Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE) from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Information Security Fundamentals

Attackers break into systems for various reasons. Therefore, it is important to understand how, and why, malicious hackers attack and exploit systems. This module provides an insight into the different elements of information security.

Ethical Hacking Fundamentals

Ethical hacking allows organizations to objectively analyze their current security posture. Nowadays, the role of an ethical hacker is gaining prominence. An ethical hacker intentionally penetrates the security infrastructure to identify and fix security loopholes. It provides an insight into cyber kill chain methodology, hacking concepts, and hacker classes.

Information Security Threats and Vulnerability Assessment

Recent trends in cyber security breaches illustrate that no system or network is immune to attacks. It is important to understand the difference between a security threat and a vulnerability. Security threats are incidents that negatively impact the organization’s IT infrastructure, whereas vulnerabilities are security gapsor flaws in a system or network that make threats possible, tempting hackers to exploit them. This module provides an insight into cyber security threats and vulnerability assessment.

Password Cracking Techniques and Countermeasures

Weak password selection has been the most common security weakness faced by organizations and individuals in recent times. Attackers use many sophisticated techniques and tools to crack passwords and gain access to critical systems and networks. This module provides an in-depth understanding of password cracking techniques and the corresponding defensive measures that can help individuals and organizations create strong password policies and protect personal or corporate information.

Social Engineering Techniques and Countermeasures

This module provides an overview of social engineering. Although it focuses on fallacies and advocates effective countermeasures, the possible methods of extracting information from another human being rely on attackers’ ingenuity. The features of these techniques make them an art, but the psychological nature of some of them makes them a science. The bottom line is that there is no ready defense against social engineering; only constant vigilance can circumvent the social engineering techniques used by attackers. This module provides an insight into human-based, computer-based, and mobile-based social engineering techniques.

Network Level Attacks and Countermeasures

Attackers use various attack strategies to compromise the security of a network, potentially causing disruption, damage, and loss to organizations and individuals. Therefore, it is important for security professionals to have an understanding of these attack strategies because such an understanding is essential for protecting the network from various attacks. It provides insight into various network-level attacks, such as sniffing, DoS attacks, session hijacking, etc. This module also familiarizes students with various network security countermeasures.

Web Application Attacks and Countermeasures

Web applications are becoming increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated threats and attack vectors. This module familiarizes students with web-server attacks and countermeasures. It discusses the web-application architecture and vulnerability stack. This module also familiarizes students with various web-application threats, attacks, and countermeasures. In addition, it discusses different types of structured query language (SQL) injection attacks and countermeasures.

Wireless Attacks and Countermeasures

Wireless networks are cheaper and easier to maintain than wired networks. An attacker can easily compromise a wireless network without proper security measures or an appropriate network configuration. Because high-security mechanisms for wireless networks may be expensive. This module describes wireless networks, wireless network standards, wireless encryption algorithms, wireless-network attack techniques, and countermeasures to protect wireless networks.

Mobile Attacks and Countermeasures

Believing that surfing the Internet on mobile devices is safe, many users fail to enable their existing security software. The popularity of smartphones and their moderately strong security mechanisms have made them attractive targets for attackers. This module explains the potential threats to mobile platforms and provides guidelines for using mobile devices securely.

IoT and OT Attacks and Countermeasures

The Internet of Things (IoT) has evolved from the convergence of wireless technology, microelectromechanical systems, micro-services, and the Internet. IoT has introduced a range of new technologies with associated capabilities into our daily lives. The main objective of this module is to explain the potential threats to IoT and OT platforms and to provide guidelines for securing IoT devices and OT infrastructure from evolving threats and attacks.

Cloud Computing Threats and Countermeasures

Cloud computing is an emerging technology that delivers computing services, such as online business applications, online data storage, and webmail over the Internet. Cloud implementation enables a distributed workforce, reduces organization expenses, provides data security, etc. This module provides insight into cloud computing concepts, container technology, cloud computing threats, and cloud computing security to meet the security requirements.

Penetration Testing Fundamentals

With the drastic increase in cyberattacks, it is important for organizations to conduct regular penetration tests to reveal hidden vulnerabilities and weaknesses in their IT infrastructure and to ensure the effectiveness of current cybersecurity controls. Penetration testing helps organizations in developing and implementing proactive security measures beforehand and in thwarting evolving threats. This module discusses the importance of penetration testing in an organization and explains the crucial role that a tester plays in identifying vulnerabilities.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches fundamentals of ethical hacking and penetration testing, making it a strong fit for beginners

Taught by seasoned EC-Council instructors who are recognized in cybersecurity

Prepares learners for a career in cybersecurity, making it a good fit for career changers

Provides hands-on practical experience, helping learners develop the skills needed for cybersecurity

Offers certification, which can help learners advance their careers and increase their earning potential

Covers a broad range of topics in cybersecurity, making it a comprehensive choice for learners

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE) with these activities:

Refresh Network Security Fundamentals

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Review the fundamentals of network security to strengthen your understanding.

Browse courses on network security

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Review notes and materials from previous courses or books on network security.
Take online quizzes or practice questions on network security concepts.

Compile a Resource Directory for Ethical Hacking

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Create a comprehensive resource directory to enhance your knowledge and skills in ethical hacking.

Browse courses on Cybersecurity Tools

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Gather online resources, tools, and articles related to ethical hacking.
Organize the resources into categories and subcategories.
Provide brief descriptions and annotations for each resource.

Practice Password Cracking Techniques

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Master different password cracking techniques to enhance your understanding of password security measures.

Browse courses on Password Cracking

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Install a password cracking tool.
Select a wordlist or generate your own.
Start the password cracking process.
Analyze the results and identify weak passwords.

Four other activities

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Explore Wireless Attacks and Countermeasures

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Delve into the world of wireless attacks and countermeasures to strengthen your understanding of wireless network security.

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Find online tutorials on wireless attacks.
Follow the tutorials and experiment with different attacks.
Research and implement countermeasures to mitigate the attacks.

Develop a Vulnerability Assessment Report

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Demonstrate your understanding of vulnerability assessment by creating a comprehensive report.

Browse courses on Vulnerability Assessment

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Identify and assess potential vulnerabilities in a given system.
Prioritize vulnerabilities based on their risk and impact.
Recommend and implement appropriate security controls to mitigate the vulnerabilities.

Join a Study Group for IoT and OT Attacks

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Collaborate with peers to explore and understand the intricacies of IoT and OT attacks.

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Find or form a study group with other students in the course.
Meet regularly to discuss IoT and OT attack vectors, techniques, and countermeasures.
Share knowledge, insights, and resources with the group.

Create a Penetration Testing Plan

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Develop a comprehensive penetration testing plan to enhance your skills in identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities.

Browse courses on Penetration Testing

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Define the scope and objectives of the penetration test.
Gather information about the target system.
Identify and prioritize potential vulnerabilities.
Develop and execute test cases.
Analyze the results and report the findings.

Career center

Learners who complete Ethical Hacking Essentials (EHE) will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Security Analyst

A Security Analyst is responsible for identifying and resolving vulnerabilities in an organization's computer systems and networks. They work to protect the organization from cyberattacks and data breaches. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course can help aspiring Security Analysts by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. This course can also help Security Analysts stay up-to-date on the latest hacking techniques and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Security Analyst

Penetration Tester

A Penetration Tester is responsible for simulating cyberattacks on an organization's computer systems and networks to identify and exploit vulnerabilities. They work to help organizations improve their security posture and prevent real-world attacks. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course can help aspiring Penetration Testers by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct penetration tests. This course can also help Penetration Testers stay up-to-date on the latest hacking techniques and trends.

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Information Security Analyst

An Information Security Analyst is responsible for developing and implementing security policies and procedures to protect an organization's information assets. They work to identify and mitigate security risks and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course can help aspiring Information Security Analysts by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and implement security measures. This course can also help Information Security Analysts stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Information Security Analyst

Ethical Hacker

An Ethical Hacker is a computer security expert who uses their skills to identify and exploit vulnerabilities in an organization's computer systems and networks. They work to help organizations improve their security posture and prevent real-world attacks. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course can help aspiring Ethical Hackers by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to conduct ethical hacking engagements. This course can also help Ethical Hackers stay up-to-date on the latest hacking techniques and trends.

See salaries and explore the career path for Ethical Hacker

Cybersecurity Engineer

A Cybersecurity Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining cybersecurity systems and networks. They work to protect organizations from cyberattacks and data breaches. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course can help aspiring Cybersecurity Engineers by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and implement cybersecurity measures. This course can also help Cybersecurity Engineers stay up-to-date on the latest cybersecurity threats and trends.

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Network Security Engineer

A Network Security Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining network security systems and devices. They work to protect organizations from cyberattacks and data breaches. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course can help aspiring Network Security Engineers by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and implement network security measures. This course can also help Network Security Engineers stay up-to-date on the latest network security threats and trends.

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Cloud Security Engineer

A Cloud Security Engineer is responsible for designing, implementing, and maintaining security for cloud computing environments. They work to protect organizations from cyberattacks and data breaches. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course can help aspiring Cloud Security Engineers by providing them with the knowledge and skills needed to understand and implement cloud security measures. This course can also help Cloud Security Engineers stay up-to-date on the latest cloud security threats and trends.

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Security Architect

A Security Architect is responsible for designing and implementing security solutions for an organization. They work to identify and mitigate security risks and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course may be useful for aspiring Security Architects by providing them with a foundation in security concepts and principles. This course can also help Security Architects stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

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IT Auditor

An IT Auditor is responsible for reviewing and evaluating an organization's IT systems and controls to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course may be useful for aspiring IT Auditors by providing them with a foundation in security concepts and principles. This course can also help IT Auditors stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

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Cybersecurity Analyst

A Cybersecurity Analyst is responsible for monitoring and analyzing an organization's security systems and data to identify and respond to cyberattacks and data breaches. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course may be useful for aspiring Cybersecurity Analysts by providing them with a foundation in security concepts and principles. This course can also help Cybersecurity Analysts stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

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Computer Forensics Analyst

A Computer Forensics Analyst is responsible for investigating cybercrimes and data breaches. They work to collect and analyze digital evidence to identify and prosecute criminals. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course may be useful for aspiring Computer Forensics Analysts by providing them with a foundation in security concepts and principles. This course can also help Computer Forensics Analysts stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

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Information Security Manager

An Information Security Manager is responsible for overseeing an organization's information security program. They work to identify and mitigate security risks and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course may be useful for aspiring Information Security Managers by providing them with a foundation in security concepts and principles. This course can also help Information Security Managers stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

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Risk Analyst

A Risk Analyst is responsible for identifying and assessing risks to an organization's assets and operations. They work to develop and implement risk mitigation strategies. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course may be useful for aspiring Risk Analysts by providing them with a foundation in security concepts and principles. This course can also help Risk Analysts stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

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Compliance Analyst

A Compliance Analyst is responsible for ensuring that an organization's IT systems and processes comply with regulatory requirements. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course may be useful for aspiring Compliance Analysts by providing them with a foundation in security concepts and principles. This course can also help Compliance Analysts stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

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IT Security Consultant

An IT Security Consultant is responsible for providing advice and guidance to organizations on security matters. They work to help organizations identify and mitigate security risks and improve their security posture. The Ethical Hacking Essentials course may be useful for aspiring IT Security Consultants by providing them with a foundation in security concepts and principles. This course can also help IT Security Consultants stay up-to-date on the latest security threats and trends.

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