Penetration testing, network risk assessment, database security, and other analyses are common tasks for ethical hackers. Ethical hackers may work as freelancers at higher rates than in other security roles.
Median Annual Salary: $79,620
Best Ethical Hacking Bootcamps
Ethical hacking may sound contradictory, but it's a critical security job. If you want to change directions in tech, consider an ethical hacking bootcamp.
By
Charlotte Cornbrooks
Writer
Charlotte Cornbrooks spent five years working in student affairs. During that time, she supervised, coached, and mentored student leaders. Now Charlotte writes about tech bootcamps, education, and culture. Charlotte earned her MA in higher education ...
Updated on April 19, 2023
Edited by
Madison Hoehn
Editor
Madison Hoehn has worked as an associate editor for BestColleges, focusing on coding bootcamp rankings and the skilled trades. She is passionate about providing readers with alternatives to a traditional four-year college. She holds a BA in English l...
•
Reviewed by
Monali Mirel Chuatico
Reviewer
Monali Chuatico is a data engineer at Mission Lane and a data analytics captain at the nonprofit COOP Careers. There, Monali helps new grads and young professionals overcome underemployment by teaching them data analytics tools and mentoring them on ...
Learn more about our editorial process
By
Charlotte Cornbrooks
Writer
Charlotte Cornbrooks spent five years working in student affairs. During that time, she supervised, coached, and mentored student leaders. Now Charlotte writes about tech bootcamps, education, and culture. Charlotte earned her MA in higher education ...
Edited by
Madison Hoehn
Editor
Madison Hoehn has worked as an associate editor for BestColleges, focusing on coding bootcamp rankings and the skilled trades. She is passionate about providing readers with alternatives to a traditional four-year college. She holds a BA in English l...
•
Reviewed by
Monali Mirel Chuatico
Reviewer
Monali Chuatico is a data engineer at Mission Lane and a data analytics captain at the nonprofit COOP Careers. There, Monali helps new grads and young professionals overcome underemployment by teaching them data analytics tools and mentoring them on ...
Updated on April 19, 2023
Learn more about our editorial process
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Picture this: A lone person sits in a dark room, face lit by the glow of their computer screen. The clickity-clack of the keyboard is the only sound as the camera zooms in on lines and lines of code while ominous music plays, and the screen goes blank.
Chances are you've probably seen something like this scene on TV or in movies. The hacker is almost always the bad guy.
In reality, "hacking" has a much broader definition than breaking into government or company security systems for criminal purposes. The term hacking actually originates from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
In the 1950s, students started using the term "hack" to apply to technology-based pranks, a tradition that lives on today. Around the same time, phone phreaking came on the scene. Phone phreaks attempted to hack telephone company systems to make free long-distance phone calls.
Our understanding of the word has changed since then. For those who find this niche topic interesting and want to pursue a career in ethical hacking, read on!
What Is Ethical Hacking?
Hacking is generally viewed in a negative light. Your email and social media accounts can get hacked, or someone can hack a company's credit card files.
Today, companies keep large amounts of data, from customer shopping habits to credit card numbers to proprietary information. Keeping this data secure is a vital component of business management today.
Essentially, ethical hackers role-play the computer-savvy villain. They think of common and uncommon ways to hack a computer network or system to test a company's digital security.
Once these ethical hackers, sometimes known as "white hat" hackers, complete their tests, they provide recommendations to their clients for improved security. They may also collaborate with other cybersecurity specialists to create stronger firewalls or security systems.
To skillfully test computer network security, ethical hackers need a strong understanding of coding, network security, and cybersecurity practices.
Coding Bootcamps for You
Best Ethical Hacking Bootcamps
Udacity
- Location:Remote
- Program Cost:$678
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment: Part Time, Self-Paced
The ethical hacking program at Udacity is self-paced, which creates flexibility for students with full-time jobs or at-home responsibilities. On average, students complete the program in about two months by spending about 5-10 hours a week on the course.
While this is an introductory course, it does have prerequisites, including knowledge of Linux, networking systems, and at least one coding language.
Udacity offers a variety of scholarships for international students and Black students.
Udemy
- Location:Remote
- Program Cost:$84.99
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment:Self-Paced
Udemy offers a variety of courses on many topics, allowing you to choose whatever meets your needs. You can choose from dozens of ethical hacking courses, like Learn Ethical Hacking from Scratch, which has over 100,000 reviews.
You can choose courses based on the hours required to complete them, whether or not they offer a certificate, what projects they offer, and more. These courses also cost less than many full-time bootcamps. Every course also comes with a 100% money-back guarantee.
Zero to Mastery
- Location:Remote
- Program Cost:$279
- Learning Format: Online
- Time Commitment:Self-Paced
Zero to Mastery (ZTM) offers a comprehensive ethical hacking course that balances thorough content and affordable pricing. This course is approachable for beginners and comes with a certificate of completion.
In addition to paid courses, ZTM offers free resources and career path quizzes. In addition, you can sign up for coaching workshops offering career advice and more. Zero to Mastery alumni have gotten jobs at Amazon, Google, Uniqlo, and Hootsuite.
Get the Qualities You Want in a Bootcamp
We use icons to make browsing bootcamps easy for you. Use this breakdown to quickly identify program qualities you are looking for.
Accepts GI Bill®
Accepts the GI Bill® as funding for tuition.
Also Available In Person
This online bootcamp also offers in-person options.
Career Services
Offers career services to help you land your dream job after graduation.
CIRR Member
This bootcamp is a current member of the Council on Integrity in Results Reporting. Learn more at cirr.org.
Evening & Weekend Options
Bootcamps are offered during convenient evening and weekend hours.
Job Guarantee
Employment is guaranteed as soon as you finish your bootcamp.
Money-Back Guarantee
Tuition is refunded if you don't land a job within a given time frame after graduation. Visit the bootcamp website for terms and conditions.
Start for Free
No deposit is required to get started. Begin your bootcamp for $0.
Methodology
Bootcamp Ranking Guidelines
At BestColleges, we believe the best bootcamp is the one that fits your schedule, your learning needs, and your career aspirations. That's why we often present our recommendations in alphabetical order -- because the real best bootcamp is the bootcamp that's best for you.
Our Methodology
The Bootcamp Team at BestColleges has collected data for over 150 bootcamps to help you find the best bootcamp.
At BestColleges, we believe the best bootcamp is the one that fits your schedule, your learning needs, and your career aspirations. That's why we often present our recommendations in alphabetical order -- because the real best bootcamp is the bootcamp that's best for you.
At this time, our recommendation round-ups feature only immersive bootcamps designed to prepare students for job placement upon graduation.
To be included on our lists, bootcamps must meet the following criteria:
- Must offer at least one bootcamp in the United States.
- Must offer at least one bootcamp that is a minimum of 4 weeks long.
- Must require at least 15 hours of work per week if the bootcamp is part time.
- Must encourage at least 10 hours of work per week if the bootcamp is self-paced.
Pricing disclosure: The prices listed were collected from product websites in 2022. However, given the dynamic, fast-paced nature of the tech space, prices are subject to change throughout the year. To get the most up-to-date information about pricing, contact providers directly.
Methodology for Recommending Cheap Bootcamps:
- The bootcamp must meet all of the general criteria listed above.
- The bootcamp must cost less than $8,000 if it is offered full time, and less than $5,000 if it is offered part time. These numbers were chosen based on data collected by BestColleges in 2020 that determined the average cost of a coding bootcamp is $13,580.
Ethical Hacking Jobs
Frequently Asked Questions About Ethical Hacking Bootcamps
Can I learn ethical hacking for free?
Yes. You can find free coding bootcamps online to learn about ethical hacking, but it's important to find a reputable source.
Some of the free ethical hacking courses we found include My Great Learning and Udemy. These might not be in-depth courses, but they can provide some understanding of ethical hacking.
What programming language is best for ethical hacking?
Good news: There's not just one language that works for ethical hacking projects. Common languages used for ethical hacking include Java, C++, SQL, and Python. Java is one of the most common programming languages. And C++ is often one of the first coding languages people learn at any age.
Do ethical hackers need college degrees?
Yes, ethical hackers typically need at least a bachelor's degree, preferably in computer engineering or a similar field.
A skilled ethical hacker needs to think of common and uncommon security weaknesses. The more network and coding knowledge an ethical hacker has, the more likely they are to expose security concerns.
GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). More information about education benefits offered by VA is available at the official U.S. government Web site at https://benefits.va.gov/gibill/index.asp.
Feature Image: perinjo / E+ / Getty Images
