As a first-year engineering student, I remember being so eager to dive into the world of technology and innovation through cybersecurity – something I grew a passion for in high school! I would spend time competing in “capture-the-flag” (CTF) competitions where I would put my hacking skills to the test against people all across the nation. Once I got to Viterbi, one of the most exciting things for me was the opportunity to gain hands-on experience through our Information Technology Program (ITP), which offers classes in cybersecurity, blockchain, artificial intelligence, and even video game production! For me, one of the most memorable classes was my Ethical Hacking course: ITP 325.
While the word “hacking” might make you imagine some nefarious cybercriminals, ethical hacking is an essential skill for most cybersecurity professionals. Ethical hackers often use the same techniques as malicious hackers to break into a system, but they use this information to identify vulnerabilities in networks — with the intent of strengthening them.
Throughout the course, we learned about a range of topics, from network scanning and vulnerability assessment to social engineering and penetration testing. Here are a few of the most exciting hands-on experiences I had:
- We learned how to use tools like Nmap to discover devices on a network and identify open ports, and Nessus to scan systems for vulnerabilities.
- We explored the art of manipulating people to gain unauthorized access to systems (social engineering!) and learned the importance of security awareness training.
- We simulated attacks on vulnerable systems to identify potential weaknesses and develop mitigation strategies. This was so much fun!
One of the most valuable aspects of the course was the opportunity to work in teams on real-world scenarios. We were tasked with hacking simulated networks and systems, and we had to use our creativity and problem-solving skills!
In addition to all these technical skills, this class also emphasized the ethical implications of hacking – including the importance of responsible and legal hacking practices and the consequences of misuse. I think this is essential for anyone working in cybersecurity!
If you’re interested in a career in cybersecurity or just want to deepen your understanding of technology, I highly recommend taking this ethical hacking course or any other ITP course! It’s such a rewarding experience.
