The most in-demand skills for ethical hacking — and the online courses to learn them

Becoming an ethical hacker isn't easy, so you need to make sure you've got the basics nailed down. 

Having advanced knowledge of computers is a big win, and this course will set you up to tackle all programming languages with a level of finesse. 

By the end, you will be able to understand all Information Security terminologies and be able to hunt bugs, document penetration testing, and defend products from intrusion. 

This course aims to provide you with the most essential knowledge quickly and efficiently, so you can move on to learn what makes an ethical hacker so valuable. 

Sometimes it is best to just start from scratch. Learning hacking techniques and penetration testing can become an intimidating task incredibly quickly, so courses like these are perfect for those who are just getting started. 

There are also advanced tutorials available, but we'd advise that you expand your knowledge as much as possible before moving onto increasingly difficult tasks. 

This short, impactful course will get you caught up in a flash. Before you know it you will become fluent with the basic tools in not just Kali, but most Linux systems. 

Python is one of the most vital and easy-to-learn programming languages you will come across. 

Taking the time to learn it will benefit your ethical hacking aspirations greatly. This course even focuses on using Python to identify bugs, build penetration tools, and automated scripts. Python is a high-level scripting language that is incredibly useful for anything regarding ethical hacking. Easy to learn, fast to type and simple to start. This should be a priority when learning about ethical hacking.

This course features up to 11-hours of on-demand video and teaches you step by step on utilising code to your advantage. 

We also recommend you go a step further from this course and learn as much as possible about Python, JavaScript, HTML, and more languages, in order to keep your knowledge as broad as possible. 

For now, however, focus on mastering Python and then move onto other programming tools. 

Learning a programming language is a step in the right direction. Assembly language is quite old in comparison to other languages, and this course won't dwell on it for too long. 

Containing around two hours of on-demand video, alongside seven articles, this course will teach you how to write Assembly programs, understand Assembly language, and how microcontrollers work. These are quick and easy to get to grips with, especially if you've already got some background programming knowledge.

If you want to excel in penetration testing, you need to have an acute knowledge of processors and assembly programming, so it's important you consider this course if you're serious about a career in ethical hacking. 

This course focuses on helping you understand social engineering and the requirements it takes to hack into systems like Windows, Mac OS, and Linux.

Take part in both the practical and theory side of social engineering, and start to understand how and why these techniques are burdens for major operating systems to tackle. 

From start to finish you will be creating the most devasting forms of malware, which will then form the base and help you learn how to protect yourself and your systems from these attacks. 

All lessons feature real-world examples and practical lessons can be applied to work against actual computers. This doesn't mean the theory side of things is neglected, however, as everything you do will have exact and precise reasoning behind it. 

There are plenty of downloadable resources and video to watch, and you can tackle the course at your own pace. 

Understanding and being able to evaluate risks across networks is an incredibly valuable skill when it comes to penetration testing. 

This course will set you up with a practical skill-set, allowing you to assure complete network security against all threats. This includes hackers, trackers, exploit kits, Wi-Fi attacks, and more.

With over 12 hours of on-demand video, this course will take you from start to finish and maximise your ethical hacking potential. The knowledge you learn can be applied at a business level, but much of the lectures involved will focus on improving your security at a personal level. 

The lessons will suit any individuals simply looking to expand their networking knowledge, with an easy to access platform, tutorials, and resources. 

This will provide an excellent foundation for your ethical hacking career, and increase the potential of you starting to work in the field. 

If you're looking to save some time, this complete course can give you the essential skills needed to get started in your ethical hacking career. 

It is good to have a great background knowledge all things ethical hacking, so this is an efficient and easy way to learn the core ideas required to launch your new career. 

With over 24-hours of extensive on-demand video, this course will run through securing networks, Kali Linux, virtual hacking environments, and much more. If you're coming into ethical hacking without much background knowledge or information, this is the course for you. 

In this course, you'll learn how to communicate with relational databases through SQL. SQL Injection is a form of hacking tool that allows users to manipulate a database and take advantage of any faults discovered. 

These hacking techniques are dangerous for many databases which may contain sensitive information which could be extracted if it isn't properly protected.

This course will teach you the fundamentals of SQL, alongside the vital knowledge needed to utilise SQL injection while penetration testing. 

With up to three hours on on-demand video, the course isn't the longest available, but it will teach you SQL in a fast and efficient manner.