Overview
Ethical hacking describes hacking performed to expose threats in a system, using tools and techniques with an organisation’s consent. A professional hacker uses different tools and platforms to penetrate the security that has been implemented to check for weaknesses. Therefore, to understand how hackers enter secure systems, retrieve confidential information or plant malicious software inside computers and networks, then you need to experience hacking first-hand. The Ethical Hacking course, in which you receive a professional diploma takes a deep dive into the main areas of hacking: Web Hacking, Network Hacking and exploiting coding vulnerabilities in software. By using isolated virtual environments like Kali Linux, this hacking can be practiced in a safe environment. In addition, this course also looks at various stages of penetration testing: Planning and Reconnaissance, Scanning, Gaining, Access, Maintaining Access and Analysis.
Programme Aims and Objectives
Aims
This programme aims to immerse learners into the area of ethical hacking with a view to enabling them to understand how to identify and exploit computer systems in order to check for weaknesses and expose threats in an organisation’s computer system.
Objectives
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Provide learners with a deep understanding on how to analyse a website, examine it for vulnerabilities and exploit those vulnerabilities.
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Introduce learners to the area of penetration testing.
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Equip learner with the knowhow of setting up a virtual environment in which to perform attacks in a safe and isolated manner.
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Understand how unsecure software can be exploited, looking at some of the common vulnerabilities including buffer overflow, heap overflow and stack overflow.
Timetable
Click here to view provisional timetable.
Assessment
To meet the requirements of the Diploma in Ethical Hacking students will have to complete continuous assessment in the form of an individual written assignment and a presentation. Students will work on a project to identify vulnerabilities and then present the results to the class.
Please note this programme is not on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).