Ethical Hacker Jobs

Hopefully you’ve never been a victim of cyber crime. Cyber crime is the new frontier for criminals. It’s scary what these outlaws are capable of. Who can help protect you? That’s the job of an ethical hacker.

Ethical hackers, sometimes called penetration testers, are computer hackers. With permission they use invasive computer hacking skills to test security systems to expose weaknesses and vulnerabilities. Any loopholes or problems with security can then be fixed to help make the cyber world safer. Their job is to stay one step ahead of the bad guys – to think like cyber criminals in order to stop them. And it’s very lucrative.

Every company in the world collects information on computers and servers. All of our personal information is stored somewhere and criminals want it. This is why computer security is a billion dollar industry.

Cyber crimes such as poached emails, data tampering, logo switching, spam mail, stolen identities, credit card theft, destructive viruses, password pilfering, corporate espionage, and even cyber terrorism are all threats that our highly connected world must deal with. Most of these crimes happen to unsuspecting victims and may go unnoticed for long periods of time.

Ethical hackers are experts with computers. They are able to manipulate servers, networks, operating systems, programming languages, and wireless systems to help solve security issues. The biggest skill they have is that they are able to penetrate security systems. It’s scary to think that people can do this, but ethical hackers are extremely trustworthy and pass multiple background checks – companies don’t want valuable information put in the wrong hands. Luckily, ethical hackers use their skills for good, not evil.

Ethical hackers always have to stay on top of the latest trends, software, and hardware. New breakthroughs in security and new advancement in crimes mean the industry is always changing. Being creative and thinking outside the box are good qualities for an ethical hacker to have when they work in teams or solo.

Ethical hacking is a relatively new career. E-commerce companies, government agencies, private firms, and security consultants are drooling for the chance to hire a great ethical hacker to legally break into their systems. Most ethical hackers learn the trade by mastering computer languages and programming skills from books, websites, and experts.

Do a Google search to find ethical hacker training and certifications on the Internet. As this career is computer based, there is plenty of information on the Internet – some legit and some a bit questionable. The most respected certification, and one that is approved by the US Department of Defense, is the International Council of E-Commerce Consultants (EC Council) Ethical Hacker Certification.

The EC Council’s Ethical Hacker Certification covers all aspects of hacking – legality, footprints, scanning, system hacking, Trojans, backdoors, sniffers, social engineering, web servers, web app vulnerability, SQL injection, viruses, linux hacking, cryptography, pen test methods, and much more. To become certified, ethical hackers must have experience and pass extensive exams. Certification opens up more job opportunities and higher pay.

The information security field is a growing global industry. There are plenty of jobs available. Currently, the average salary for an ethical hacker is $66,000 per year, but with a few years of experience they will make over $100,000 per year. That’s not bad for staring at a computer screen.

Ethical hacking is the future of cyber crime fighting. As long as you stay on top of the game and use your highly developed skills for good – you’ll make a huge paycheck. This career rocks because you get to legally hack and help protect the world.

Quick Facts About Ethical Hacking Work

Job Title: Ethical Hacker, Penetration Tester
Office: At a computer
Description: With permission, use computer skills to penetrate information systems to increase security, identify weaknesses and vulnerabilities, and decrease criminal penetration
Certifications/Education: No formal education required. EC Council Certification
Necessary Skills: Knowledge of programming, script languages, hacking
Potential Employers: Private firms, Security consultants, Banks, Government
Pay: Average $66,000 per year, Over $100,000 with experience and success

Helpful Ethical Hacker Employment Links:

Search Antiques Dealer Jobs on JobMonkey
International Council of E-Commerce Consultants
Council of Registered Ethical Security Testers
The Ethical Hacker Network