"Data is the pollution problem of the information age, and protecting privacy is the environmental challenge" — Bruce Schneier.
Ethical hacking is the heads-on solution for this challenge — a way to counter attacks from unwanted sources. It judges the security wall of a system and discovers and eliminates inconsistencies.
Ethical hacking aims to prevent digital threats and vulnerabilities in the system and is a crucial online asset for security. In addition, it assists and promotes the overall "well-being" and safety of the organisation's servers and computers.
For a successful career as an ethical hacker, several things should be kept in mind, like finding a reputable CEH course online. However, the foremost step is learning the right program languages for hacking.
So, without any wait, let us find out the best programming language to learn for hacking!
What is a Programming Language?
Programming languages can be considered as the alphabet and grammar of software. The term includes BASIC, JAVA, COBOL and Pascal programming languages.
Why is Programming Important for Hackers?
Programming is the most important skill that every hacker must master. Anything that is connected to the internet can be hacked. And anything that has digital security requires the knowledge of coding. This is why a hacker must be well-versed with multiple computer languages for hacking.
Being an ethical hacker calls for being versatile. Knowledge of languages helps professionals exploit the programmes better. Starting with Java and Python is a good way to become an expert. These are the most dynamic programming languages for hacking.
A cyber security certification course in programming goes a long way in learning and mastering this skill.
Top 10 Programming Languages That Are Useful to Hackers
Looking for the best programming languages to learn as a budding ethical hacker?
Well, the following section is what you've wanted to read so far. Given below is the list of the top 10 languages used in ethical hacking. We will cover the basic features and the importance of using and learning these ethical hacking languages.
However, before we dive in, check out the KnowledgeHut's CEH course online — any easy and affordable way to brush up on your basics and become a certified ethical hacker!
1. Python
The year 2020 served the golden throne to Python for being the finest programming language. It is a general-purpose and high-level program language for hacking.
Python is regarded as the best language for hackers as it is open-source and is the basic language that can help break into large databases. Its simplified syntax and availability of ready-made modules give way for beginners to learn the language easily. It is the first choice of programmers due to its extensive libraries and packages.
Python is supported by a strong community that supports several third-party plugins daily. The interpreted feature of Python makes it easy to run without the need for compilation. It facilitates order and is easy as it is an object-oriented and simple structured programming language.
Moreover, it provides fast reconnaissance of the host network, and its easy automation scripts make prototyping much faster.
2. PHP
Personal Home Page or PHP is one of the smarter ways of hacking ethically. It is a server-side scripting language., which means that the codes affect the server and do not build hints or doubts for the host.
The most common use of PHP is building websites. But, it can easily serve as a crucial programming language required for ethical hacking. It is a straightforward widely-used open source general-purpose scripting language.
Multi-paradigm, functional imperative, object-oriented and procedural are the features of PHP which assist in helping ethical hackers break through the security system easily.
Server hacking programs are made easy with the help of the PHP programming language. This will help you in spotting errors and malfunctioning websites. Thus, you can take them down easily.
3. SQL
Structured Query Language or SQL attacks are a piece of cake for hackers. It deceives the host system and provides the information to the hacker.
Command made by SQL has a strong impact. It is a handy tool for entering and gathering information from corporate databases. Complex SQL code sequences are usually typed in search boxes, login boxes, or 'sign up' fields. This helps in the extraction of the necessary information that was hidden behind the barriers.
Web apps built on SQL Server, Oracle, and MySQL are more vulnerable to SQL injection attacks. High sensitive data exposure makes SQL the best programming language for ethical hacking.
On the basis of SQL injection, black hat hackers create and operate highly functioning hacking programs.
4. Java
There is no doubt that JavaScript is one of the most important program languages for hacking. Since it is equipped with full-stack—both front-end and back-end web—technologies, it can enter and alter complex systems too. In addition, its WORA functionality aids in flexibly hacking web or mobile apps and servers.
Although Java is easy to track, which is used as an advantage by professionals, sound knowledge of this language is a must. It is a general-purpose language with robust and reliable codes.
Data suggests that 95% of enterprise desktops run Java, and 88% of all computers in the U.S. work on Java, including personal machines. This makes it important to learn the language and master it.
You can use it to make internet worms as it can smoothly manipulate browser DOM. It allows hackers to create mimicking attacks on both the server and client-side of the system.
5. C
When targeting low-level components like RAM, C is the go-to language. It is a middle-level procedural programming language with low-level nature that digs into the security systems protecting resources and hardware. It is also used in the creation of lightning-fast socket programming scripts.
C language simulates the library hijacking attack enabling a successful attack by the ethical hacker. C programming is the basis for learning UNIX/LINUX platforms. It is a general-purpose language which makes up many other systems and promises easy access with minimum runtime support.
Not only can it access hardware data but also create shellcodes. Its speed is the biggest strength. It serves the purpose of ethical hacking. People find C on the traditional side of the tech spectrum in place of modern.
Many modern systems like Windows and Unix are built on C programs. Therefore, understanding C language makes it completely easy for you to access and evaluate the faults in the system.
6. Perl
Wikipedia defines Perl as a "family of two high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming languages." This definition is enough to understand its importance in the ethical hacking world.
Perl was originally designed for text manipulation but now has multiple benefits. Its dynamic approach enables exploit-writing. It assists in manipulating Linux text files and creating tools and exploits. Tools like Nikto, snmpenum, onesixtyone, and fierce are created using Perl.
Perl helps in sending SQL scripts from a web application to a back-end database. This ability of Perl is also exploited by the Amazon website. It is one of the easiest program languages for hacking. Therefore, it attracts many beginners.
Despite the decrease in its popularity on a general level, Perl still rules over several platforms. Polyglot hackers are known to use Perl for building different components of successful hacking programs. This process includes everything from creating exploits to the development of payloads and backdoors.
7. Ruby
Ruby is a high-level, general-purpose programming language that supports multiple paradigms. It is an excellent program language for hacking as it can write quick scripts on a Linux platform. In addition, it is a web-oriented language and is the most important language used for writing effective exploits.
This scripting language takes help from many syntactical elements — Smalltalk. It is an excellent option for writing fast hacking programs and is used for writing CGI scripts. Its flexibility makes it popular among the biggest companies and the experts of hackers!
Metasploit is the most infamous penetration testing framework that chose Ruby as its base language. It has similarities with Python and borrows the syntactical elements from Smalltalk. This offers versatility and helps in targeting next-generation web platforms too.
8. Bash
It is not considered a full-blown program language for hacking, but it is extremely important to have proficiency in Bash language. It is an open-source GNU project and the default command shell in most Unix systems.
Bash is a command-line interpreter, or you can call it a user shell to interpret user commands which delivers the output in the form of characters. It comes in handy while manipulating the system. For example, when you are trying to penetrate a network, Bash will provide automated support. No other programming language can fight it by modifying the filesystem and directory tree.
Armitage, NMAP, and Metasploit are the ethical hacking tools that require a sound knowledge of Bash. It can even outperform Python when it comes to processing startup time. It gives you a way into complex and complicated systems with strong security. Once you have established the access, Bash takes over and facilitates the process for you.
9. Assembly
When establishing a direct connection with the hardware of any system, Assembly is the right choice. It is a low-level programming language that helps in a detail-oriented understanding of the programming language to machine code.
Understanding Assembly will enable you to answer how data is represented in memory and other external devices. It offers an easy solution for hardware-specific complex jobs and helps in manipulating systems at the architectural level.
Assembly is the best programming language for ethical hacking and building malware like viruses and trojans. With the help of this, you can reverse engineer a piece of software that has already been created and compiled.
An ethical hacker equipped with the knowledge of Assembly language can easily modify the processor accesses. It also favours the execution of instructions of compromised systems with Assembly.
10. C++
C++ is another top programming language to learn for hacking. It is a general-purpose, strongly-typed programming language based on its parent C language but has added object-oriented features. It provides access and analysis of machine codes on a low level.
C++ also helps in bypassing activation schemes and enables ethical hackers to write fast and efficient codes.
One does not get enough time to figure out and hack the system. It has to be a quick process. Therefore, C++ is mostly preferred by expert hackers. It provides easy reverse engineering of software, making it the most preferred program language for hacking.
C++ promises clean and reliable codes. You can avoid trivial bugs in codes due to their character. Experts say that they can write and build metamorphic computer viruses using C++ with the help of high-level polymorphism.
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Conclusion
Hacking is not an easy process. One strategy cannot work for all situations. There is no sure-shot solution to attack or protect a system. Different types of attacks complement various hacking programming languages. Hence it is very important to learn as many programming languages as possible.
The top 10 program languages for hacking mentioned above are a must for every professional to learn and analyse the attacks. They also help in understanding how to strengthen the current security of the process.
