Top 10 Ethical Hacking Interview Questions and Answers [August 2024]

Ethical Hacking Interview Questions and Answers

Candidates who are eager to arrange the appropriate interviews in the ethical hacking trajectory should begin their preparations as soon as possible. Despite this, the most important question that they must answer is where they should begin.  In this regard, we at CrawSec or Craw Security, the best cybersecurity training institute in Delhi, have brought to you this fascinating and instructive post that defines all of the crucial ethical hacking interview questions and answers. We hope that you find it useful.

Therefore, it is recommended that you read this post and complete it to acquire additional knowledge regarding the common ethical hacking interview questions and answers.

1: What is ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking, as it pertains to computer security, signifies the procedure of simulating intrusions to identify vulnerabilities in a computer system, network, or application.  Ethical hackers, also referred to as white-hat hackers, utilize the same techniques and tools as black-hat hackers; however, they do so with the proprietor’s consent and to strengthen security measures rather than cause damage.

2: What is the difference between ethical hacking and cybersecurity?

Ethical hacking is a subset of the numerous activities that comprise the broader classification of cybersecurity. The overarching objective of cybersecurity is to safeguard systems, networks, and data against unauthorized access, use, disclosure, interruption, modification, or annihilation. To accomplish this, a comprehensive set of techniques and procedures is utilized.

As a result of ethical hacking, vulnerabilities in a system’s defenses can be identified, allowing cybersecurity experts to implement the necessary precautions.

3: What are the advantages and disadvantages of hacking?

The prime advantages and disadvantages of hacking are as follows:

Advantages (Ethical Hacking):

• Identifies security vulnerabilities,
• Improves overall system security posture,
• Helps organizations stay ahead of cyber threats, etc.

Disadvantages (Malicious Hacking):

• Data breaches and leaks,
• System disruptions and downtime,
• Financial losses,
• Reputational damage, and many more.

4: What are the different types of hackers?

The different types of hackers are as follows:

• White Hat Hackers (Ethical Hackers),
• Black Hat Hackers (Malicious Hackers), and
• Gray Hat Hackers.

5: What can an ethical hacker do?

Ethical hackers can:

• The process for determining system and network vulnerabilities is possible via penetration testing.
• Examine the security-related policies and procedures.
• Formulate and implement specific safety measures.
• Remain informed regarding the latest developments in malware methodologies.

6: What is pharming and defacement?

• Pharming: It redirects users to a fraudulent website that pretends as authentic to illicitly acquire their data.
• Defacement: modifications implemented on the visual appearance of a website with nefarious intent.

7: Distinguish between phishing and spoofing.

• Phishing: Using deceptive emails or messages, this malicious software aims to trick users into disclosing sensitive information or visiting dangerous links.
• Spoofing: To mislead users, this entails assuming the identity of a trustworthy source, such as a website, email address, or phone number.

8: What is network security, and what are its types?

By safeguarding devices and networks against unauthorized access, network security ensures the confidentiality, availability, and integrity of data.  A wide range of network security measures exists, which comprise the subsequent:

• Perimeter security,
• Wireless security,
• Endpoint security,
• Data security, etc.

9: What are network protocols, and why are they necessary?

Network protocols constitute standard regulations that govern the interchange of data between devices connected over a network. Furthermore, they enforce compatibility and streamline the process of data exchange. Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and other similar protocols are critical to the operation of the Internet.

10: What do you understand by footprinting in ethical hacking? What are the techniques utilized for footprinting?

The initial phase of ethical hacking, referred to as “footprinting,” entails the collection of pertinent data regarding the target system or network. Various techniques include:

• DNS interrogation,
• Social media reconnaissance,
• Searching public databases, etc.

Bonus 10 Ethical Hacking Interview Questions and Answers:

11: What are the hacking stages? Explain each stage

Hacking frequently entails a succession of actions comprising the subsequent phases:

• Reconnaissance,
• Scanning,
• Gaining Access,
• Maintaining Access,
• Covering Tracks, etc.

12: What is scanning and what are some examples of the types of scanning used?

The process of identifying vulnerabilities in a system or network through the utilization of diverse technologies is referred to as “scanning.”  Diverse types of scans consist of the following:

• Port scanning,
• Vulnerability scanning,
• Stress testing, etc.

13: What are some of the standard tools used by ethical hackers?

A variety of tools are utilized in ethical hacking, such as:

• Kali Linux,
• Nmap,
• Nessus,
• Burp Suite, etc.

14: What is Burp Suite? What tools does it contain?

Open-source and provided at no cost, Burp Suite is a tool utilized to assess the security of web applications.  Employing an extensive array of tools that grant ethical hackers the capability to detect weaknesses in web applications.  A selection of the following utilities are comprised of the Burp Suite:

Proxy	To facilitate analysis, it intercepts web traffic between the web server and the browser.
Scanner	To detect common vulnerabilities, web applications are scanned automatically.
Intruder	Assist in the examination of diverse inputs and the manipulation of requests to identify vulnerabilities.
Repeater	The capability to modify and retransmit HTTP requests is provided to test the system’s functionality.
Sequencer	An analysis of the application’s behavior is conducted to identify any possible logical errors.

15: What is network sniffing?

Network snooping refers to the monitoring and logging of data packets as they traverse a network.  Ethical hackers employ sniffing tools to analyze network traffic to identify potential security vulnerabilities, including unencrypted data transfers and dubious communication patterns.

16: What is SQL injection and its types?

SQL injection is a vulnerability present in web applications that enables the injection of malicious SQL code into a website’s database queries. This vulnerability could be leveraged to alter data, steal confidential information, or even gain unauthorized access to the database server. There are numerous types of SQL injection attacks, which include:

• In-band SQL injection, and
• Out-of-band SQL injection.

17: What is cross-site scripting and its different variations?

Cross-site scripting (XSS) represents a prevalent type of web security vulnerability wherein an adversary may insert malevolent scripts into a website. Misconfiguration of a user’s browser to execute these scripts may expose sensitive information, including session identifiers and cookies. A wide range of XSS attacks are present:

• Stored XSS,
• Reflected XSS, and
• DOM-based XSS.

18: What is a denial of service (DOS) attack and what are the common forms?

A denial-of-service (DoS) attack aims to disable authorized users’ access to a network or infrastructure through the overwhelming volume of traffic. Examples of frequent DoS attacks include:

• SYN flood,
• UDP flood,
• Application-layer DoS, etc.

19: How can you avoid or prevent ARP poisoning?

An attacker uses ARP poisoning, a type of cyberattack, to trick a network device by manipulating the Media Access Control (MAC) address of a different device. The following precautions should be taken to prevent ARP poisoning:

• Enable ARP entries to be static,
• Implement robust network authentication.
• Switch ARP inspection to be enabled, etc.

20: What is the difference between VA and PT?

The following are the fundamental distinctions between vulnerability assessment and penetration testing:

• Vulnerability Assessment (VA): A comprehensive and automated scan that identifies possible vulnerabilities in the system or network. Although it provides a comprehensive outlook on security vulnerabilities, it may unintentionally neglect specific categories of defects or the gravity of their impact.
• Penetration Testing (PT): An extensive and labor-intensive process that replicates real attacks to exploit weaknesses and assess the resulting consequences. By aiding in the prioritization of remediation endeavors, PT provides a more comprehensive understanding of potential security threats.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, we would like to mention that the candidates who are interested in having the opportunity to participate in interviews that are associated with ethical hacking job openings can seek guidance or assistance from the Top 10 Ethical Hacking Interview Questions and Answers that are included in this article. These questions and answers were compiled by CrawSec or Craw Security, which is the most reputable ethical hacking training institute in India.

Furthermore, if you are interested in enhancing your existing skills through the completion of a validated course, you should give serious consideration to enrolling in the Ethical Hacking Course offered by Craw Security as soon as its availability permits.  For further information, please contact us at the hotline number +91-9513805401.