1. What is Ethical Hacking?
Ethical hacking is the practice of legally testing systems, networks, or applications to find security vulnerabilities.
Ethical hackers use the same techniques as malicious hackers but with permission to improve security.
2. What is the difference between a hacker and an ethical hacker?
A hacker may exploit vulnerabilities for malicious purposes without authorization. An ethical hacker works with legal permission to identify and fix security weaknesses.
3. What are the types of hackers?
Common types include White Hat, Black Hat, and Grey Hat hackers. White Hats work legally, Black Hats act maliciously, and Grey Hats operate in between.
4. What is penetration testing?
Penetration testing is a simulated cyberattack conducted to evaluate system security. It helps organizations identify vulnerabilities before attackers exploit them.
5. What is the CIA Triad?
The CIA Triad stands for Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability. It represents the three core principles of information security.
6. What is footprinting?
Footprinting is the process of gathering information about a target system. It includes collecting details like IP addresses, domain data, and employee information.
7. What is social engineering?
Social engineering is manipulating individuals to gain confidential information. It relies on human psychology rather than technical hacking techniques.
8. What is phishing?
Phishing is a cyberattack where attackers send fraudulent emails or messages. The goal is to trick users into revealing sensitive information like passwords.
9. What is SQL Injection?
SQL Injection is a web attack that manipulates database queries. Attackers insert malicious SQL code to access or modify data.
10. What is Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)?
XSS is a vulnerability that allows attackers to inject malicious scripts into web pages. It can steal session cookies or redirect users to malicious sites.
11. What is Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)?
CSRF tricks users into performing unwanted actions on a trusted site. It exploits authenticated sessions without the user’s knowledge.
12. What is a firewall?
A firewall is a security device or software that monitors network traffic. It blocks unauthorized access while allowing legitimate communication.
13. What is IDS and IPS?
An Intrusion Detection System (IDS) monitors suspicious activities. An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) detects and blocks threats automatically.
14. What is vulnerability assessment?
Vulnerability assessment is the process of identifying security weaknesses. It focuses on scanning systems but does not exploit them like penetration testing.
15. What is a zero-day vulnerability?
A zero-day vulnerability is a flaw unknown to the software vendor. Attackers exploit it before a patch becomes available.
16. What is a brute-force attack?
A brute-force attack tries multiple password combinations systematically. It continues until the correct credentials are found.
17. What is a DDoS attack?
A Distributed Denial-of-Service attack overwhelms a system with traffic. It uses multiple compromised systems to disrupt services.
18. What is encryption?
Encryption converts readable data into unreadable format using algorithms. It ensures data confidentiality during storage or transmission.
19. What is hashing?
Hashing transforms data into a fixed-length value. It is mainly used for password storage and integrity verification.
20. What is salting?
Salting adds random data to passwords before hashing. It prevents attackers from using precomputed hash tables.
21. What is a VPN?
A Virtual Private Network encrypts internet traffic. It hides the user’s IP address and protects online privacy.
22. What is a proxy server?
A proxy server acts as an intermediary between client and server. It can filter requests and hide the user’s identity.
23. What is port scanning?
Port scanning identifies open ports on a system. It helps detect potential entry points for attackers.
24. What is the OSI model?
The OSI model has seven layers describing network communication. It helps understand and troubleshoot networking issues.
25. What is TCP vs UDP?
TCP is connection-oriented and ensures reliable data transfer. UDP is faster but does not guarantee delivery.
26. What is ARP poisoning?
ARP poisoning sends fake ARP messages in a network. It allows attackers to intercept or modify data traffic.
27. What is Man-in-the-Middle attack?
A MITM attack intercepts communication between two parties. The attacker can eavesdrop or alter transmitted data.
28. What is DNS spoofing?
DNS spoofing redirects users to fake websites. It manipulates DNS records to mislead victims.
29. What is malware?
Malware is malicious software designed to damage systems. Examples include viruses, worms, and ransomware.
30. What is ransomware?
Ransomware encrypts a victim’s data and demands payment. Attackers promise to restore access after ransom payment.
31. What is a backdoor?
A backdoor is a hidden entry point into a system. Attackers use it to bypass authentication.
32. What is privilege escalation?
Privilege escalation exploits vulnerabilities to gain higher access rights. It can be vertical (admin access) or horizontal (same-level access).
33. What is a honeypot?
A honeypot is a decoy system designed to attract attackers. It helps study attack patterns and techniques.
34. What is the difference between symmetric and asymmetric encryption?
Symmetric encryption uses one key for encryption and decryption. Asymmetric encryption uses public and private key pairs.
35. What is digital signature?
A digital signature verifies authenticity and integrity of data. It uses cryptographic techniques for validation.
36. What is OWASP?
OWASP is an organization focused on web application security. It publishes the OWASP Top 10 list of common vulnerabilities.
37. What is Metasploit?
Metasploit is a penetration testing framework. It helps exploit vulnerabilities in target systems.
38. What is Nmap?
Nmap is a network scanning tool. It identifies hosts, services, and open ports.
39. What is Burp Suite?
Burp Suite is a web vulnerability scanning tool. It is widely used for testing web application security.
40. What is Kali Linux?
Kali Linux is a penetration testing operating system. It comes preloaded with secur
41. What is reconnaissance?
Reconnaissance is the initial phase of hacking. It involves gathering information about the target.
42. What is session hijacking?
Session hijacking steals a user’s active session ID. Attackers gain unauthorized access without login credentials.
43. What is ethical hacking methodology?
It includes reconnaissance, scanning, gaining access, maintaining access, and covering tracks. These phases structure a security assessment.
44. What is risk assessment?
Risk assessment identifies potential threats and vulnerabilities. It evaluates their impact and likelihood.
45. What is patch management?
Patch management updates software to fix vulnerabilities. It reduces the risk of exploitation.
46. What is sandboxing?
Sandboxing runs applications in an isolated environment. It prevents malicious code from affecting the main system.
47. What is multi-factor authentication?
MFA requires multiple verification methods. It increases security beyond passwords.
48. What is cloud security?
Cloud security protects cloud-based infrastructure and data. It involves policies, controls, and encryption.
49. What are common web vulnerabilities?
Common vulnerabilities include SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF, and broken authentication. They allow attackers to exploit web applications.
50. Why do you want to become an ethical hacker?
Ethical hacking allows me to protect organizations from cyber threats. It combines problem-solving skills with continuous learning in cybersecurity.
Conclusion
Preparing for an ethical hacking interview requires a strong understanding of networking, cybersecurity fundamentals, common attack techniques, and security tools. Mastering these top 50 ethical hacking interview questions will help you build confidence and demonstrate both technical knowledge and practical awareness during interviews.
In 2026, employers are not only looking for theoretical knowledge but also problem-solving ability, hands-on experience, and awareness of real-world threats. Keep practicing in labs, stay updated with the latest vulnerabilities, and continuously improve your skills to stand out as a successful ethical hacker.
