π΄ Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Β
π Detailed Analysis of the Certification:
Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH)
1. π§ Main Idea
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification, issued by EC-Council, validates knowledge and skills in ethical hacking techniques, penetration testing, and proactive defense strategies. It’s ideal for understanding attacker mindsets to secure systems effectively.
2. π§© Key Subtopics
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Ethical Hacking Fundamentals
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Footprinting and Reconnaissance
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Network Scanning
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Enumeration
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System Hacking
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Malware and Trojans
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Sniffing
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Social Engineering
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DoS and DDoS Attacks
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IDS/IPS/Firewall Evasion
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Web Application Hacking
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SQL Injection
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Server & Database Hacking
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Cloud Security
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Wireless Hacking
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IoT and OT Security
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Cryptography
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Penetration Testing Methodologies
3. π Module Summary
Module 1: Fundamentals
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What is ethical hacking?
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Hacker types and phases of hacking
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Legal and ethical aspects
Module 2: Reconnaissance
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Passive and active methods
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WHOIS, DNS, search engines, Google Hacking
Module 3: Scanning
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Nmap, scan types
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OS and port detection
Module 4: Enumeration
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SMB, SNMP, LDAP, NetBIOS
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Tools: enum4linux, NBTScan
4. π Recommended Study Resources
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Official Book: CEH v13 Study Guide (EC-Council)
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Courses: INE, Udemy, or Pluralsight
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Hands-on labs: EC-Council iLabs, TryHackMe (CEH paths), Hack The Box
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Cheatsheets: HackTricks, PayloadsAllTheThings
5. π§ͺ Exam Info
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π Exam: 125 multiple-choice questions
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π Duration: 4 hours
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β Passing Score: 60β85% (varies by question bank)
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π» Mode: Online or Pearson VUE centers
6. π¬ Connections to Other Certifications
Related Cert | How it’s related |
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CompTIA Security+ | Strong theory base before CEH |
OSCP | More practical and hands-on than CEH |
eJPT / eCPPT | Focused on real-world pentesting |
PNPT | Practical, real-world scenarios |
7. π οΈ Final Project Proposal
Simulate a full ethical hacking engagement:
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Goal: Apply the full CEH methodology
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Tools: Kali Linux, Nmap, Burp Suite, Metasploit, Nikto, etc.
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Deliverables: Final pentest report with mitigation suggestions
8. π§ Memorization and Learning Strategies
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Mind maps per module
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Flashcards (Anki) for tools and commands
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Mini quizzes weekly
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Reflective documentation after lab exercises
9. π― Personalized Learning Goals
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Understand offensive attacker thinking
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Apply real-world reconnaissance and scanning tools
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Master web and network hacking fundamentals
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Be able to deliver a professional pentest report
10. π Extra Resources & Communities
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Reddit: r/ethicalhacking, r/CEH
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Cybersecurity Discord servers
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YouTube Channels: The Cyber Mentor, NetworkChuck, John Hammond
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HackTricks, CyberSecLabs, TryHackMe
11. πΌ Salary & Career Opportunities
π° Average Salaries (2025 Reference)
Country | Estimated Annual Salary (CEH) |
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πΊπΈ USA | $80,000 β $120,000 USD |
π¬π§ UK | Β£45,000 β Β£70,000 GBP |
πͺπΈ Spain | β¬35,000 β β¬50,000 EUR |
π¦πΊ Australia | AU$90,000 β AU$130,000 |
π Remote/Global | $50,000 β $100,000 USD |
π‘ With experience, these figures can rise significantly. CEH can be a stepping stone to advanced roles like Pentester, Threat Analyst, Red Teamer, or Security Consultant.
π Typical Roles After CEH
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Ethical Hacker
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Penetration Tester (Junior / Mid)
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SOC Analyst
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Cybersecurity Consultant
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Security Researcher
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Entry-level Red Team Operator