Best Ethical Hacking Projects

Q: 1. What does a network security engineer do?

Designing, implementing, and managing the security of a company's computer networks is the responsibility of networking security engineers. To safeguard data and systems from illegal access, theft, or destruction, they use firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other security technologies. They also create policies and processes to protect user privacy and secure network connections.

Q: 2. What are the different types of cyber security?

There are various sorts of cyber security, but antivirus software, firewalls, intrusion detection systems (IDS), patch management, and data loss prevention are five of the most prominent (DLP). Antivirus software defends computers against malware such as viruses, spyware, and ransomware. It scans all incoming and outgoing data for harmful code, which it then blocks or deletes. Firewalls are used to keep networks safe from intruders and attacks. They work by restricting incoming and outgoing traffic according to predetermined rules, and they can be software or hardware-based. Unauthorized network activity is detected and responded to using an intrusion detection system (IDS). It usually involves software that analyses network traffic for suspicious activities before sounding an alarm or taking other steps to thwart the assault. Patch management is a technique for keeping software up to date with security patches—this aids in the prevention of known vulnerabilities being exploited on PCs. Data loss prevention (DLP) is a method of preventing sensitive data from being stolen or released. It usually consists of software that scans all network traffic for sensitive data before sounding an alarm or taking other steps to stop the leak.

Q: 3. Why should I learn cyber security?

There are numerous reasons why a person should learn about cyber security. Here are some of the important reasons: Cyber security is a necessary ability in today's society. The risk of cyberattacks is rising as more people use the internet for everything from shopping to banking to socializing. Those who have a good awareness of cyber security can better defend themselves and their loved ones from these dangers. It's a lucrative industry. As the incidence of cyber-attacks rises, so does the demand for qualified cyber security specialists. High-paying positions are available in this industry for anyone with the relevant skills and knowledge. It's a fascinating and challenging field. Cyber security experts must continually study new technologies and tactics to keep ahead of the curve. For those who appreciate a challenge, this can be an exciting and gratifying job.

Q: 4. What are the 5 types of ethical hacking?

Ethical hacking can be categorized into five major types. Web application hacking focuses on finding vulnerabilities in websites, while network hacking involves testing network security. System hacking targets operating systems for weaknesses, and social engineering manipulates people to gain access. Lastly, wireless network hacking assesses Wi-Fi security to identify and fix potential threats.

Q: 5. What is a cyber security project?

A cybersecurity project is a practical approach to learning and implementing security measures to protect systems, networks, or applications from cyber threats. These projects may involve penetration testing, intrusion detection, malware analysis, cryptography, or network security enhancements. They help students and professionals develop hands-on experience in ethical hacking, digital forensics, and cybersecurity defense strategies.

Q: 6. What are some ethical hacking examples?

Ethical hacking includes penetration testing, where security experts simulate cyberattacks to identify weaknesses in a network. Bug bounty programs allow hackers to find and report vulnerabilities in exchange for rewards. Other examples include phishing awareness training, reverse engineering malware to develop countermeasures, and implementing honeypots to detect and analyze cyber threats in real time.

Q: 7. What projects can be done in cyber security?

Cybersecurity projects vary based on skill levels. Beginners can develop password managers or analyze firewall logs, while intermediate learners can create packet sniffers or honeypots. Advanced projects include designing an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) or performing penetration testing on virtual networks. These projects enhance practical skills in ethical hacking, cryptography, and digital forensics.

Q: 8. How can I start learning ethical hacking?

To start learning ethical hacking, begin with fundamental cybersecurity concepts, including networking, operating systems, and cryptography. Learn programming languages like Python and Bash for automation and exploit development. Gain hands-on experience through platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box. Certifications such as CEH or OSCP enhance credibility, while real-world practice in penetration testing helps build expertise.

Q: 9. What are the most important ethical hacking tools?

Ethical hackers use various tools to identify and fix security vulnerabilities. Nmap helps scan networks, while Metasploit assists in penetration testing. Burp Suite is essential for web security testing, and Wireshark analyzes network traffic. Other crucial tools include Aircrack-ng for Wi-Fi security, John the Ripper for password cracking, and Hydra for brute-force attacks.

Q: 10. What is penetration testing, and why is it important?

Penetration testing is the process of simulating cyberattacks to identify security weaknesses before real attackers exploit them. It helps organizations improve security, ensures compliance with industry regulations, and reduces the risk of breaches. By finding vulnerabilities and strengthening defenses, penetration testing plays a critical role in protecting sensitive data and digital infrastructure.

By Pavan Vadapalli

Updated on Feb 18, 2025 | 9 min read | 14.8k views

Table of Contents

Ethical Hacking Projects refer to the different tools and concepts that are used in an ethical hacking activity. Development of tools is created dependent on prerequisites, with open source frameworks like Python, Nmap, hping, etc.

A Proper lab is an arrangement for testing and verification of the working of the tools. A few projects in our list are research-based studies, where a detailed explanation is provided on specific concepts and methodologies.

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The following list displays the current innovative, ethical hacking projects that’ll help you develop a first-hand experience in Ethical hacking:

Invoker
Hackdroid
H4cker
Packet Sniffer
Capsulecorp Pentest
Hrshell
Lockphish

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1. Invoker

Invoker is a utility that tests penetration. This ethical hacking project used when access to some Windows OS features through GUI is restricted. A few features require administrative privileges.

To work on this ethical hacking project, one must start by invoking the command prompt and PowerShell, then download a file and add a registry key. After the registration process is complete, you can schedule the task. Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) can connect to a remote host.

After that, you can end a running process and run a new process while dumping the process memory and injecting bytecode into the running process along with a DLL. Further, you can list the DLLs of the running process and proceed with the hook procedure instalment. This will enable access to token privileges and make it possible to duplicate an access token of a running process. You can list unquoted service paths, and it will restart the running service and replace Sticky Keys. Invoker is one of the most practical ethical hacking projects for those looking to explore Windows penetration testing techniques.
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2. Hackdroid

Hackdroid is a collection of pen testing and security-related apps for android. It divides the applications into different categories to easily download any application from any category and use them for penetration testing and ethical hacking.

Several applications will require root permissions for that. Installing Magisk will be helpful to root the device and if not that, rooting the device is also possible by searching on google or XDA forum about how you can root your device. You mustn’t use your primary device for hacking because it’s likely that the creators of the application or those who changed it have already put malware on it to steal peoples’ private data.

3. H4cker

H4cker includes thousands of resources related to ethical hacking/penetration testing, digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), vulnerability research, reverse engineering, and more. This GitHub vault was created to give supplemental material to several books, video courses, and live training created by Omar Santos and other co-authors. It provides over 7,000 references, scripts, tools, code, and other resources that help offensive and defensive security professionals learn and develop new skills.

It provides direction on creating one’s custom hacking environment, learning about offensive security (ethical hacking) techniques, vulnerability research, malware analysis, threat intelligence, threat hunting, digital forensics, and incident response (DFIR). Additionally, it offers a vast collection of ethical hacking project ideas, enabling learners to apply their knowledge to hands-on security challenges, penetration testing scenarios, and real-world cybersecurity threats.

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4. Packet Sniffer

Packet Sniffer is a simple pure-Python network. In this ethical hacking project, the Packets are disassembled as they arrive at a given network interface controller, and information they contain is displayed on the screen. This application is independent and doesn’t need to depend on third-party modules, and can be run by any Python 3.x interpreter. In this ethical hacking project, the contained code is used either in part or in its totality, for engaging targets with no prior mutual consent is illegal. The responsibility to be all applicable to local, state, and federal laws is on the end-user.

The use of code is endorsed only by the creators in those circumstances directly related to educational environments or allowed penetration testing engagements that declare the goal, that is of finding and mitigating vulnerabilities in systems, limitation of their exposure to compromises and exploits employed by malicious agents as defined in their respective threat models.

Developers presume that they have no liability and that they are not responsible for misuses or damages caused by any code contained in this ethical hacking project that, accidentally or otherwise, it comes to be used by a threat agent or unauthorised entity to compromise the security, and their associated resources by leveraging the exploitation of both known or unknown vulnerabilities present in said systems, including, but not limited to, the implementation of security controls, human- or electronically enabled.

5. Capsulecorp Pentest

The Capsulecorp Pentest is a small virtual network maintained by Vagrant and Ansible. It incorporates five virtual machines, including one Linux attacking system running Xubuntu and 4 Windows 2019 servers configured with various other vulnerable services. You can use it as a standalone environment for learning network penetration testing.

Setting up a virtual network and learning penetration testing can be tiresome tasks and time and resource-draining. But in this ethical hacking project, things are done for the user already. After getting Vagrant, Ansible and VirtualBox installed on the machine, the user can run a couple of vagrant commands to have a completely functioning, Active Directory domain that you can use for hacking, learning, pentesting etc. Capsulecorp Pentest is one of the best ethical hacking projects for security professionals and learners looking for a hands-on approach to penetration testing in a controlled environment.

6. Hrshell

HRShell is an HTTPS/HTTP reverse shell built with a flask. It is an advanced C2 server with many features & capabilities. It is also compatible with python 3.x.

It is a stealthy ethical hacking project with TLS support. The Shellcode can be set or changed on the fly from the server. You must check the client’s proxy support, directory navigation (cd command and variants), and interactive history commands available on Unix systems. One may need to download, upload, screenshot, and hex the available commands. It also supports pipelining and chained commands and non-interactive commands like gdb, top, etc.

The server is capable of both HTTP and HTTPS. It is available with two built-in servers named: flask built-in and tornado-WSGI. Also, it is compatible with other production servers like gunicorn and Nginx. Since most of its functionality comes from the server’s endpoint-design, it is effortless to write to a client in any other language, e.g. Java, GO, etc.

7. Lockphish

Lockphish is the first-ever tool for phishing attacks on the lock screen, which is designed to grab windows credentials, android and iPhone passcodes using an HTTPS link. It is a lock screen phishing page for Windows, Android and iOS. Also, it doubles up as an auto-detect device. The port forwarding is guided by Ngrok and includes an IP Tracker.

This ethical hacking project idea is illegal. The usage of Lockphish for attacking targets without prior mutual consent is illegal. The responsibility falls on the end-users to obey all applicable local, state and federal laws. Developers assume no liability and are not responsible for any misuse or damage caused by this program.

While these are only a handful of ethical hacking projects that you could try, the best way to master ethical hacking is to enroll in a professional course. Since certification programs and professional courses are defined per industry standards, they enable learners to gain theoretical and practical knowledge of a domain.

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Conclusion

As the demand for cybersecurity continues to skyrocket, the scope for ethical hacking is bound to increase. In such a scenario, it is wise to acquire industry-relevant skills such as ethical hacking. By working on ethical hacking projects like the ones mentioned above, you can sharpen your real-world skills and enter the job market as a skilled, ethical hacking expert.
Ethical hacking is not just about learning security tools; it’s about developing a problem-solving mindset, understanding how cyber threats evolve, and staying ahead of malicious actors. The cybersecurity landscape is continuously changing, with new vulnerabilities and attack methods emerging every day. By working on hands-on projects, you gain practical exposure to penetration testing, vulnerability assessments, digital forensics, and security auditing, which are essential skills for ethical hackers.

If you want to pursue this profession, upGrad and IIIT-B can help you with a Advanced Certificate Programme in Cyber Security . The course offers specialization in application security, cryptography, data secrecy, and network security.

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