Learn Ethical Hacking From A-Z: Beginner To Expert
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Learn ethical hacking from the ground up, covering networking, WiFi security, penetration testing, and web application hacking — CPD QS accredited, QLS Level 7 endorsed.
Learn Ethical Hacking From A-Z: Beginner To Expert
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Course Overview
Is hacking even legal? It's usually the first question people ask when ethical hacking comes up as a career path, and often the hardest one to explain to family and friends. The answer is straightforward: ethical hacking is entirely legal, provided it's carried out with explicit permission and within a clearly defined scope.
Same Skills, Different Purpose
Ethical hackers use the same techniques as cybercriminals, but with authorisation and the goal of improving security. While unauthorised access is illegal under the Computer Misuse Act 1990, ethical hackers work within agreed legal boundaries to identify and fix vulnerabilities. This principle runs throughout the course, and learners are introduced early to the different roles within the field, including penetration testers, red teamers, and bug bounty hunters.
What This Course Covers
This comprehensive course is ideal for complete beginners wanting to enter cybersecurity, as well as IT professionals looking to formalise their knowledge of penetration testing and ethical hacking techniques. The curriculum covers networking fundamentals, setting up a safe and legal hacking lab, Linux and Python basics, WiFi security testing, reconnaissance techniques, and both website and mobile application hacking, giving learners a genuinely thorough grounding in the field.
Beyond the Technical Skills
The course also covers how to build a career and reputation within cybersecurity, including guidance on bug bounty programmes, freelancing, and client consulting, giving learners a realistic view of how ethical hacking translates into paid work.
The course was audited and updated on: 15th August, 2026
Learning Outcomes
- Understand core networking principles and how data travels online.
- Set up a safe, legal environment for practising ethical hacking.
- Apply Linux, Python, and Bash basics to hacking tasks.
- Conduct passive and active reconnaissance using industry-standard tools.
- Understand WiFi security vulnerabilities and common attack methods.
- Identify website and web application vulnerabilities, including SQL injection.
- Understand how to build a career within ethical hacking.
Key Features of This Course
- Accredited by CPD QS and endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme (QLS) at Level 7.
- Over 11 hours of in-depth, practical video content.
- Covers networking, Linux, Python, WiFi hacking, and web application security.
- Includes dedicated guidance on building a career and income as an ethical hacker.
- Structured progression from beginner fundamentals through to advanced techniques.
Assessment & Certification
Training Format
This course is delivered through structured, pre-recorded video lessons that learners can work through at their own pace. The self-paced format allows full flexibility, meaning there are no live sessions or fixed timetables to follow, making it accessible to those balancing study with work or other commitments.
Assessment
No formal assessment is required for the CPD QS certificate.
A written assignment must be submitted to receive the QLS-endorsed certificate.
Learners can choose which certification route suits their needs.
Certificate Options
CPD QS Certificate
PDF version available for £9.
Printed hard copy delivered by post for £15.
QLS Endorsed Certificate (Level 7)
Endorsed by the Quality Licence Scheme (QLS), a nationally recognised UK quality assurance body.
Requires submission of a written assignment for assessment.
Available as a hard copy for £129, with an additional £10 postage charge for international students.
Entry Requirements
There are no formal entry requirements for this course. It's open to anyone with a basic understanding of English, numeracy, and IT, regardless of prior cybersecurity or technical experience, though a genuine interest in computing is helpful.
Who Is This Course For?
- Beginners wanting to learn ethical hacking from scratch.
- IT professionals looking to move into cybersecurity or penetration testing.
- Individuals interested in bug bounty programmes or freelance security work.
- Career changers considering a future in cybersecurity.
- Existing cybersecurity staff wanting to formalise their practical skills.
Career Opportunities
- Junior Penetration Tester: £25k to £35k/year
- Ethical Hacker: £30k to £45k/year
- Cybersecurity Analyst: £28k to £40k/year
- Penetration Tester (Experienced): £40k to £60k/year
- Freelance Ethical Hacker / Bug Bounty Hunter: £20k to £60k+/year
Note: Salary figures are indicative only. Actual earnings may vary depending on experience, location, employer, and professional qualifications. Completion of this course does not guarantee employment or a specific salary level.
Why People Choose One Education for Their Career
Thousands of learners trust One Education to support their professional development, and their feedback speaks for itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I become an ethical hacker in the UK?
Most people start by building foundational knowledge through a structured course like this one, then work towards recognised certifications such as CEH or CREST, alongside gaining practical, authorised experience.
Is ethical hacking legal in the UK?
Ethical hacking is legal only when carried out with explicit, documented authorisation from the system owner; testing systems without permission is a criminal offence under the Computer Misuse Act 1990.
What qualifications do you need to be an ethical hacker?
There’s no single mandatory qualification, though industry certifications such as CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) or CREST are widely recognised and often expected by employers.
How much does an ethical hacker make in the UK?
Ethical hacker salaries typically range from £25k to £60k per year, depending on experience, specialism, and whether the role is employed or freelance.
Is this course suitable for complete beginners?
Yes, the course is designed to take learners from beginner level through to advanced techniques, with no prior cybersecurity experience required.
What’s the difference between the CPD QS and QLS certificates?
The CPD QS certificate requires no formal assessment, whilst the QLS Level 7 certificate requires a written assignment and carries an additional, nationally recognised endorsement.
Course Curriculum
| Learn Ethical Hacking From A-Z: Beginner To Expert | |||
| Course Introduction | |||
| Course Overview | 00:08:00 | ||
| About Your Instructors | 00:03:00 | ||
| Section Overview | 00:03:00 | ||
| Current Cybersecurity Market | 00:09:00 | ||
| The 3 Types of Hackers | 00:05:00 | ||
| The 4 Elements of Security | 00:04:00 | ||
| Ethical Hacker Terminology | 00:04:00 | ||
| Common Methods of Hacking | 00:08:00 | ||
| Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking Overview | 00:03:00 | ||
| Ethical Hacking vs Penetration Testing | 00:06:00 | ||
| Job Opportunities in Cybersecurity | 00:01:00 | ||
| Who is This Course is For? | 00:01:00 | ||
| Networking Basics | |||
| Networking Section Overview | 00:12:00 | ||
| How Data Travels Across The Internet | 00:02:00 | ||
| Understanding Ports and Protocols | 00:08:00 | ||
| Understanding IP Addresses: Public & Private | 00:02:00 | ||
| What Are Subnets? | 00:03:00 | ||
| The Average Network vs Remote Based | 00:06:00 | ||
| Setting Up Your Hacking Lab | |||
| Hacking Lab Section Overview | 00:09:00 | ||
| Understanding Virtual Machines | 00:03:00 | ||
| Setup Your Kali Linux Machine | 00:10:00 | ||
| VN Setup & Testing Vulnerable Systems | 00:23:00 | ||
| Linux/Python/Bash & PowerShell Basics | |||
| Linux+Python+Bash+Powershell Section Overview | 00:06:00 | ||
| Linux Basics | 00:11:00 | ||
| Working With Directories & Moving Files | 00:03:00 | ||
| Installing & Updating Application Files | 00:02:00 | ||
| Linux Text Editors | 00:04:00 | ||
| Searching For Files | 00:02:00 | ||
| Bash Scripting Basics | 00:09:00 | ||
| Python Basics | 00:11:00 | ||
| How To Remain Anonymous On The Web | |||
| Remaining Anonymous Section Overview | 00:06:00 | ||
| TOR Browser Overview | 00:06:00 | ||
| Anonsurf Overview | 00:03:00 | ||
| Changing Mac Addresses | 00:03:00 | ||
| Using a Virtual Private Network/Server (VPN, VPS) | 00:04:00 | ||
| How To Hack Into WIFI | |||
| WiFi Hacking Section Overview | 00:06:00 | ||
| WiFi Hacking System Setup | 00:09:00 | ||
| WEP Hacking Attack #1 | 00:09:00 | ||
| WEP Hacking Attack #2 | 00:04:00 | ||
| WPA/WPA2 Hacking | 00:10:00 | ||
| Passive & Active Reconnaissance (Information Gathering) | |||
| Reconnaissance Section Overview | 00:04:00 | ||
| Passive Recon vs Active Recon | 00:01:00 | ||
| Recon-ng Overview | 00:15:00 | ||
| Whois Enumeration | 00:02:00 | ||
| DNS Enumeration Overview | 00:02:00 | ||
| Netcraft.com DNS Information | 00:03:00 | ||
| Google Hacking | 00:05:00 | ||
| Shodan.io Overview | 00:02:00 | ||
| Securityheaders.com (Analyze HTTPS Headers of website) | 00:02:00 | ||
| Ssllabs.com/ssltest (Look for SSL issues on website) | 00:02:00 | ||
| Pastebin.com (Sensitive Information) | 00:01:00 | ||
| NMAP Port Scanning (Discover open ports, OS, Services, Vulnerabilities, etc.) | 00:15:00 | ||
| Netcat Overview + SMB/NFSEnumeration | 00:14:00 | ||
| Nikto & Sparta Web Application Scanner | 00:06:00 | ||
| SMPT Enumeration + Nessus/Openvas Scanners | 00:05:00 | ||
| Launching Attacks | |||
| Launching Attacks Overview | 00:10:00 | ||
| Analyzing Information Gathered | 00:04:00 | ||
| Taking Advantage of Telenet | 00:06:00 | ||
| Searching & Understanding Exploits | 00:06:00 | ||
| Copy Exploits From Searchsploit | 00:03:00 | ||
| Understanding Exploits | 00:04:00 | ||
| Launching Exploits | 00:24:00 | ||
| Brute Force Attacks | 00:07:00 | ||
| How To Crack Passwords | 00:04:00 | ||
| ARP Spoofing Overview | 00:21:00 | ||
| Introduction To Cryptography | 00:14:00 | ||
| Post Exploitation | |||
| Post Exploitation Section Overview | 00:03:00 | ||
| Privilege Escalation | 00:29:00 | ||
| Transferring Files in/out of Victim, Creating Custom Malware + Evading Antivirus | 00:27:00 | ||
| Installing a Keylogger | 00:03:00 | ||
| Installing a Backdoor | 00:07:00 | ||
| Website & Web Application Hacking | |||
| Website & Web Application Hacking Overview | 00:06:00 | ||
| Web Application Scanning | 00:08:00 | ||
| Directory Buster Hacking Tool | 00:03:00 | ||
| Nikto Web App Hacking Tool | 00:03:00 | ||
| SQLmap and SQL Ninja Overview | 00:01:00 | ||
| How To Execute Brute Force Attacks | 00:13:00 | ||
| Using Command Injection | 00:03:00 | ||
| Malicious File Upload | 00:10:00 | ||
| Local & Remote File Inclusion | 00:10:00 | ||
| SQL Injection Overview | 00:19:00 | ||
| Using Cross Site Request Forgery | 00:11:00 | ||
| Cross Site Scripting Overview | 00:12:00 | ||
| Mobile Phone Hacking & Security | |||
| Mobile Phone Hacking Section Overview | 00:11:00 | ||
| Mobile Attack Vectors | 00:02:00 | ||
| Mobile Hacking Using URLs | 00:02:00 | ||
| Jail Breaking and Rooting Considerations | 00:01:00 | ||
| Privacy Issues (Geo Location) | 00:01:00 | ||
| Mobile Phone Data Security | 00:02:00 | ||
| Getting Your Name Out There As An Ethical Hacker | |||
| Getting Your Name Out There Section Overview | 00:02:00 | ||
| Building A Brand | 00:09:00 | ||
| Personal Branding | 00:13:00 | ||
| Setup Your Website and Blog | 00:11:00 | ||
| Writing a Book | 00:10:00 | ||
| Starting a Podcast | 00:08:00 | ||
| Networking Overview | 00:06:00 | ||
| How To Make Money As An Ethical Hacker | |||
| Making Money Section Overview | 00:02:00 | ||
| Bug Bounty Programs | 00:04:00 | ||
| How To Start Freelancing | 00:11:00 | ||
| How To Start Client Consulting | 00:09:00 | ||
| How To Start A Career In Cybersecurity | |||
| Potential Salary & Cybersecurity Roadmap | 00:10:00 | ||
| Books Recommendations | 00:03:00 | ||
| Places to Practice Hacking for Free | 00:03:00 | ||
| Resources | |||
| Resources – Learn Ethical Hacking From A-Z: Beginner To Expert | 00:00:00 | ||
| Assignment | |||
| Assignment -Learn Ethical Hacking From A-Z: Beginner To Expert | 3 weeks, 3 days | ||
| Order Your Certificate | |||
| Order Your Certificate QLS | 00:00:00 | ||
Learn Ethical Hacking From A-Z: Beginner To Expert