Introduction

Within today’s digital era, cybersecurity has become more and more of a necessity for society to operate. Ethical hacking is a cybersecurity career that is very important for identifying vulnerabilities within a defense method while also overall increasing the defenses of a system. Ethical hackers simulate what a real cyber attacker would do to expose weaknesses and assess the cybersecurity of an organization. This job requires proficient technical skills while also benefiting from the use of seasoned social science research and principles. Professionals with the ethical hacker title depend on such social science principles to protect cybersecurity infrastructures, but also to impact society as a whole.

Understanding Human Nature

One fundamental aspect of social science that is important for ethical hackers is the overall understanding of human nature. As an ethical hacker, you are supposed to put yourself into the role of a real attacker, which means understanding their motivations, behavior, and habits. The social science principle of criminology especially emphasizes the motivations that drive an individual to commit criminal behavior. Ethical hackers take advantage of this knowledge to simulate realistic attack scenarios, ensuring that all possible vulnerabilities are noticed and improved upon. The knowledge that the social science principle of sociology, which is defined as “the study of human society and the consequences of human action” also goes hand in hand with an ethical hacker’s duties in understanding human nature. By understanding various social dynamics, ethical hackers can develop vast attack methods relating to them.

Marginalized Groups

An often ignored impact of the cybersecurity industry is how it can affect marginalized groups within society. A critical aspect of social science research is the overall disparity in resources available for different societal groups. Ethical hackers are responsible for considering such disparity in their attack designs. They are responsible for creating attack scenarios that could come from any societal group alike. The position of an ethical hacker can also impact marginalized groups by the overall diversity within the market. As a whole, the cybersecurity industry has become more diverse and there are ethical hackers that come from all backgrounds and demographics.

Societal Impact

The practice of ethical hacking has a profound impact on society. For one, ethical hackers provide a direct impact on the strengthening of cybersecurity measures and the protection of private information not only for the companies they work for, but for everybody as a whole. With society becoming so reliant on technology, this impact is felt daily. Furthermore, The need for such a job only furthers awareness of cybersecurity threats and attack methods. Ethical hackers serve to provide the safest possible environment for online usage. Lastly, ethical hackers impact society economically, which is one of the core principles of social sciences. There are billions of dollars lost annually to cyber attacks and ethical hackers work to combat this.

Conclusion

Many careers associated with the cybersecurity industry are heavily reliant on social science research and principles in their daily routines, including ethical hackers. Ethical hackers use their knowledge of social science and overall understanding of human nature to strengthen the cybersecurity methods of various organizations across the world. As technology continues to advance, the relation between social science and cybersecurity will remain crucial in establishing a safe environment for all

References

Loiseau, Hugo., et al. Cybersecurity in Humanities and Social Sciences [e-Book] A Research Methods Approach., 2020.

Sheikh, Ahmed. Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Preparation Guide: Lesson-Based Review of Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing. 1st ed., Apress L. P, 2021.

Wylie, Phillip L, and Kim Crawley. Pentester BluePrint – Starting a Career as an Ethical Hacker. 1st ed., John Wiley & Sons, 2021.

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