How do hackers work?

Hackers employ various techniques and strategies to compromise computer systems, networks, and applications. It's important to note that hacking can be performed for both malicious and ethical purposes. While malicious hackers seek to exploit vulnerabilities for unauthorized access or malicious activities, ethical hackers, often known as penetration testers or security professionals, use similar techniques to identify and address vulnerabilities for the purpose of strengthening security. Here's an overview of how hackers work:

1. Reconnaissance (Information Gathering):

   • Hackers gather information about the target, including details about the target organization, its employees, systems, and network architecture. This phase may involve passive techniques such as searching online sources, WHOIS databases, social media, and publicly available information.

2. Scanning:

   • Hackers use scanning tools to identify live hosts, open ports, and services running on the target network. Techniques like port scanning and network mapping help hackers understand the target's infrastructure.

3. Enumeration:

   • In this phase, hackers focus on extracting additional information about the target, such as user accounts, network shares, and system details. Techniques may include querying network services for information and using tools like SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol).

4. Vulnerability Analysis:

   • Hackers identify and analyze vulnerabilities in the target's systems and applications. This involves using automated tools to scan for known vulnerabilities and weaknesses.

5. Exploitation:

   • Exploiting vulnerabilities involves taking advantage of weaknesses identified during the reconnaissance and vulnerability analysis phases. Hackers may use exploit code, malware, or social engineering techniques to gain unauthorized access.

6. Privilege Escalation:

   • Once inside a system, hackers attempt to escalate their privileges to gain higher levels of access. This could involve exploiting software vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or manipulating user privileges.

7. Maintaining Access:

   • Hackers aim to maintain long-term access to the compromised system. This involves installing backdoors, rootkits, or other persistent mechanisms to ensure continued access even if the initial compromise is detected and mitigated.

8. Covering Tracks:

   • To avoid detection, hackers cover their tracks by deleting logs, modifying system timestamps, or using anti-forensic techniques. This helps maintain a low profile and makes it more challenging for defenders to trace their activities.

9. Exfiltration (Data Theft):

   • For malicious hackers, the ultimate goal may be to steal sensitive data. This involves extracting and exfiltrating valuable information from the compromised systems. Data can be transferred through various means, such as encrypted channels or covert communication channels.

10. Post-Exploitation Activities:

    • Hackers may conduct additional activities post-exploitation, such as lateral movement within a network, privilege escalation on other systems, or further exploitation of additional vulnerabilities.

Ethical hackers, on the other hand, follow a similar process during penetration testing but with the goal of helping organizations identify and address security weaknesses before malicious hackers can exploit them. Ethical hacking is conducted with proper authorization, adherence to legal and ethical guidelines, and a focus on improving security defenses. Organizations often engage ethical hackers to assess their cybersecurity posture and identify vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.