Syllabus

Ethical Hacking Syllabus  

Course Title: Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing 

Duration:12-16 Weeks  

Prerequisites: Basic knowledge of networking, operating systems (Windows/Linux), and programming (Python/Bash).  

Module 1: Introduction to Ethical Hacking

- Understanding Ethical Hacking vs. Malicious Hacking  

- Roles of an Ethical Hacker  

- Legal and Ethical Aspects (Laws, Certifications, Compliance)  

- Penetration Testing Methodologies (OSSTMM, PTES, NIST)  

- Setting Up a Hacking Lab (Virtual Machines, Kali Linux, Metasploit)  

Module 2: Footprinting & Reconnaissance

- Passive vs. Active Reconnaissance  

- Gathering Information Using:  

  - Google Dorking  

  - WHOIS, DNS Lookup, and Reverse IP Lookup  

  - Social Engineering & OSINT Tools (Maltego, theHarvester)  

- Network Scanning Techniques (Nmap, Masscan) 

 

Module 3: Scanning & Enumeration 

- Network Scanning Techniques (Ping Sweeps, Port Scanning)  

- Vulnerability Scanning (Nessus, OpenVAS)  

- Enumeration (NetBIOS, SNMP, LDAP, SMB)  

- Banner Grabbing & Service Fingerprinting 

 

Module 4: System Hacking & Exploitation  

- Password Cracking (John the Ripper, Hashcat, Hydra)  

- Privilege Escalation (Windows & Linux)  

- Exploiting Vulnerabilities (Metasploit Framework)  

- Maintaining Access (Backdoors, Rootkits, Trojans)  

- Covering Tracks (Log Tampering, File Deletion)  

Module 5: Malware Threats & Analysis 

- Types of Malware (Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Ransomware)  

- Analyzing Malware (Static & Dynamic Analysis)  

- Reverse Engineering Basics (Ghidra, IDA Pro)  

- Antivirus Evasion Techniques

  

Module 6: Sniffing & Session Hijacking  

- Packet Sniffing (Wireshark, Tcpdump)  

- MITM Attacks (ARP Spoofing, DNS Spoofing)  

- Session Hijacking (Cookie Stealing, TCP Hijacking)  

- SSL Stripping & HSTS Bypass  

Module 7: Web Application Hacking 

- OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities  

  - SQL Injection (SQLi)  

  - Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)  

  - Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)  

  - Broken Authentication  

  - Security Misconfigurations  

- Web App Testing Tools (Burp Suite, OWASP ZAP)  

- API Security Testing  

Module 8: Wireless Network Hacking

- Wi-Fi Encryption (WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA3)  

- Cracking Wi-Fi Passwords (Aircrack-ng, Wifite)  

- Rogue Access Points & Evil Twin Attacks  

- Bluetooth Hacking (BlueBorne, BLE Exploits)  

Module 9: Social Engineering & Phishing  

- Psychological Manipulation Techniques  

- Phishing Attacks (Email, SMS, Voice Phishing)  

- Creating Fake Login Pages (SEToolkit, GoPhish)  

- Defending Against Social Engineering  

Module 10: Cloud Security & IoT Hacking 

- Cloud Security Risks (AWS, Azure, GCP)  

- Container & Kubernetes Security  

- IoT Device Exploitation (Firmware Analysis, Default Credentials)  

Module 11: Post-Exploitation & Reporting

- Data Exfiltration Techniques  

- Pivoting & Lateral Movement  

- Writing Professional Penetration Test Reports  

- Mitigation & Remediation Strategies  

Module 12: Capture The Flag (CTF) & Hands-On Labs  

- Practical Challenges (Vulnhub, Hack The Box, TryHackMe)  

- Real-World Scenario Simulations  

- Final Project: Full-Scope Penetration Test  

***You can check out Here for Ethical Hacking  Programming Language ***

Certification & Career Guidance

- Recommended Certifications (CEH, OSCP, eJPT, PNPT)  

- Ethical Hacking Career Paths (Pen Tester, Security Analyst, Red Teamer) 

 

Assessment & Grading:

- Weekly Labs & Challenges – 40%  

- Mid-Term Exam (Theory + Practical) – 20%  

- Final CTF Challenge – 20%  

- Report Writing & Documentation – 20% 

 

Recommended Tools:

- Kali Linux, Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, Wireshark, John the Ripper, Hashcat, Aircrack-ng, Ghidra  

Module 1: Introduction to Ethical Hacking

This syllabus provides a structured approach to learning ethical hacking, balancing theory with hands-on practice. Would you like any modifications based on specific certifications or focus areas?