Ethical Hacking: What Does an Ethical Hacker Do in 2026?

Hackers, frequently represented as hooded underground dwellers with faces lighted only by blue light, come in diverse shapes and sizes and wear various coloured caps. Black hats are people who use their hacking ability for malicious, destructive reasons, whereas white hats utilize their hacking skills for ethical and beneficial ends. Ethical hackers are in scarce supply in the industry, but they play a critical role in ensuring the overall security of modern enterprises and other organizations.

In the cyber security field, the old aged "attack is the best form of defence" undoubtedly holds true, so ethical hackers are well compensated. Their job is to use their hacking skills and system knowledge to uncover security flaws in software and infrastructure so that they can seal them before criminals can take advantage of them.

How Many Different Types of Hackers Exist?

There are three categories of hackers:

White Hat Hackers

This hacking is lawful and carried out for a good cause. Permission is requested from the owner, and an investigation is carried out to protect the data of a company, organization, or individual in this sort of hacking. Ethical hacking is also known as White hat hacking, and the people that do it are known as White hackers.

Black Hat Hackers

They are illegal hackers, and they hack for nefarious purposes and personal gain. Ethical hacking is used to protect against black hat hacking. This type of hacking involves security breaches and illicit methods to delete data or compromise a company's system or network.

Grey Hat Hackers

This is a hybrid of white and black hat hacking techniques. Typically, the Grey hat hacking procedure addresses national security concerns. However, similar to the Black hat, this is illegal because this form of hacking is carried out without the consent of the relevant authorities. Grey hackers, on the other hand, do not hack any system or network for the benefit of a third party or personal gain. These hackers frequently hack a network/system for entertainment or warn the owner about potential security problems in the future.

What is The Role of an Ethical Hacker?

By 2025, the ethical hacker’s job has matured far beyond simply probing systems for weaknesses. Today’s ethical hacker is a strategic defender - someone who understands how attackers think - but uses that knowledge to fortify digital ecosystems instead of breaking them. Their mission? To anticipate, outsmart, and neutralize threats - before they ever surface. 

1. Vulnerability Assessment and Penetration Testing (VAPT): 

To uncover cracks in a company’s security armor - these professionals execute authorized, simulated attacks.  Ethical hackers turn every discovered flaw into a roadmap for stronger defenses - whether it’s stress-testing firewalls, cloud configurations, or APIs. 

2. Threat Modeling and Risk Prioritization: 

Acting as both - analysts and strategists - they chart potential attack paths and assess the ripple effects of each vulnerability. The goal is not just to identify risk - but to align remediation efforts with what matters most to business continuity. 

3. Incident Response and Cyber Forensics: 

When breaches do occur, ethical hackers shift into investigative mode - retracing an attacker’s steps, isolating compromised components, and ensuring lessons from the intrusion inform better future safeguards. 

4. Secure Development and DevSecOps Integration: 

Security is no longer a final checkpoint - it’s embedded from day one. Ethical hackers collaborate with developers to audit source code, automate scans, and inject security best practices - directly into CI/CD workflows. 

5. Human-Layer Security Training: 

Since employees are often the first line of defense - ethical hackers design awareness programs, run mock phishing campaigns, and reinforce everyday cyber hygiene. This transforms the staff from potential risks into protective assets. 

6. Continuous Surveillance and Threat Intelligence: 

The modern ethical hacker doesn’t just react - they predict. Using AI-powered analytics and real-time monitoring tools - they stay alert to new exploits and evolving malware tactics before they become large-scale breaches. 

In essence, ethical hackers have become the architects of digital resilience  - professionals who blend curiosity, technical depth, and integrity to ensure that trust remains the strongest link in an organization’s cybersecurity chain. 

What is Ethical Hacking and How Does it Work?

The goal of an ethical hacker is to study the system using the same hacking abilities used by cyber attackers. The five stages of this process are as follows:

• Reconnaissance: Gathering information on the target system is the initial stage, and it could be about the company or the people connected to the target. This step aims to engineer a hack following the target's security measures.
• Scanning: Hacking is carried out through network access. A common Wi-Fi or WLAN network connects the majority of devices. This is exploited by hackers, who concentrate on acquiring illegal access to the targeted network host. This procedure reveals the topology and vulnerabilities of the network.
• Gaining Access: Hacking begins when the above-mentioned gathering stages have been completed. It entails circumventing security measures or cracking the password to access the target system.
• Maintaining Access: Cybercriminals ensure that they retain access to the target system after gaining access. They construct a backdoor for this, which they will utilize in the future to exploit or attack the system.
• Clearing Tracks: After hacking, you must delete all signs of your intrusion. It entails erasing any logs, executables, or backdoors that could lead to the hacker's identification.

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What Are Some of The Issues That an Ethical Hacker Works On?

An ethical hacker obtains permission from the system's owner and then conducts a security evaluation of the system/network.  

An Ethical Hacker's responsibilities include the following:

• Provide thorough information regarding the extent of their assessment and then notify the authorities of their proposal.
• Reconnaissance tools like NMAP and Nessus can be used to scan both open and closed ports.
• Participate in social engineering techniques.
• Vulnerability analysis is incorporated to examine patch releases.
• Perform tasks to see if they can get beyond intrusion prevention systems (IPS), intrusion detection systems (IDS), honeypots, and firewalls.
• Sniffing networks, bypassing and cracking wireless encryption, and hijacking web servers and online applications are among the tactics that can be used.
• Vulnerabilities and security breaches in the system/network should be reported.
• Maintain the secrecy of their conclusions and adhere to the conditions of their non-disclosure agreement.
• After discovering the security flaws and weaknesses in the system, erase all evidence of their hacking.

What Are The Required Skills to Be an Ethical Hacker?

There are a variety of skills that can assist ethical hackers in being more productive in their roles. Here's a rundown of six of the most practical:

Software programming

Ethical hackers build code to test computer security using their software programming talents. Programming languages like C and Python are frequently used by these professions. They may also employ database systems to keep track of computer security data to work more efficiently

Problem-solving

Problem-solving abilities aid ethical hackers in resolving difficult security concerns and identifying flaws in current software and hardware. These abilities also aid them in assessing the security of a company's network or website. They may also assist software developers in resolving issues when developing new software products.

Network design

Ethical hackers are typically skilled at designing networks to suit their needs. Computer networks of various sizes and sorts can be built, maintained, and troubleshoot.

This position necessitates familiarity with networking hardware, software, and security protocols, as well as an understanding of various network protocols. Ethical hackers can also install and configure switches, routers, modems, and firewalls, which are used to link a company's computers and networks.

Communication

Communication abilities, both written and verbal, are also required for ethical hacking professions. Ethical hackers frequently converse through the phone, email, or in person. They may use database systems to obtain data, write code for computer security testing, collaborate with team members, and hold meetings.

Research

Ethical hackers frequently perform research to assist their employer or client in implementing computer security measures. They could look into the most recent hacking assaults and figure out how to prevent them. They may also investigate computer systems with specialized tools and software, which necessitates an understanding of information technology.

Ethical hackers may also research new items that they can test before releasing them to the general public, such as new software or hardware.

Mathematics

Ethical hackers need maths abilities because they frequently utilize them to construct intricate algorithms and encryption keys that help secure data from hackers. They can also analyze traffic patterns and assess network bandwidth and capacity. Maths and computer science courses are frequently used to improve their maths skills.

Technological advancement faces a constant threat from malware, software viruses and other online threats. Therefore Cyber Security and Information Security are crucial in the current technical framework. There is an ever-growing requirement for Cyber Security experts. Individuals who like this field can opt for the top Cyber Security courses, which are very affordable.

Tools for Ethical Hacking

Ethical hackers rely on a powerful arsenal of tools - to uncover system flaws, test defenses, and secure critical data. In 2025 - the ethical hacking toolkit has evolved to include advanced automation, AI-powered analytics, and real-time vulnerability detection systems. Below are some of the most widely used and trusted tools in the field - each serving a distinct role in the hacker’s workflow. 

1. Nmap (Network Mapper)  

• Purpose: Network scanning and mapping 
• Top Features:  
  • Detects open ports, running services, and connected devices 
  • Identifies operating systems and software versions  
  • Supports large-scale network auditing and host discovery 
• Why It Matters: Nmap is the go-to reconnaissance tool - giving hackers a full view of the network’s attack surface before deeper exploitation begins. 

2. Metasploit Framework  

• Purpose: Penetration testing and exploit development 
• Top Features:  
  • Preloaded with hundreds of known exploits and payloads  
  • Automates attack simulations and post-exploitation activities  
  • Integrates with Nmap and other scanners for seamless workflows 
• Why It Matters: It’s the ethical hacker’s “Swiss Army knife” for simulating real-world attacks in a controlled, ethical environment. 

3. Wireshark  

• Purpose: Network traffic analysis and protocol inspection  
• Top Features:  
  • Captures live network packets for detailed examination 
  • Visualizes communication patterns across systems  
  • Identifies data leaks, suspicious packets, and anomalies 
• Why It Matters: Wireshark helps hackers understand how information flows - allowing them to pinpoint weak communication channels or data exposure risks. 

4. Burp Suite  

• Purpose: Web application security testing 
• Top Features:  
  • Intercepts and modifies HTTP/S requests in real time  
  • Scans for SQL injection, XSS, and authentication flaws  
  • Provides detailed vulnerability reports for developers 
• Why It Matters: A staple in every web penetration tester’s toolkit - Burp Suite helps uncover critical flaws before malicious hackers exploit them. 

5. John the Ripper  

• Purpose: Password cracking and strength testing 
• Top Features:  
  • Supports dictionary, brute-force, and hybrid attacks  
  • Tests password hashes for weak encryption  
  • Compatible with multiple hash algorithms and platforms 
• Why It Matters: It helps ethical hackers evaluate how easily an attacker could compromise user credentials. 

6. Kali Linux  

• Purpose: All-in-one penetration testing platform 
• Top Features:  
  • Preloaded with 600+ security tools (including Nmap, Burp, and Metasploit)  
  • Supports mobile and cloud penetration testing 
  • Regularly updated by the cybersecurity community 
• Why It Matters: Kali Linux is the ultimate ethical hacking OS - versatile, reliable, and purpose-built for professional penetration testers. 

In 2025, ethical hackers rely not on a single tool - but on a well-orchestrated ecosystem of scanners, analyzers, and exploit frameworks. When combined with critical thinking and technical expertise, these tools become powerful instruments for building safer, more resilient digital environments.  

Conclusion 

In a digital world where every click leaves a trace - ethical hackers have become the silent guardians of cybersecurity. Their expertise ensures that systems remain resilient - against the constant wave of digital threats. As organizations expand into AI, IoT, and cloud-based infrastructures - the demand for skilled ethical hackers is surging like never before. These professionals don’t just expose flaws - they transform vulnerabilities into opportunities for stronger, smarter defenses.

Ethical hacking is no longer a niche - it’s a necessity. For anyone eager to build a future in cybersecurity, mastering these skills can open doors to one of the most rewarding and impactful careers of the decade. Learn, practice, and lead the charge toward a safer digital tomorrow with upGrad KnowledgeHut’s Ethical Hacking course.