Ethical Hacking Module 1 Notes by Hackopedia

Hackopedia Notes Module : 1 {Subscribe to Hackopedia}

1. THIS ETHICAL HACKING COURSE IS STRICTLY FOR EDUCATIONAL
PURPOSES ONLY. THE CONTENT PROVIDED IS INTENDED TO HELP
INDIVIDUALS UNDERSTAND CYBERSECURITY PRINCIPLES,
PENETRATION TESTING TECHNIQUES, AND DEFENSIVE STRATEGIES
TO PROTECT SYSTEMS FROM CYBER THREATS.WE DO NOT PROMOTE,
ENCOURAGE, OR ENDORSE ANY ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES, HACKING
ATTEMPTS, OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO SYSTEMS. ANY MISUSE OF
THE KNOWLEDGE SHARED IN THIS COURSE IS SOLELY THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE INDIVIDUAL, AND WE HOLD NO LIABILITY
FOR ANY CONSEQUENCES ARISING FROM UNETHICAL USE.THIS
COURSE COMPLIES WITH YOUTUBE’S POLICIES AND COMMUNITY
GUIDELINES. VIEWERS ARE ADVISED TO PRACTICE ETHICAL
HACKING ONLY IN LEGAL ENVIRONMENTS SUCH AS AUTHORIZED
PENETRATION TESTING, BUG BOUNTY PROGRAMS, OR PERSONAL LAB
SETUPS. ALWAYS OBTAIN PROPER PERMISSION BEFORE TESTING ANY
SYSTEM.BY WATCHING THIS COURSE, YOU AGREE TO USE THE
KNOWLEDGE RESPONSIBLY AND ETHICALLY.
DISCLAIMER

2. TODAY’S CONTENT
1.WHAT IS HACKING ?
2.TYPES OF HACKERS.
3.CYBER SECURITY VS ETHICAL HACKING.
4.SOME COMMON CYBER ATTACKS.
5.HOW HACKERS HACK ANYTHING ?
6.JOB ROLES & SALARY.
NOTE :- HOW TO STAY ANONYMOUS TOPIC WILL
BE COVERED IN MODULE 7 .(PROXY)

3. What is Hacking ?
Hacking is the process of finding weaknesses in a
computer system, network, or software and using
them to gain access or control. Hackers use their
skills to break into systems, but their intentions
can be good or bad.

4. Imagine there’s a fancy house with a big locked door. You really want to get inside, but you don’t have
the key! So, you try different methods:
# Kicks the door down, breaks the lock, sneaks in, and steals all the snacks. (Like a black-hat
hacker stealing data!)
# Finds a flaw in the lock, unlocks the door, but instead of entering, he tells the owner, “Your
lock is weak ! Get a stronger one !” (Like an ethical hacker fixing security!)
# Picks the lock just for fun, opens the door, walks inside, eats a cookie, and then leaves a
note saying, "Hey, your security is bad ! But don’t worry, I didn’t steal anything... except
a cookie ." (Like a grey hat hacker—still breaking in, but not causing harm!)
In the digital world, the door lock is like computer security, and hackers are just trying different ways
to get inside !

5. Hackers are generally categorized based on their intent and the legality of their activities. Their Types:-
1. White Hat Hackers (Ethical Hackers)
•These are cybersecurity professionals who legally test systems for vulnerabilities.
•They work for companies, governments, or as independent consultants.
•They follow ethical guidelines and laws.
•Example: Certified Ethical Hackers (CEH), penetration testers.
2. Black Hat Hackers (Malicious Hackers)
•They break into systems illegally for personal gain, financial theft, or to cause harm.
•They spread malware, steal data, or engage in cybercrime activities.
•Example: Hackers involved in credit card fraud, ransomware attacks.
3. Gray Hat Hackers
•They operate between ethical and unethical hacking.
•They may break into systems without permission but do not exploit data for personal gain.
•Sometimes, they inform companies about vulnerabilities without legal approval.
4. Script Kiddies
•They are amateur hackers with little technical knowledge.
•They use pre-made hacking tools or scripts to exploit systems.
•Often engage in website defacement, DDoS attacks for fun or revenge.

6. 5. Green Hat Hackers (Learning Hackers)
•They are beginners who want to become expert hackers.
•They practice hacking techniques but don ’t necessarily have bad intentions.
6. Blue Hat Hackers (Security Testers)
•They are hired to test security before launching a product or system.
•Companies use them to check for security flaws.
7. Red Hat Hackers (Cyber Police Hackers)
•They fight against bad hackers (Black Hats).
•They use aggressive methods to stop cybercriminals.
8. Nation-State Hackers (Government Hackers)
•These hackers work for governments to spy on other countries.
•They are involved in cyber warfare and intelligence gathering.
9. Hacktivists (Activist Hackers)
•They hack to support a political or social cause.
•They attack government websites or big companies they oppose.
•Example: Anonymous group.
10. Cyber Terrorists (Dangerous Hackers)
•They use hacking to create fear, destroy systems, or support terrorism.
•They can target banks, government websites, or security agencies.

7. CYBER-SECURITY VS ETHICAL HACKING

8. Conclusion:-
•Cybersecurity is like a security guard protecting a building from
thieves.
•Ethical Hacking is like a friendly thief who tries to break in (with
permission) to check if security is strong enough.
SOME COMMON CYBER ATTACKS
•Phishing – Tricking people into giving their passwords.
•Brute Force Attack – Trying many passwords until one works.
•Malware – Using viruses or spyware to steal information.
•Social Engineering – Manipulating people to reveal secrets.

9. HOW HACKERS HACK ANYTHING ?
SQLi is a cyberattack that injects malicious SQL code into an
application, allowing the attacker to view or modify a database.
1. SQL INJECTION.
Real-World SQL Injection Example – Yahoo Data Breach (2012)
What happened?
•In 2012, hackers used SQL Injection to break into Yahoo’s website.
•They stole 4,50,000 usernames and passwords from Yahoo’s database.
•The stolen data was leaked online for anyone to see.
How did hackers do it?
•Yahoo’s website had a login form where users entered their email and password.
•Instead of a normal login, hackers typed a special SQL command that forced the
database to show all stored usernames and passwords.
•Because Yahoo’s website didn’t filter out bad input, the attack worked.

10. 2. XSS (Cross Site Scripting)
You visit a social media site and see a pop-up:
"Congratulations! You won a free iPhone! Click here to claim."
How? A hacker inserted bad code into a comment, post, or form.
What happens if you click? You may get redirected to a fake site or your account
could get hacked.
3. Phishing – The Fake PayPal Email Scam
SOME YEARS AGO,
•Hackers used to sent fake emails pretending to be from PayPal.
•The email said: "Your account is locked! Click here to fix it."
•When users clicked the link, it took them to a fake PayPal website.
•Victims entered their passwords, and hackers stole their accounts.
Lesson?
•Always check the website URL before entering your details.

11. 4. Brute Force Attack – Instagram Hack (2021)
•In 2021, hackers used a brute force attack to guess Instagram passwords.
•They tried thousands of password combinations per second.
•Many accounts with weak passwords like "123456" or "password" were hacked.
Lesson :- Always use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication (2FA).
5. DDoS Attack – Google Hit with the Biggest Attack Ever (2017)
What happened?
•Google was targeted by a DDoS attack sending 2.54 Tbps of fake traffic.
•The attack lasted several minutes, trying to crash Google's servers.
•Luckily, Google’s security team stopped it before any damage was done.
Lesson?
•Websites should use security tools to handle large amounts of traffic

12. 6. Man-in-the-Middle Attack – Free Wi-Fi Hack at Starbucks
•In 2017, hackers set up a fake Wi-Fi in a Starbucks cafe.
•People connected to the free Wi-Fi, thinking it was real.
•Hackers spied on their internet activity, stealing passwords and banking details.
NOTE:- Never use public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks like banking or logging into accounts.
7. Malware Attack – WannaCry Ransomware (2017)
•In 2017, a powerful malware called WannaCry spread across the world.
•It infected over 200,000 computers in 150+ countries.
•Victims included hospitals, banks, and government offices.
How did it work?
1️⃣ A hacker sent an email with a bad attachment.
2️⃣ When someone opened it, the malware locked all files on their computer.
3️⃣ A message popped up: "Pay $300 in Bitcoin to unlock your files!"
4️⃣ Many people lost important data because they didn’t have backups.

13. 8. Zero-Day Exploit?
A Zero-Day Exploit is a cyberattack that happens when hackers find a security flaw in
software before the company knows about it.
How Hackers Use Zero-Day Exploits?
1️⃣ They find a secret security flaw in software (like Windows, Android, or PlayStation).
2️⃣ Before the company knows, hackers use it to break into systems.
3️⃣ They steal data, install malware, or take control of computers.
Famous Attacks :- Sony PlayStation , Zoom Meeting 2020 Cyber attack.