Which of the following describes an instance of legal hacking?
Penetration testing for a company.
Security hacking is never legal.
Grey hat hacking
Looking for security risks on a product that is excluded from a bug bounty program.
Penetration testing for a company.
An instance of legal hacking can be described as "penetration testing for a company." Penetration testing involves authorized individuals or teams attempting to identify vulnerabilities in a company's systems or network to assess their security and provide recommendations for improvement. It is a legitimate practice employed by organizations to enhance their cybersecurity measures.
An instance of legal hacking can be described as conducting activities within the boundaries of the law with the purpose of identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities. Let's break down the given options to determine which one describes legal hacking:
1. Penetration testing for a company: This option aligns closely with legal hacking. Penetration testing involves authorized professionals attempting to exploit security vulnerabilities in a company's systems to assess their strengths and weaknesses. This is typically carried out with the consent and cooperation of the company to enhance their security measures. Therefore, this option describes an instance of legal hacking.
2. Security hacking is never legal: This statement is incorrect. While hacking with malicious intent, such as causing harm, stealing data, or disrupting services, is illegal, ethical hacking or legal hacking with proper permission and authorization is considered lawful.
3. Grey hat hacking: Grey hat hacking refers to hacking activities performed by individuals who are not clearly categorized as white hat (ethical hackers) or black hat (malicious hackers). They may engage in security testing or vulnerability assessments without explicit permission, which makes it a legally ambiguous activity. Therefore, grey hat hacking might fall into a legal gray area and does not necessarily denote a fully legal practice.
4. Looking for security risks on a product excluded from a bug bounty program: Engaging in security assessments or identifying vulnerabilities on a product, even if it is excluded from a bug bounty program, could still be considered legal hacking. However, it is crucial to ensure that you comply with regulations and obtain proper authorization to prevent any legal issues.
Based on the options provided, penetration testing for a company is the most accurate description of legal hacking.