A Closer Look at Ethical Hacking and Hackers

One of the most significant current discussions in the information technology community is ethical hacking. The topic of discussion varies from “why is ethical hacking so popular” to “can hacking be ethical”.

Why is ethical hacking so popular? Author James Tiller (2004), a security services expert, states his opinion of why ethical hacking is so popular as “Several reasons can be attributed to the frenzy we’re seeing, but for me one seems to stand out. Based on hundreds of conversations with companies throughout the United States and most of Europe, many feel they are practicing sound security and have tamed the beast. Now all that is left for them is to test what was implemented and apply a patch or two”(p. 10).

Can hacking be ethical? According to author Kimberly Graves (2007), the answer is “Yes! Ethical hackers are usually security professionals or network penetration testers who use their hacking skills and toolsets for defensive and protective purposes”.