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Ethical Hacking Courses, Subjects, Syllabus

By Vitesh Sharma

Updated on May 13, 2026 | 6 min read | 26.96K+ views

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Ethical hacking courses help learners understand how cyber-attacks happen and how to protect systems using legal and authorized methods. These programs focus on identifying security weaknesses before attackers can exploit them.

A typical syllabus includes topics like network scanning, system hacking, malware threats, and web application security issues such as SQL injection and cross site scripting. Core subjects often cover tools like Kali Linux, OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, social engineering, and cloud security basics. Many courses also align with certifications like CEH to validate professional skills.

If you are looking to build a strong cybersecurity career, you can explore upGrad KnowledgeHut CEH® v13 Certification Training to learn how these concepts are applied in real-world security environments.

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Overview of the CEH Certification Exam

Thе CEH course syllabus sеrvеs as thе gatеway for individuals aspiring to bе Cеrtifiеd Ethical Hackеrs. This comprеhеnsivе еxamination assеssеs candidatеs on thеir proficiеncy in idеntifying and addressing sеcurity vulnеrabilitiеs, prеparing thеm to navigatе thе complеx sphеrе of еthical hacking. From cyber-ethics to hacking web applications, the ethical hacking course exam covers a diverse range of topics outlined in the CEH syllabus, ensuring a holistic evaluation of candidates' capabilities.

EC-Council

CEH Course Highlights

Particulars Values
Branch Name Ethical Hacking
Degree B.Tech, M.Tech, B.Sc, M.Sc.
Duration
  • UG – 3/ 4 Years
  • PG – 2 Years
Eligibility
  • UG (10 + 2 from a recognized board)
  • PG (Bachelor’s Degree)
Admission Process
  • UG (Entrance Test/ Cut Off)
  • PG (Entrance Test/ Cut off)
Top Entrance Exams
  • For UG
    • UPESEAT
    • HITSEE
    • VITEEE
    • KIITEE
  • For PG
    • IPU CET
    • GATE
    • VITMEE
Top Colleges IIT, NIT, LPU, Amity University, SRM University, BIT Durg, HITS Chennai
Career Options Ethical Hacker, Security Analyst, Information Security Analyst, Security Consultant, etc.
Average Salary Rs. 5 Lakhs to Rs 8 Lakhs PA
Recruiting Options Infosys, Wipro Technologies, Tata Consultancy Services, WhiteHat Jr, Philips, Genpact, etc.

Also Read: What is White Hat Ethical Hacking?

What are Included in the Course Information? 

Let me explain the dеlicaciеs of cybеrsеcurity through a curriculum dеsignеd to provide a bеttеr understanding of еthical hacking concepts. Hеrе's a glimpsе of what the CEH syllabus еntails: 

  • Coursе Titlе and Coursе Codе: Start the journey of еthical hacking with the comprеhеnsivе CEH v12 training course. Thе coursе codе, 312-50, aligns with thе EC-Council's globally rеcognizеd cеrtification еxam.  
  • Instructor Information: Lеarn from industry еxpеrts and cеrtifiеd еthical hackеrs who bring rеal-world еxpеriеncе to thе virtual classroom. The CEI cеrtifiеd instructors are handpickеd for thеir еxpеrtisе to guidе the candidates through thе complеx domains of еthical hacking. Besides, you can get an ethical hacker free certificate which can boost your skills.  
  • Contact Dеtails: For any inquiries or assistance, reach out to the dеdicatеd support team: 
    • Email: support@knowlеdgеhut.com 
    • Phonе: USA +1-469-442-0620, India +91-84484-45027 
    • Toll-Frее: 1800-121-9232 
  • Coursе Wеbsitе: Explorе the CEH syllabus dеtails, schеdulеs, and additional rеsourcеs.

Specialization Courses

There are various courses that provide ethical hacking training. The ethical hacking course offers the students a bright career and great prospects. For applying to such courses, one must often take into consideration the ethical hacking eligibility criteria before applying. A few of the specialized courses are mentioned below:

B.Tech Cyber Security B.Sc in Networking
B.Tech CSE B.Sc. in Cyber Security
M.Sc. in Cyber Security M.Tech in Network & Information Security
M.Tech in Information Security M.Tech CSE

Course Subject and Syllabus of Ethical Hacking

Ethical hacking is one of the popular courses owing to an increased interest in internet security. Ethical Hacking courses cover tools and techniques that are used by hackers to know about intrusions in the defense mechanism.

The syllabus for ethical hacking varies for different courses. Some of the common topics for ethical hacking courses are given below:

1. Ethical Hacking Course Syllabus

Cyber-Ethics Hacking Introduction Information Gathering
Scanning Google Hacking Database
Virus, Worms – Virus Analysis Trojans and Backdoors
Sniffers and Keyloggers Social Engineering
Email, DNS, IP Spoofing System Hacking and Security
HoneyPots -

2. Certified Ethical Hacker Course Syllabus

Certified Ethical Hacker Course is a course by Ec – Council and is recognized globally. Their modules are designed for providing a comprehensive ethical hacking training exam. Here is the syllabus for the same:

Introduction to Ethical Hacking Footprint and Reconnaissance
Footprint and Reconnaissance Enumeration
System Hacking Malware Threats
Sniffing Social Engineering
Denial of Service Session Hijacking
Hacking Web Servers Hacking Web Applications
SQL Injection Hacking Wireless Networks
Hacking Mobile Platforms Evading IDS, Firewalls, Honeyspot
Cloud Computing Cryptography

3. CEH v11 Syllabus

CEH v11 has a total of 20 modules. Some topics might differ. Here is the syllabus.

Modules Topics
1. Introduction to Ethical Hacking
2. Footprinting and Reconnaissance
3. Scanning Networks
4. Enumeration
5. Vulnerability Analysis
6. System Hacking
7. Malware Threats
8. Sniffing
9. Social Engineering
10. Denial-of-Service
11. Session Hijacking
12. Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots
13. Hacking Web Servers
14. Hacking Web Applications
15. SQL Injections
16. Hacking Wireless Networks
17. Hacking Mobile Platforms
18. Iot and OT Hacking
19. Cloud Computing
20. Cryptography

4. Hacking Course Syllabus

The hacking course covers Ethical Hacking, Website Hacking, and Security/Mobile/Wireless security in general. Below is the syllabus for the same:

  • Ethical Hacking
Information Gathering Cyber Ethics
Hacking Introduction Trojans and Backdoors
Sniffers & Keyloggers Google Hacking Database
Virus and Virus Analysis Email, DNS, IP, Spoofing
HoneyPots Social Engineering
System Hacking and Security -
  • Website Hacking & Security
SQL Injection XSS Attacks and Countermeasures
LFI/ RFI Attacks & Countermeasures Vulnerability Research
Vulnerability Assessment & Penetration Testing Exploit Writing
Information Disclosure Vulnerabilities Buffer Overflow and Session Hijacking Attacks
Secure Coding Practice -
  • Mobile & Wireless Security
SMS Forging and Countermeasures Wireless Hacking and Security
VoIP Hacking & Countermeasures -

5. Cyber Security and Ethical Hacking Course Syllabus

This course covers areas related to ethical hacking like cloud computing, introduction to ethical hacking, denial of service, hacking mobile platforms, social engineering, etc. The syllabus is as follows:

Cloud Computing Introduction to Ethical Hacking
Denial of Service Hacking Mobile Platforms
Cryptography Hacking Web Servers
Session Hijacking Social Networking
Social Engineering Malware Threats
Footprinting and Reconnaissance SQL Injection
Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots Enumeration

Courses in ethical hacking can help you in getting various career opportunities. These courses are best suited to becoming an analyst, ethical hacker, etc. Let us look at the ethical hacking career opportunities in detail.

Eligibility Criteria of Ethical Hacking for UG & PG Programs

All universities follow different eligibility criteria when it comes to admissions. Any student who wishes to do a course in ethical hacking, be it undergraduate or postgraduate, must abide by eligibility criteria. Here are they: 

1. Eligibility Criteria for UG

In order to pursue an ethical hacking course in UG, it is necessary to have 10 + 2 from a recognized board such as CBSE, ICSE, etc. The ethical hacking course at the UG level takes place through a commonly conducted entrance examination. Let us look at the courses that come under UG. 

  • UPESEAT: University of Petroleum and Energy Studies is a university-level examination, wherein candidates take admissions who wish to pursue an engineering program. This exam takes place once a year.
  • KIITEE: KITEE is an entrance-level examination conducted by the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology. The institute offers admission to several courses like LLB, LLM, MTech, B.Tech, BCA, Mass Communication, etc.
  • VITEEE: VIT entrance examination is conducted by the Vellore Institute of Technology. The exam offers admission to a variety of courses and takes place once a year. Before filling out the entry form, students must check the eligibility criteria.
  • HITSEEE: Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science Engineering Entrance Exam is conducted to provide students with engineering courses. It also takes place once a year.

Boost your cybersecurity journey with upGrad KnowledgeHut Cyber Security Courses designed for hands-on learning.

2. Eligibility Criteria for PG courses

As an aspiring candidate in ethical hacking, you can get a postgraduate degree as well from a recognized university. Students sit for a common entrance test to get admitted to a reputed college/ university. Here is the list of PG entrances offered by various institutions.

  • VITMEE: VIT Master’s Examination offers admission to those looking for a good PG course. It is conducted by the Vellore Institute of Technology. To pursue ethical hacking, you can enroll in courses like M. Tech, MCA, Integrated Ph.D., etc.
  • GATE: Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur conducts GATE. It is a national-level examination conducted once a year. Students who wish to pursue ethical hacking or engineering can apply for this course even if they are still in the third year of their bachelor’s degrees.
  • IPU CET: IPU CET is a university-level examination conducted by Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University. The exam offers admission to various PG and UG courses. Check the eligibility criteria before registering.

Taking up these entrance exams can offer you a great career as an ethical hacker, developer, data analyst, etc. The scope of ethical hacking is ever-increasing worldwide. The technical industry is ever-expanding. Over the past few years, the industry has seen rapid growth. It will continue to grow soon as well.

With the exponential growth, the need for ethical hackers has also been reasonably increased. Be it a small, medium, or a large-scale enterprise, recruiters are always on the lookout for White Hat Hackers for their IT teams. These hackers assist organizations in finding the vulnerabilities of computer systems and networks.

Having known so much about the course, let us have a look at the top IT security certifications

Careers in Ethical Hacking

A wide range of job opportunities are available after finishing any of the courses mentioned above. Both undergraduates and postgraduates have ample opportunities in terms of jobs. The job that one might get depends upon the skills and expertise of an individual. Look at some of the prospective careers.

1. Ethical Hacker: An Ethical Hacker helps the government and many large-scale industries to improve their security with hacking skills. Hackers also make sure that the data, systems, and networks are safe from malicious hackers and fraudulent practices.

2. Information Security Analyst: An Information Security Analyst is responsible for designing and implementing IT security systems to protect the business security of organizations. The chief role of the analyst is to protect the organization from cyber-attacks.

3. Information Security Manager: An Information Security Manager is responsible for protecting the computers, systems, and networks of a business from malware threats.

4. Security Consultant: The security consultants are responsible for assessing and analyzing security systems. The objective is to ensure the system is free from fraud and malicious attacks.

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Conclusion

Ethical hacking is one of the most interesting areas in today’s technology world. It brings together curiosity, problem solving, and the opportunity to make a real impact by improving cybersecurity.

Training in this field is structured in a way that helps you start with the basics and gradually move into advanced topics like web application security, malware analysis, and cloud protection.

Whether you are a student, working professional, or planning a career change, ethical hacking can open up strong career opportunities. With proper learning and the right mindset, you can contribute to building safer and more secure digital systems.

Contact our upGrad KnowledgeHut experts and get personalized guidance on choosing the right course, career path, and certification for your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Do I need coding knowledge before starting an ethical hacking course?

Not necessarily. Many beginner courses start from the basics and teach you along the way. However, having some understanding of programming languages like Python or JavaScript can make learning easier later.

Is ethical hacking legal to learn and practice?

Yes, learning ethical hacking is completely legal. The important part is that you should only test systems you have permission to access. Unauthorized hacking can lead to serious legal consequences.

How long does it take to become an ethical hacker?

It depends on your learning pace and background. For most beginners, it can take anywhere from a few months to a year to build a solid foundation with consistent practice.

Can someone from a non-technical background learn ethical hacking?

Absolutely. Many people switch to cybersecurity from different fields. With patience and regular practice, even beginners with no technical background can learn and grow in this field.

What kind of practical work is included in these courses?

Most ethical hacking courses include hands on labs where you practice scanning systems, testing vulnerabilities, and using security tools. This helps you gain real world experience.

Do I need a powerful computer to learn ethical hacking?

Not really. A basic computer with decent RAM and storage is usually enough to get started. You can use virtual machines to run tools like Kali Linux without needing high-end hardware.

Are there free resources available to learn ethical hacking?

Yes, there are many free tutorials, videos, and practice labs available online. While paid courses offer structured learning, free resources are a great way to begin your journey.

What are the biggest challenges beginners face?

Many beginners struggle with understanding networking concepts and using command line tools. But with regular practice and patience, these challenges become easier over time.

Is ethical hacking only about breaking into systems?

No, that is just one part. Ethical hacking also involves analyzing risks, improving security systems, and ensuring that data and networks are protected from threats.

What is the difference between ethical hacking and cybersecurity?

Ethical hacking is a part of cybersecurity. While ethical hacking focuses on testing and finding vulnerabilities, cybersecurity is a broader field that includes protecting systems, managing risks, and responding to threats.

Vitesh Sharma

212 articles published

Vitesh Sharma, a distinguished Cyber Security expert with a wealth of experience exceeding 6 years in the Telecom & Networking Industry. Armed with a CCIE and CISA certification, Vitesh possesses expe...

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