Written by: Pradnesh Singh Basnet - 27015, Grade IX
Posted on: 04 March, 2024
When we hear about hacking, we often think people hack to get some free stuff. Well, that's true, but the term "Ethical Hacking" encompasses much scarier possibilities. Ethical hacking can be used to gain access to a user's computer, obtaining their bank account information, such as their username, contact information, email, and, if skilled enough, even their credit card details. Moreover, individuals have been caught accessing other people's computers or mobile devices, copying their pictures, and stealing important information. There are countless other threats that ethical hacking poses. Hackers can target you through your IP address or your email and password. Fortunately, there are ways to prevent being hacked, such as:
You should never connect your devices, whether smartphones or laptops, to unknown networks. When you connect, you expose your IP address to the router. For instance, if you connect your mobile to the internet in a café for entertainment, a skilled hacker could easily obtain your IP address and access your device. I personally advise my family and relatives to only connect their devices to trusted networks, such as those at home, relatives' places, or offices, as they are safer environments.
A VPN, or Virtual Private Network, operates in an interesting manner. Almost every electronic device, be it a laptop or smartphone, has an IP address. If you're not careful, you might inadvertently give away your IP address to a random person on the internet. When visiting an unpopular website, you might be prompted to log in. However, once logged in, everything you do on the website, such as writing content, is sent to the website's owner. Additionally, when you input your email and password, it is also sent to the website's owner. This is risky because the website owner gains control over your email and potentially your device's IP address, granting them access to your device. Using a VPN before visiting such websites can protect your IP address, as it changes your IP to a random one that doesn't exist.
These are some of the threats posed by ethical hacking, along with preventive measures. If you're interested in learning ethical hacking, you can find resources on various websites. However, it's crucial to refrain from using these skills for malicious purposes, as it could lead to legal consequences and heavy charges. Nonetheless, learning ethical hacking can be a fascinating and valuable skill for additional study.
