Most Trending Ethical Hacking Interview Questions

The ethical hacking market is witnessing a remarkable surge in growth, driven by the growing demand for cybersecurity professionals in today’s digital world. As organizations worldwide face relentless cyber threats, Ethical Hackers have emerged as a critical defense line to safeguard systems and data from malicious activities. As per a report by Mordor Intelligence, the global ethical hacking market is projected to reach a substantial valuation of $12.3 billion by 2027. This projection indicates an impressive Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.4% expected from 2022 to 2027.

In this dynamic landscape, individuals interested in ethical hacking and cybersecurity have the opportunity to be at the forefront of a rapidly evolving industry. With the growing importance of cybersecurity, gaining expertise in the intricacies of ethical hacking is paramount. Individuals must possess the necessary insight and in-depth understanding of key interview questions to excel in this field.

Here, we present a curated collection of the top ethical hacking interview questions, encapsulating this multifaceted field’s extensive scope and breadth.

Top Trending Ethical Hacking Interview Questions

Here is a list of the top 20 frequently asked ethical hacking interview questions:

1. Explain footprinting.

Footprinting in ethical hacking refers to the systematic process of gathering information about a target system or network. It involves collecting data about the target’s infrastructure, employees, IP addresses, domain names, and other relevant details using passive methods like searching public records, social engineering, or scanning the internet.

2. What is sniffing in Ethical Hacking?

Sniffing is a technique for intercepting and monitoring network traffic to gather information. Ethical Hackers use this technique to analyze and inspect data packets transmitted over a network. It helps them identify vulnerabilities and potential security threats, detect unauthorized access, and assess the network’s security.

3. Describe the keylogger trojan.

A keylogger trojan is malicious software that secretly records keystrokes on a target’s device without their knowledge. This software covertly captures keystrokes, including sensitive data or information such as passwords, credit card information, and messages, which are subsequently transmitted to the attacker.

4. Which programming language holds significance in Ethical Hacking?

Several programming languages are helpful for ethical hacking. Some popular and commonly used ones include Python, Ruby, Perl, and PowerShell, owing to their versatility, user-friendly nature, and robust libraries that support cybersecurity-related activities.

5. Describe the purpose and function of Cowpatty in ethical hacking.

Cowpatty is a popular tool for ethical hacking used to audit and assess the security of WPA/WPA2-PSK-protected wireless networks. It executes brute-force attacks on captured handshakes to crack pre-shared keys. By using various dictionary or brute-force techniques, Cowpatty aims to decipher wireless network passwords, enabling Ethical Hackers to identify vulnerabilities in WiFi security and strengthen defenses against unauthorized access.

6. What are the techniques used for footprinting?

Some standard techniques used for footprinting in ethical hacking include:

• Open Source Intelligence (OSINT): Gathering data from publicly available sources
• Network Scanning: Identifying active hosts, ports, and services on a network
• DNS Interrogation: Extracting domain-related information
• Social Engineering: Obtaining data through human interaction or manipulation
• WHOIS Lookup: Retrieving domain registration details
• Dumpster Diving: Extracting information from physical trash
• Browsing Internet Archives: Accessing historical data from web archives

7. Define penetration testing and highlight a few prevalent tools used in this domain.

Penetration testing involves simulated cyberattacks on systems, networks, or applications to evaluate security strengths and flaws. It assesses potential vulnerabilities by emulating real-world attack scenarios. Prominent tools in this domain include:

• Metasploit: A robust framework for developing, testing, and executing exploits.
• Nmap: A versatile network scanner for discovering hosts and services.
• Wireshark: A network protocol analyzer helping in traffic inspection and analysis.
• Burp Suite: A comprehensive toolkit for web application security testing.
• Nessus: A vulnerability scanner for identifying weaknesses.

8. What is meant by a spoofing attack?

A spoofing attack involves manipulating data to trick systems or users into believing that the source of information is trustworthy, even though it is not. Cybercriminals can spoof various aspects, such as IP addresses, emails, websites, or MAC addresses, to gain unauthorized access or manipulate data.

9. What are the different categories of spoofing attacks?

Types of spoofing attacks include:

• IP Spoofing: Manipulating source IP addresses to impersonate another system.
• Email Spoofing: Faking sender details in emails to appear as someone else.
• DNS Spoofing: Redirecting domain name resolution to a malicious IP address.
• URL Spoofing: Creating a fake URL to mimic a legitimate website.
• ARP Spoofing: Manipulating ARP protocol to associate IP addresses with different MAC addresses.

10. Define MAC Flooding.

MAC flooding is a network attack in which an attacker sends a flood of fake MAC addresses to a switch, overwhelming its Content-Addressable Memory (CAM) table. This causes the switch to enter a fail-open mode and behave like a hub, potentially allowing unauthorized access to network traffic for interception or unauthorized data retrieval.

11. Distinguish between active and passive reconnaissance techniques.

Active reconnaissance involves directly engaging with a target system or network, probing for vulnerabilities through methods like port scanning, probing services, and sending crafted packets. It is an intrusive approach that interacts with the target directly.

Passive reconnaissance gathers information without direct engagement, using publicly available data, social media, or network monitoring to collect information about the target system or organization.

12. Explain the concept of DHCP Rogue Server in Ethical Hacking.

A DHCP Rogue Server is an unauthorized Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server deployed maliciously on a network by an attacker. It can distribute incorrect IP addresses, DNS settings, or gateway information, causing network disruptions, traffic interception, user redirection to malicious destinations, or denial of service. It can also compromise network integrity and security by providing inaccurate or misleading network information, leading to potential data breaches or unauthorized access.

13. What is a Security Operations Center (SOC)?

A Security Operations Center (SOC) is an organization’s centralized facility or team focused on monitoring, identifying, analyzing, and addressing cybersecurity threats and incidents in real time. Its primary function is constantly monitoring the organization’s networks, applications, systems, and endpoints using various tools, technologies, and processes.

14. Define the concept of Defense in Depth.

Defense in Depth is a robust cybersecurity strategy encompassing multiple layers of security controls, protocols, and measures across different levels of an organization’s IT infrastructure. The objective is to establish a robust and resilient defense system that mitigates risks, prevents unauthorized access, and protects against cyber threats.

The fundamental concept of Defense in Depth revolves around diversification and redundancy, ensuring that if one layer of defense is compromised or fails, there are additional layers in place to prevent, detect, or mitigate potential attacks.

15. What are the ethical considerations of ethical hacking?

Ethical considerations in ethical hacking include:

• Authorization: Obtaining proper permission before conducting security assessments or penetration testing
• Integrity: Ensuring no damage or disruption to systems, data, or operations
• Confidentiality: Safeguarding any information accessed or acquired during testing
• Data Privacy: Respecting privacy laws and protecting sensitive information encountered during assessments
• Law Compliance: Ensuring adherence to laws, regulations, and contractual agreements

16. Define a zero-day exploit and its implications in cybersecurity.

A zero-day exploit is a vulnerability in hardware or software that remains unknown to the vendor or lacks an available patch. Attackers exploit these vulnerabilities before developers release a fix, thus leaving systems vulnerable to attacks.

Implications:

• Immediate Threat: Attackers exploit these vulnerabilities before developers release fixes.
• High Risk: Systems remain exposed, leading to unauthorized access, data theft, or compromise.
• Limited Defense: Lack of mitigation strategies heightens the impact and potential damage.
• Increased Urgency: Requires rapid response to develop patches, leaving systems vulnerable until addressed.

17. Differentiate between vulnerability scanning and vulnerability assessment.

18. List some prevalent social engineering techniques used in cybersecurity attacks.

Some common social engineering techniques include:

• Phishing (fraudulent attempts to obtain sensitive information)
• Pretexting (creating a fabricated scenario to get information)
• Baiting (using fake incentives to lure victims)
• Tailgating (gaining physical access by following authorized individuals)

19. Discuss the importance of cryptography in securing data.

Cryptography is pivotal in safeguarding data by encoding information to ensure confidentiality, integrity, and authentication. It enables secure communication, protects sensitive information from unauthorized access, and forms the backbone of various security protocols, including SSL/TLS, VPNs, and secure transactions, ensuring privacy in digital interactions.

20. How can biometric authentication enhance security measures?

Biometric authentication enhances security by using distinct physical characteristics such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans for user verification. These characteristics are challenging to duplicate, providing a more robust and personalized level of security, thus improving overall authentication precision and protection against unauthorized access.

You can also explore interview questions of other domains:

• Commonly Asked CISA Exam Questions with Answers
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• Top CRISC Interview Questions 2024
• ISO 27001 Lead Auditor Interview Questions for 2024
• Top Information Security Interview Questions

CEH Training with InfosecTrain

As the demand for Ethical Hackers surges, so does the requirement for skilled experts. If you are interested in a career in cybersecurity, ethical hacking is a great option. At InfosecTrain, we offer a comprehensive Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification training course. This course equips individuals with an in-depth understanding of ethical hacking principles, methodologies, and tools essential for securing systems and networks. Our training integrates hands-on practical sessions, simulated real-world scenarios, and lab exercises to reinforce learning.

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AUTHOR
Ruchi Bisht

“ My Name is Ruchi Bisht. I have done my BTech in Computer Science. I like to learn new things and am interested in taking on new challenges. Currently, I am working as a content writer in InfosecTrain. “