Introduction to Ethical Hacking and Cyber Defense

In an increasingly connected world, understanding how malicious actors think is the first step to securing modern digital infrastructure. This course introduces you to the core principles of ethical hacking and cybersecurity defense from the ground up. You will transition from a complete beginner to someone who understands the ethical hacking methodology, can identify common vulnerabilities, and knows how to apply modern defensive strategies like zero-trust. What you'll learn: 1. Understand the core terminology, legal boundaries, and ethical frameworks of cybersecurity. 2. Explore the stages of ethical hacking, from initial reconnaissance to vulnerability scanning. 3. Identify common network, web application, and system vulnerabilities. 4. Apply modern defensive concepts, including zero-trust security and defense-in-depth. 5. Learn how to document findings and suggest effective remediation steps. 6. Practice analyzing security scenarios through written, step-by-step walkthroughs. Starting with essential terminology and the ethical rules of engagement, this course guides you through reconnaissance techniques, scanning methods, and defensive best practices. This text-based course is designed for absolute beginners with no prior cybersecurity experience. A basic familiarity with operating systems is helpful but not required. Start reading today to build your foundational cybersecurity skills.