Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v13) Syllabus:

The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v13) certification is one of the most popular cybersecurity courses. It teaches how to find and fix security weaknesses in computer systems. The syllabus is divided into different sections, covering various hacking techniques and security measures.

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Module 1: Introduction to Ethical Hacking

• What is Ethical Hacking?
• Types of Hackers (Black Hat, White Hat, Gray Hat)
• Cybersecurity Concepts
• Five Phases of Ethical Hacking
• Legal and Ethical Issues in Hacking
• Cyber Laws and Compliance

This module sets the foundation. It introduces the concept of ethical hacking, its importance, and the legal and ethical considerations involved. It differentiates ethical hacking from malicious hacking.

Key Topics: What is ethical hacking? Why is it important? Hacker classes (white hat, black hat, gray hat), legal and ethical boundaries, certifications, and the overall landscape of cybersecurity.

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Module 2: Footprinting and Reconnaissance

• What is Footprinting?
• Types of Footprinting
• Information Gathering Techniques
• Using Search Engines for Information
• Social Engineering Techniques
• Tools for Footprinting (e.g., Maltego, Recon-ng)

This is the information-gathering phase. Ethical hackers learn techniques to collect information about a target system or network without directly attacking it. Think of it like doing your research before making a move.

Key Topics: Open-source intelligence (OSINT), network scanning, DNS enumeration, website footprinting, and using tools like nslookup, dig, and whois.

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Module 3: Scanning Networks

• What is Network Scanning?
• Types of Network Scanning (Port Scanning, Vulnerability Scanning, etc.)
• Scanning Tools (e.g., Nmap, Nessus)
• Identifying Live Systems and Open Ports
• Banner Grabbing and OS Fingerprinting

This module delves into actively scanning networks to detect live hosts, open ports, and services running on those hosts. It’s similar to mapping out the target’s infrastructure.

Key Topics: Port scanning (TCP, UDP), network scanning tools like Nmap, service version detection, and understanding firewall and IDS evasion techniques.

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Module 4: Enumeration

• What is Enumeration?
• Different Enumeration Techniques (NetBIOS, SNMP, LDAP, etc.)
• Extracting Usernames and System Information
• Tools for Enumeration (e.g., Enum4Linux, SNMPwalk)

After scanning, enumeration involves gathering more detailed information about the identified systems, such as usernames, group memberships, operating systems, and software versions.

Key Topics: Banner grabbing, OS fingerprinting, SMB enumeration, SNMP enumeration, and techniques to gather information about users and groups.

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Module 5: Vulnerability Analysis

• Understanding Vulnerabilities
• Vulnerability Assessment Process
• Automated Vulnerability Scanners (e.g., OpenVAS, Nexpose)
• Manual vs. Automated Analysis

This module teaches you how to identify weaknesses or vulnerabilities in systems and applications. It’s about finding the potential cracks in the armor.

Key Topics: Vulnerability scanning tools, understanding common vulnerabilities (e.g., buffer overflows, SQL injection), and interpreting vulnerability scan reports.

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Module 6: System Hacking

• Understanding System Hacking
• Cracking Passwords (Brute Force, Dictionary Attacks, etc.)
• Privilege Escalation Techniques
• Spyware, Keyloggers, and Trojans
• Hiding Tracks (Covering Logs, Clearing Evidence)

This is where you learn how attackers might gain access to a system by exploiting vulnerabilities. Ethical hackers use these same techniques to test security.

Key Topics: Password cracking, privilege escalation, gaining access through backdoors, and covering your tracks after gaining access.

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Module 7: Malware Threats

• Types of Malware (Viruses, Worms, Trojans, Ransomware, etc.)
• How Malware Works
• Anti-Malware and Prevention Techniques
• Malware Analysis Basics

This module covers different types of malicious software (malware) like viruses, worms, Trojans, ransomware, and spyware. You’ll learn how they work and how to defend against them.

Key Topics: Malware analysis, understanding malware propagation techniques, and learning about anti-malware solutions.

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Module 8: Sniffing

• What is Sniffing?
• Packet Sniffing Techniques
• Using Wireshark for Traffic Analysis
• How Attackers Use Sniffing to Steal Data
• Preventing Sniffing Attacks

Sniffing involves capturing network traffic to analyze data being transmitted. This can reveal sensitive information like passwords and credit card details.

Key Topics: Packet capturing tools like Wireshark, understanding network protocols, and techniques for detecting and preventing sniffing attacks.

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Module 9: Social Engineering

• Understanding Social Engineering Attacks
• Types of Social Engineering (Phishing, Vishing, Baiting, etc.)
• Real-World Social Engineering Examples
• How to Protect Against Social Engineering Attacks

This module focuses on tricking people into disclosing sensitive information or doing actions that jeopardize security. It is all about abusing human psyche.

Key Topics: Phishing, baiting, pretexting, and other social engineering tactics. Also, how to recognize and prevent these attacks.

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Module 10: Denial-of-Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) Attacks

• What is DoS and DDoS?
• How Attackers Execute DoS Attacks
• Tools Used in DoS Attacks (LOIC, HOIC, etc.)
• Protecting Against DoS and DDoS Attacks

Denial-of-service (DoS) attacks are designed to impair the availability of a service or system by overwhelming it with traffic.

Key Topics: Different types of DoS attacks (e.g., SYN flood, UDP flood), distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and mitigation techniques.

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Module 11: Session Hijacking

• What is Session Hijacking?
• Types of Session Hijacking
• How Attackers Steal Sessions
• Countermeasures to Prevent Hijacking

This module covers techniques used to take over an existing user session, gaining unauthorized access to a system or application.

Key Topics: Session hijacking techniques, cross-site scripting (XSS), and how to protect against session hijacking.

Module 12: Evading IDS, Firewalls, and Honeypots

• What is an Intrusion Detection System (IDS)?
• What is a Firewall and How It Works?
• Techniques to Bypass Security Systems
• Setting Up Honeypots for Security

Module 13: Hacking Web Servers

• Understanding Web Server Attacks
• Common Vulnerabilities in Web Servers
• Exploiting Web Server Weaknesses
• Protecting Web Servers from Attacks

This module focuses on vulnerabilities in web servers and how attackers exploit them.

Key Topics: Web server vulnerabilities, web application attacks (e.g., SQL injection, cross-site scripting), and web server hardening.

Module 14: Hacking Web Applications

• How Web Applications Are Hacked
• SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
• OWASP Top 10 Security Risks
• Securing Web Applications

This delves deeper into the security of web applications, which are often the target of attacks.

Key Topics: Input validation, authentication and authorization flaws, and common web application vulnerabilities like SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and cross-site request forgery (CSRF).

Module 15: SQL Injection

• What is SQL Injection?
• Types of SQL Injection Attacks
• Exploiting SQL Vulnerabilities
• Preventing SQL Injection Attacks

SQL injection is a powerful attack that exploits vulnerabilities in web applications to manipulate database queries.

Key Topics: SQL injection techniques, different types of SQL injection attacks, and how to prevent SQL injection vulnerabilities.

Module 16: Hacking Wireless Networks

• Basics of Wireless Network Security
• Cracking Wi-Fi Passwords (WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPA3)
• Attacking Wireless Clients
• Protecting Wireless Networks

This module covers the security of wireless networks and the techniques used to crack wireless encryption.

Key Topics: Wireless network protocols (e.g., WEP, WPA, WPA2), wireless hacking tools, and securing wireless networks.

Module 17: Hacking Mobile Platforms

• How Mobile Devices Are Hacked
• Android vs. iOS Security
• Mobile Malware and Spyware
• Securing Mobile Devices

With the increasing use of mobile devices, this module focuses on the security of mobile platforms like Android and iOS.

Key Topics: Mobile device vulnerabilities, mobile malware, and securing mobile devices.

Module 18: Internet of Things (IoT) Hacking

• Introduction to IoT Security
• Common IoT Vulnerabilities
• Attacking IoT Devices
• Securing IoT Networks

The Internet of Things (IoT) has introduced new security challenges. This module covers the vulnerabilities in IoT devices.

Key Topics: IoT device vulnerabilities, common IoT attacks, and securing IoT devices.

Module 19: Cloud Computing Threats

• Cloud Security Concepts
• Cloud Computing Attacks
• Protecting Cloud Data
• Compliance in Cloud Security

This module focuses on the security considerations of cloud computing environments.

Key Topics: Cloud security models, cloud vulnerabilities, and securing cloud deployments.

Module 20: Cryptography

• Basics of Cryptography
• Types of Encryption (Symmetric vs. Asymmetric)
• Hashing Algorithms (MD5, SHA-256, etc.)
• Steganography and Digital Signatures

Cryptography is the science of secure communication. This module covers encryption and decryption techniques.

Key Topics: Symmetric and asymmetric cryptography, hashing algorithms, and digital signatures.

Module 21: Ethical Hacking Tools and Techniques

• Using Kali Linux for Ethical Hacking
• Metasploit Framework Basics
• Burp Suite for Web Security Testing
• Advanced Penetration Testing Methods

Module 22: Hands-on Labs and Real-World Scenarios

• Practical Ethical Hacking Exercises
• Real-World Hacking Challenges
• Capture The Flag (CTF) Competitions
• Reporting and Documentation

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Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v13) Syllabus

Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH v13) Syllabus

By completing CEH v13, you will gain real-world hacking skills and understand how to defend against cyber threats. This certification is globally recognized and helps in building a successful career in cybersecurity.