The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification is a professional credential recognized in the field of information security. It is designed for individuals who possess the skills and knowledge required to identify and address vulnerabilities and weaknesses in computer systems and networks, much like malicious hackers do.
The CEH certification covers a wide range of topics and techniques related to hacking, penetration testing, and security assessment. The certification exam focuses on various domains that encompass different aspects of cybersecurity. Here are the main domains typically covered in the CEH certification:
- Introduction to Ethical Hacking: This domain provides an overview of the ethical hacking process, including the principles, methodologies, and roles of ethical hackers. It explores the legal and ethical considerations that govern ethical hacking activities.
- Footprinting and Reconnaissance: In this domain, candidates learn how to gather information about target systems, organizations, and individuals through passive and active reconnaissance techniques. This information helps ethical hackers understand potential vulnerabilities and weak points.
- Scanning Networks: This domain covers the methods of scanning networks to identify active hosts, open ports, and services running on systems. Techniques for network mapping and discovery are explored to gather essential information for vulnerability assessment.
- Enumeration: Enumeration involves extracting valuable information from target systems, such as user accounts, shares, and system configurations. This domain covers the process of identifying and exploiting these details to aid in system penetration.
- Vulnerability Analysis: Here, candidates learn to assess systems for known vulnerabilities and weaknesses. They explore techniques to analyze system configurations, assess security patches, and identify potential risks.
- System Hacking: This domain delves into various techniques that hackers might use to gain unauthorized access to systems. CEH candidates learn about password cracking, privilege escalation, and ways to counteract these threats.
- Malware Threats: Candidates study different types of malicious software, including viruses, worms, Trojans, and ransomware. They learn how to detect, analyze, and mitigate malware threats.
- Sniffing: This domain covers the interception of network traffic to capture sensitive information. CEH professionals learn about different sniffing techniques and tools, as well as methods to protect against such attacks.
- Social Engineering: Social engineering involves manipulating individuals to disclose confidential information. This domain explores psychological tactics hackers use to exploit human behavior and provides strategies to defend against social engineering attacks.
- Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks: Candidates learn about different types of DoS attacks that disrupt the availability of systems and networks. They also study techniques to mitigate and prevent such attacks.
- Session Hijacking: This domain focuses on the exploitation of active sessions to gain unauthorized access to systems. CEH professionals learn about session hijacking techniques and how to defend against them.
- Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots: In this domain, candidates explore methods to bypass intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewalls, and honeypots. They learn techniques to evade detection while performing ethical hacking activities.
- Hacking Web Servers and Applications: CEH professionals study vulnerabilities and security issues related to web servers and applications. They learn techniques to identify and exploit weaknesses in web-based systems.
- SQL Injection: This domain covers SQL injection attacks, where malicious code is inserted into SQL queries to manipulate databases. Candidates learn how to detect, prevent, and mitigate such attacks.
- Hacking Wireless Networks: Candidates study security vulnerabilities in wireless networks and techniques to exploit them. They also learn about wireless security protocols and countermeasures.
- Hacking Mobile Platforms: This domain explores security concerns related to mobile devices and applications. Candidates learn about mobile platform vulnerabilities and ways to secure mobile environments.
- IoT (Internet of Things) Hacking: The Internet of Things presents unique security challenges. CEH professionals learn about IoT vulnerabilities and attacks, as well as strategies to secure IoT devices.
- Cloud Computing: This domain covers security issues in cloud computing environments. Candidates learn about cloud architecture, threats, and best practices for securing cloud deployments.
- Cryptography: Cryptography is essential for securing data. This domain introduces candidates to cryptographic concepts, algorithms, and protocols used to protect information.
The CEH certification equips professionals with the skills needed to identify and mitigate security vulnerabilities across various technological domains. It's essential for individuals seeking a career in ethical hacking, penetration testing, and overall cybersecurity.