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Learn ethical hacking with online courses and programs

Want to use your technology skills to help organizations prevent cybercrime? Enrolling in an ethical hacking course online can help you achieve your educational goals — and become a hacking hero.

What is ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking, also called "white-hat hacking," is a method of proactively managing the cybersecurity of computers, networks, and software applications. In our increasingly digital landscape, many companies recruit white-hat hackers to intentionally attempt to breach their networks and expose vulnerabilities.

Ethical hacking aims to identify and repair potential vulnerabilities before malicious hackers find and exploit them. The key difference between malicious hacking and ethical hacking is intent. Ethical hackers help to identify security weaknesses, ultimately helping organizations improve their security and protect their data.

Benefits of learning ethical hacking online

Learning ethical hacking can help you protect sensitive data, develop valuable problem-solving skills, and qualify for lucrative careers.

  • Be a force for good: Use your technology knowledge to help organizations prevent bad actors from gaining a foothold, and build a feel-good career that makes a difference.
  • Develop in-demand skills: Learn valuable cybersecurity skills in an increasingly risky digital environment.
  • Enjoy a lucrative career: Advance your ethical hacking career and qualify for high-paying jobs at top employers worldwide.

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Ethical hacking program curriculum

You can find various courses and programs that cover ethical hacking, cybersecurity fundamentals, and IT skills online. Curriculum contents depend on the individual course or program you select, but you may learn about:

  • Ethical hacking methodologies: Explore different strategies and applications for ethical hacking.
  • Malware analysis tools: Learn the tools of the trade for deriving threat intelligence, responding to incidents, and building defenses.
  • Cybersecurity policies: Study the private sector policies around consumer privacy, cybercrime, and intellectual property.
  • Types of breaches and attacks: Decode distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) and SQL injection attacks, worms, bots, and viruses.

Jobs that use ethical hacking

Ethical hacking knowledge is crucial for many cybersecurity, information security, and quality assurance roles. Discover some of the jobs you can qualify for by learning ethical hacking, including salary information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS):

Information security analysts

Information security analysts protect an organization's systems and networks. Their duties typically include analyzing, testing, and employing security features like firewalls and encryption programs to protect sensitive information. They commonly use penetration testing, a white-hat hacking technique, to check for system vulnerabilities.

Median annual earnings (2024): $124,910


Your next steps on edX

Enrolling in an online course or program allows you to start learning ethical hacking at any time and from anywhere. Whether you're curious about turning ethical hacking into a career or simply want to learn a few in-demand cybersecurity skills, edX can help you achieve your educational goals. Consider:

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Frequently asked questions about ethical hacking

Do you need permission to perform ethical hacking?

Yes. You always need explicit written consent from an organization (typically your employer) to perform ethical hacking. Even if you have good intentions, you can run into legal problems if you use any hacking techniques without authorization.

Is ethical hacking a good career?

With enough skills and knowledge under your belt, you can build a lucrative career out of ethical hacking. Cybersecurity roles that commonly involve ethical hacking knowledge are in demand. The BLS projects jobs for information security analysts to grow by 29% between 2024 and 2034. Jobs for software developers, quality assurance analysts, and testers, as well as for computer and information systems managers, are projected to grow by 15% during the same period.

Additionally, ethical hacking can provide practitioners with a sense of fulfillment — ethical hacking can be considered a "feel-good" career that makes a difference.

Is ethical hacking legal?

Ethical hacking is legal as long as the ethical hacker has explicit written permission from an organization or system administrator and adheres to the scope outlined in a written contract or agreement. Without written permission, ethical hacking can be considered illegal regardless of intention.

What is the difference between ethical and malicious hacking?

While malicious hackers exploit weaknesses for personal gain, ethical hackers use their skills to find and fix those same vulnerabilities, supporting organizations in improving security and protecting sensitive data. Ethical and malicious hackers often employ the same techniques, just with different intentions.

Last updated October 9, 2025

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