who doesn’t have the companies interest as a priority.

Secondly, based on the task at hand, you may need a hacker with more experience in a particular field like penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, or security protocols.

An interview should help you assess the skill set of the potential hacker by asking essential questions like, “What type of hacking are you best at?”, “Do we require an external penetration test?” or “Do we need an application security review?”

Aside from hiring hackers to work on your product directly, you can also hire them as security analysts or consultants to supplement your existing security team.

Further, the terms of the agreement between yourself and the newly hired hacker must be well stipulated to prevent complications moving forward.

How Much Should It Cost?

The amount of money you pay for a hacker depends on the nature of work and duration for which the work will be done.

For as low as $5, you could hire a hacker on the popular freelance website like Fiverr. However, research conducted by INFOSEC suggests that the average annual salary of an ethical hacker is $71,331.

This number may seem high, but considering the frequency of data breaches and its impact on online businesses, ethical hackers deserve their paychecks.

For instance, the average data breach in 2018 led to a loss of over $3.8 million. This trend has led to more projects hiring hackers in recent times.

In case you are working on a low budget or lack the approval to hire a professional hacker, you may employ a penetration tester to help you secure your online systems. 

Where to Find Professional Hackers For Hire

There are several platforms where you can find professional hackers to improve your cybersecurity. Here is a list of such platforms:

Dedicated Ethical Hacking Groups

Also, some cybersecurity solution companies provide hacking services in addition to other services.

Freelance Sites to Find Hackers

Hiring Black Hat Hackers

hire a hacker

Hiring a black hat hacker to gain access to an individual or company’s computer system is a crime, and this publication does not condone criminal behavior.

However, the reality is that this is a more common occurrence than you may expect. Most individuals and companies that hire black hat hackers find them on the dark web. Interestingly enough, some black hat hackers have come out of hiding on the dark web into the open to accept gigs.

Some website provides access to hackers that perform questionable and unethical activities such as gaining unapproved access to email accounts or mobile phones and distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks.

Law enforcement agencies are also clamping down on these sites to protect internet users. For example, the U.S Department of Justice shut down 15 domains that were selling DDOS attacks in 2018. The FBI has also introduced measures to prosecute black hat hackers as well as the individuals who purchase their services.

Final Thoughts

The demand for ethical hackers is in high demand. As a result, ethical hacking will become an increasingly profitable career in the future.

Check out our article on Top 10 Best Hacking Books for Ethical Hackers in 2020 to learn more about how to become a professional hacker.

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How to Become a Security Researcher

How to Become a Security Researcher

A security researcher investigates security vulnerabilities in applications, websites, hardware, and internet protocols. As security threats evolve, more and more

What is Ethical Hacking? A Beginner’s Guide

4 years ago in Hacking
Ethical Hacker

Hacking is usually perceived to be a harmful activity based on the fact that most hacking exploits that make the news are negative. Contrary to the image the media paints about hackers, there is also ethical hacking.

Ethical hacking is a term used to describe the process of identifying potential threats on a system by hacking it. The person who does this is called an ethical hacker.

Most importantly, ethical hackers seek to understand security problems that exist with technologies to prevent exploitation by malicious hackers. 

What is ethical hacking

This type of hacking takes different forms from system hacking, web application hacking, and web server hacking to hacking wireless networks, and social engineering.

Although ethical hackers do not have the same intention as malicious hackers, they still have to think like them. This thought process allows them to identify vulnerabilities that can be exploited by other hackers.

Your hacking activity is ethical if it follows these principles:

  • Permission: Ethical hackers always seek authorization before conducting penetration tests.
  • Respect for privacy: Ethical hackers respect the privacy of individuals on a platform and the company behind the platform.
  • Ethical hackers close loopholes found during their test to prevent other hackers from taking advantage of them.
  • Finally, ethical hacking requires you to inform software developers of the cracks you found in their code to help them improve their platform.

Ethical hackers usually check for changes in sensitive data, data breaches, and injection attacks.

How Can You Become An Ethical Hacker?

Anyone can become an ethical hacker, provided you have the required skills. Ethical hacking is a viable job in the information and communication sector.

To become an ethical hacker, you need to have programming knowledge, scripting knowledge, networking skills, database knowledge, and a professional level of proficiency in the use of various operating systems.

Famous Ethical Hackers

Joanna Rutkowska

Rutkowska is a cybersecurity researcher from Poland. She has built an operating system called Qubes OS, which focuses on user security.

Her ethical hacking presentation in 2006 made her popular in hacking circles. She demonstrated the vulnerabilities in the Visa kernel during her presentation at the black hat briefing conference.

She went ahead to give more presentations on hardware security loopholes, including an attack that targeted Intel Systems. Joana Ruthkowska has become a significant feature at several cybersecurity conferences worldwide.

Charlie Miller

Popularly known as one of the few hackers to kill the myth that Apple devices are secure, Miller has been exposing vulnerabilities in Apple products since 2007.

In 2008, he won the Pwn2Own contest in Vancouver. Charles Miller was the first to locate a critical MacBook Air bug at the hackathon. 

In addition, he also discovered a bug the following year connected to the Safari browser. He won $10,000 and $5,000 respectively for his ethical hacking exploits in those two years.

Mark Abene

Phiber Optik, real name Mark Abene, is a famous ethical hacker who pioneered changing the perception of white hat hackers. Optik was a prolific hacker in the late 80s and 90s.

Moreover, he debated and defended the definite advantages of hacking as an essential tool for the ever-growing tech industry. Optik worked for UBS, First USA, KPMG, and American Express.

Check out the Top 10 Best Hacking Books for Ethical Hackers in 2020 to understand what it takes to become an ethical hacker.

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How to Become a Security Researcher

How to Become a Security Researcher

A security researcher investigates security vulnerabilities in applications, websites, hardware, and internet protocols. As security threats evolve, more and more

white hat hacker

What is a White Hat Hacker?

The word “hacker” is often synonymous with cybercrime. But not all hacking is criminal or malicious. Hacking itself is not

What is a White Hat Hacker?

4 years ago in Cybersecurity/Hacking
white hat hacker

The word “hacker” is often synonymous with cybercrime. But not all hacking is criminal or malicious. Hacking itself is not illegal. It is only illegal when a hacker compromises a system or network without the owner’s authorization. White hat hackers, for example, help businesses with their hacking skills.

In this guide, you will learn about white hat hackers, also known as ethical hackers, who help businesses secure their IT systems.

The Profile of a White Hat

Also known as a certified ethical hacker or ethical hacker, a white hat hacker is a computer security specialist who compromises systems and networks with the intent of testing and assessing their security stability. Simply put, white hat hacking entails hacking for a legal reason.

white hat hacking

Unlike black hats, a white hat hacker helps organizations to identify security gaps and blocks them before the bad guys take advantage. Since white hackers are familiar with the tactics used by black hackers, they are best suitable for the job.

When employed by an organization, a white hat hacker may choose to assume cybersecurity titles. Classic white hat hacker job titles include network security analyst, IT security engineer, and cybersecurity analyst.

Due to the fierce competition in the world of cybersecurity, hackers often acquire several additional security certifications and technical certifications.

Responsibilities of an Ethical Hacker

A white hat hacker’s responsibility goes beyond checking for system vulnerabilities. They can also include educating staff on the latest cybersecurity risks and setting up security policies to ensure best practice among IT personnel. Additionally, white hats may also develop new tools that businesses can use to protect their systems.

Not all hackers are evil. White hat hackers are the good guys of the hacking world. They are the Jedis in a world full of Sith.

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How to Become a Security Researcher

How to Become a Security Researcher

A security researcher investigates security vulnerabilities in applications, websites, hardware, and internet protocols. As security threats evolve, more and more

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