What is ethical hacking?
A white hat is a specialist who looks for vulnerabilities in systems, but does so legally and by agreementIts task is not to break, but to protect.
An ethical hacker is not a person in a black hoodie who breaks websites for fun. This is a specialist who looks for vulnerabilities so that companies can protect their systems. In 2025, the profession of ethical hacker is in demand more than ever: Cyber threats are growing, and businesses need people who can stay ahead of the attackers.
Step 1. Understand the basics of IT and networks
It is worth starting with the foundation:
How the Internet works (DNS, HTTP, IP addresses).
Basic knowledge of OS: Windows and Linux.
Network models (OSI, TCP/IP).
Without this, it will be difficult to understand what exactly you are defending.
Step 2. Master Linux
Linux is the favorite operating system of hackers and security specialists. It has flexible tools for network analysis, testing, and automation.
Try distributions like Kali Linux or Parrot OS — they already contain ready-made tools for pentests.
Step 3. Learn programming
An ethical hacker must be able to write code:
Python — automation, scripts for searching for vulnerabilities.
JavaScript — understanding of attacks on web applications.
C/C++ — memory manipulation and low-level attacks.
If you're just starting out, start with Python. And to make learning easier, use the app Code: there are courses for beginners, practical tasks and reviews.
Step 4. Learn the basics of cybersecurity
Understand the topics:
SQL injections and XSS.
Brute force and social engineering.
Encryption and authentication.
OWASP Top 10 is a list of the main vulnerabilities of web applications.
Step 5. Practice on safe sites 🧪
Learning on real systems is illegal, so use "sandboxes":
Hack The Box — virtual machines for training.
TryHackMe — gamified hacking training.
OverTheWire — classic security tasks.
Step 6. Get certificates 📜
To confirm your skills, you can take the certification:
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)
CompTIA Security+
They increase the chances of employment.
Step 7. Develop constantly
Cybersecurity is changing every day. Follow the news, read blogs, participate in conferences. A true ethical hacker is a lifelong learner.
And for the foundation and base, come to us in Code. We make programming training fun and easy to understand: we have interesting courses with tasks that help you improve your skills step by step.
And we also have an active Telegram channel, where we discuss cool ideas, share experiences and analyze tasks together — learning becomes not only useful, but also fun.