A new section of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.
All courses run for six weeks, with a two-week grace period at the end. Two lessons
are released each week for the six-week duration of the course. You do not have
to be present when lessons are released. You will have access to all lessons until
the course ends. However, the interactive discussion area that accompanies each
lesson will automatically close two weeks after the lesson is released. As such,
we strongly recommend that you complete each lesson within two weeks of its release.
The final exam will be released on the same day as the last lesson. Once the final
exam has been released, you will have two weeks to complete all of your course work,
including the final exam.
Week One
Wednesday - Lesson 01
If you've ever wondered about the different types of hackers, what motivates them, and when hacking is considered ethical, this lesson answers these questions and more! You'll learn about the white-, black-, and gray-hat hackers, why they hack, the methods they use, and the ethics of computing and hacking. You'll also get your feet wet by learning how to conduct a security audit on your network by trying to penetrate it just as a hacker would!
Friday - Lesson 02
This is the lesson where you'll learn about people hacking! Social engineering is the official term for the physical and psychological methods hackers use to gain entry to your system. Intrigued? Good. Get ready to learn the insider techniques of how hackers gain information about your networks through preying on the weakest link in any organization—its employees!
Week Two
Wednesday - Lesson 03
If you've ever used the Google search engine to find information on the Internet, you know how powerful it is. Hackers know this too, and they have found a way to use the built-in power of Google to gather information about your network! By learning how the search engine works, you'll see why and how Google stores so much public and private information. Then, you'll learn how hackers extract this wealth of information and how they use it against you.
Friday - Lesson 04
In this lesson, you'll learn advanced Google hacking techniques so that you can perform a Google hack for your security audit. Get a full list of advanced hacking operators and discover—in depth—the advanced method of querying Google. Through a step-by-step example, you'll see how a search query is performed and what results look like. And of course, you'll learn how to incorporate this hacking method into your own security audit!
Week Three
Wednesday - Lesson 05
Have you ever wondered what really goes on within your network? The OSI 7 Layer Network Model is the standard on which networks are built, so in order to fully understand how networks are hacked, you need to understand this model. But have no fear! You'll learn the purpose, function, and communication methods of each layer within the model. And I assure you it will be painless!
Friday - Lesson 06
Have you ever wanted to see what kind of information your network is sending out into cyberspace? Well, it's all in the packets. Once you understand the OSI 7 Layer Network Model, you can now understand packets that travel across a network. It's in those packets that hackers can gain the most information about your network. You'll learn how communication between two networks takes place—from the initial handshake to the termination of the connection—and how you can capture packets from your network just as a hacker would.
Week Four
Wednesday - Lesson 07
Now that you've learned how a hacker scouts out your network and gains information, it would be nice to know from what direction they'll attack you from, won't it? Learn how to look for signs that your network has been exposed or penetrated. By understanding the levels of security, from vulnerability through exposure, you'll view a hack through the eyes of a real hacker.
Friday - Lesson 08
We all know that common ports connect printers, USB devices, and the like. But, did you know that there are also ports hidden inside your computer? And more importantly, do you know how these hidden ports can endanger you if they are left exposed on your network? In this lesson, we'll look at a PC from the inside out. This lavishly illustrated lesson will help you understand what ports are, where they are located, and what they do. Then, it's a short step to understanding how leaving these ports open can result in a hacker learning the services and software running on your network.
Week Five
Wednesday - Lesson 09
While the term necessary evil is a cliché, we do have a few necessary evils in the computing world. In order to make networks function, sometimes we need to run programs that might not be good for our security. You'll need to learn to manage the risk involved with running these services by understanding what they do, how they operate, and what you can do to keep them from exposing your network core.
Friday - Lesson 10
Get ready to learn about rootkits in this information-packed lesson! A hacker's best friend, these malicious programs run undetected in the background of your system, launching malicious attacks, sometimes even without your knowledge. It's both hard to find and hard to get rid of rootkits, so for the sake of your PC's security, get ready to apply this lesson today!
Week Six
Wednesday - Lesson 11
Have you ever analyzed your risk? In this lesson, you'll learn how to conduct a risk analysis in order to determine the most vulnerable points within your network. Hand in hand with the analysis is your audit plan, where you can probe your computer or network for the weakest links. And then, we'll talk about what to do once you've found them.
Friday - Lesson 12
If you like forensics television shows like CSI, this lesson is for you. No PC security course could be complete without an introduction to computer forensics, which is a precise science used to contain security breaches and minimize loss in the event of an attack. Learn how to become a computer investigator so that you'll be prepared if a hacker ever violates your system.