The word “hacking” often carries negative connotations, usually associated with criminal activities and data breaches. However, hacking simply refers to the act of manipulating systems or programs to achieve a desired result, often beyond their original intent. While malicious hackers (black hats) use their skills for illegal purposes, ethical hackers (white hats) use their knowledge to secure systems and protect data.

Hacking skills are a double-edged sword; they can either be used to cause harm or to prevent harm. Ethical hacking focuses on using these skills to identify weaknesses in systems and networks so that organizations can strengthen their security before real attackers exploit them.

Ethical hackers are hired to break into systems to find vulnerabilities before malicious hackers can exploit them. These professionals perform penetration tests and security assessments to understand the security posture of an organization. The goal is to improve the organization's defenses by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities.