Reference no: EM132164150

Write a review on this article with 2 APA format references. Network security is becoming more and more crucial as the volume of data being exchanged on the Internet increases. When people use the Internet, they expect their confidentiality, data integrity, and authentication protected and secured. Due to the increasing dependency of our society on networked information system the overall security of these systems should be measured and improved.

The most accurate method to evaluate organization's information security stance is to observe how it stands up against an attack. The best way of ensuring that the system is secure is to attempt penetration testing. This would be the most effective way to find exploits and to proof whether a system a vulnerable. Penetration testing often allows the security analyst to find new vulnerabilities. Passive reconnaissance is an attempt to gain information about targeted computers and networks without actively engaging with the system.

For example, a pen tester who does not have any information about the company, passively, he/she can be as simple as watching the building to identify what time employees enter/ leave the building. However, it is usually done using the Internet searches, or by Googling to gather information about their target. Some of the passive information gathering methods could be social engineering and dumpster diving (Walker, 2017). Every pen tester begins their asset hacking by learning as much as they can about their targets. For example, they want to know IP addresses, OS platforms, applications, patch levels, advertised network ports, users, and anything else that can lead to an exploitation.

Unfortunately, ethical hacker must follow the rules of hacking because there is a thin line between black hat and white hat hacking. Therefore, to stay out of any trouble, the ethical hacker should follow certain framework for performing audit of an organization (Kruger, Nickolay, & Gaycken, 2013).

Talk to the client, and discuss the needs to be addressed during testing. Prepare and sign non-disclosure agreement (NDA) documents with the client. Prepare a schedule for testing Conduct the test Analyze the results of the testing, and prepare a report Present the final report to the client When it comes to legal issues, before taking any further steps, ethical hacker should know the penalties of unauthorized hacking into a system. No ethical hacking activities associated with a network-penetration test should begin until a signed document giving the ethical hacker express permission to perform the hacking activities is received from the company.

Furthermore, ethical hackers need to be judicious with their hacking skills and recognize the consequences of misusing those skills. For example, the Cyber Security Enhancement Act of 2002, mandates life sentences for hacker who " recklessly" endanger the lives of others. Malicious hackers who create a life-threatening situation by attacking computer networks for transportation systems, power companies, or other public services or utilities can be prosecuted under this law (Graves, 2010).