Analog vs Digital: What Is The Difference Between Analog And Digital?.

 

What is Signal?

A signal is an electromagnetic or electrical current that is used for carrying data from one system or network to another. The signal is a function that conveys information about a phenomenon.

In electronics and telecommunications, it refers to any time-varying voltage that is an electromagnetic wave which carries information. A signal can also be defined as an observable change in quality such as quantity. There are two main types of signals: Analog signal and Digital signal.

What is an Analog Signal?     

Analog signal is a continuous signal in which one time-varying quantity represents another time-based variable. These kind of signals works with physical values and natural phenomena such as earthquake, frequency, volcano, speed of wind, weight, lighting, etc.

 What is a Digital Signal?

A digital signal is a signal that is used to represent data as a sequence of separate values at any point in time. It can only take on one of a fixed number of values. This type of signal represents a real number within a constant range of values. Now, let’s learn some key difference between Digital and Analog signals.

 

KEY DIFFERENCES:

• An analog signal is a continuous signal whereas Digital signals are time separated signals.
• Analog signal is denoted by sine waves while It is denoted by square waves
• Analog signal uses a continuous range of values that help you to represent information on the other hand digital signal uses discrete 0 and 1 to represent information.
• Comparing Digital vs Analog signals, The analog signal bandwidth is low while the bandwidth of the digital signal is high.
• Analog instruments give considerable observational errors whereas Digital instruments never cause any kind of observational errors.
• Analog hardware never offers flexible implementation, but Digital hardware offers flexibility in implementation.
• Comparing Analog vs Digital signal, Analog signals are suited for audio and video transmission while Digital signals are suited for Computing and digital electronics.

Characteristics OF Analog Signal

Here, are essential characteristics of Analog Signal

• These type of electronic signals are time-varying
• Minimum and maximum values which is either positive or negative.
• It can be either periodic or non-periodic.
• Analog Signal works on continuous data.
• The accuracy of the analog signal is not high when compared to the digital signal.
• It helps you to measure natural or physical values.
• Analog signal output form is like Curve, Line, or Graph, so it may not be meaningful to all.

Characteristics of Digital Signals

Here, are essential characteristics of Digital signals

• Digital signals are time separated signals.
• This type of electronic l signals can be processed and transmitted better compared to analog signal.
• Digital signals are versatile, so it is widely used.
• The accuracy of the digital signal is better than that of the analog signal.

Difference Between Analog and Digital Signal

Here are the important difference between Analog and Digital transmission:

Analog	Digital
An analog signal is a continuous signal that represents physical measurements.	Digital signals are time separated signals which are generated using digital modulation.
It is denoted by sine waves	It is denoted by square waves
It uses a continuous range of values that help you to represent information.	Digital signal uses discrete 0 and 1 to represent information.
Temperature sensors, FM radio signals, Photocells, Light sensor, Resistive touch screen are examples of Analog signals.	Computers, CDs, DVDs are some examples of Digital signal.
The analog signal bandwidth is low	The digital signal bandwidth is high.
Analog signals are deteriorated by noise throughout transmission as well as write/read cycle.	Relatively a noise-immune system without deterioration during the transmission process and write/read cycle.
Analog hardware never offers flexible implementation.	Digital hardware offers flexibility in implementation.
It is suited for audio and video transmission.	It is suited for Computing and digital electronics.
Processing can be done in real-time and consumes lesser bandwidth compared to a digital signal.	It never gives a guarantee that digital signal processing can be performed in real time.
Analog instruments usually have s scale which is cramped at lower end and gives considerable observational errors.	Digital instruments never cause any kind of observational errors.
Analog signal doesn’t offer any fixed range.	Digital signal has a finite number, i.e., 0 and 1.

 

 

Advantages of Analog Signals

Here, are pros/benefits of Analog Signals

• Easier in processing
• Best suited for audio and video transmission.
• It has a low cost and is portable.
• It has a much higher density so that it can present more refined information.
• Not necessary to buy a new graphics board.
• Uses less bandwidth than digital sounds
• Provide more accurate representation of a sound
• It is the natural form of a sound.

Advantages of Digital Signals

Here, are pros/advantages of Digital Signals:

• Digital data can be easily compressed.
• Any information in the digital form can be encrypted.
• Equipment that uses digital signals is more common and less expensive.
• Digital signal makes running instruments free from observation errors like parallax and approximation errors.
• A lot of editing tools are available
• You can edit the sound without altering the original copy
• Easy to transmit the data over networks

Disadvantages of Analog Signals

Here are cons/drawback of Analog Signals:

• Analog tends to have a lower quality signal than digital.
• The cables are sensitive to external influences.
• The cost of the Analog wire is high and not easily portable.
• Low availability of models with digital interfaces.
• Recording analog sound on tape is quite expensive if the tape is damaged
• It offers limitations in editing
• Tape is becoming hard to find
• It is quite difficult to synchronize analog sound
• Quality is easily lost
• Data can become corrupted
• Plenty of recording devices and formats which can become confusing to store a digital signal
• Digital sounds can cut an analog sound wave which means that you can’t get a perfect reproduction of a sound
• Offers poor multi-user interfaces

Disadvantages of Digital Signals

• Sampling may cause loss of information.
• A/D and D/A demands mixed-signal hardware
• Processor speed is limited
• Develop quantization and round-off errors
• It requires greater bandwidth
• Systems and processing is more complex.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Internet vs Intranet: Key Differences.

 

What is Internet?

The internet is a global system that uses TCP/IP protocol suite to link various types of electric devices worldwide. The internet is a collection of interconnected devices that are spread across the globe. The internet is a network of networks which consist of public, private, sales, finance, academic, business, and government networks. The internet is a type of network and called a network of networks.

What is Intranet?

An intranet is a private network which gives employees in a company the ability to organize information, manage documents, shares calendars and to-do list. It normally runs in a client/server environment in a local area network.

In Intranet, every computer is connected via the LAN and has something known as an MAC address. It is a number that allows you to identify the place where the computer is located.

KEY DIFFERENCES:

• The Internet is a wide network of computers that is available to all whereas Intranet is a network of computers designed for a certain group of users.
• Internet is a public network and Intranet is a private network.
• Internet contains various source of information while Intranet only contains group-specific information.
• Number of internet users are very high but the number of users of Intranet is limited.
• Anyone can access the internet while Intranet is accessible only by the organization employees or admin who have login details.

How Does Internet Works?

The Internet is a network build by the interconnection of a large number of computer networks that is not owned by any entity. It is not admin by any administration any person in the world can join it.

TCP/IP protocol is the main impelling agent for the internet used by the connected networks apart from other protocols like FTP, HTTP, and SMTP.

How Does Intranet Works?

An intranet is a private computer network that uses internet protocols, network connectivity to access and share an enterprise information and operations securely with its staff.It uses the same client-server model that runs on the TCP/IP protocol suite, which is very much similar to the internet. Information within an organization can be retrieved with the help of browsers. It could also work without the need to installing special software on the user’s machines.

Features of the Internet

Here are some important features of the Internet:

• A global network which connects millions of computers
• The internet is decentralized
• Every computer over the internet is independent
• There are various ways to access the internet

Features of Intranet

Here are important features of Intranet:

• Intranet is fast and accurate.
• Most website with large graphical images, videos, and sound, process fast on Intranet
• Your firewall protects it from external threats.
• It is easy to monitor with your organization
• Easy communication across the company from all levels
• Helps to share ideas and discussions

Difference Between Internet and Intranet

Here are important differences between Internet and Intranet:

Internet	Intranet
The Internet is a wide network of computers and is available to all.	Intranet is a network of computers designed for a certain group of users.
Internet contains a large number of intranets.	Intranet can be accessed from the Internet with specific restrictions.
Number of internet users are very high.	Number of users is limited.
Internet contains various source of information.	Intranet only contains group-specific information.
Anyone can access the internet	Accessible only by the organization employees or admin who have login details.
It is not as safe as compared to intranet	Safe and secure network.
It is a public network.	It is a private network.

 

Applications of Internet

Here are important applications of Internet:

• Download programs and files
• To send and receive E-Mails
• Voice and video Conferencing
• E-Commerce
• File sharing
• Browsing various types of Information
• Search the web addresses for access through the search engine and chatting

Applications of Intranet

Here are important applications of Intranet:

• Sharing the detail of company rules/policies & regulations
• Access employee database
• Access product & customer data
• Sharing some common information
• Intranet also use for launching personal or department-specific home pages
• Submission of reports
• Corporate telephone directories

Advantages of Internet

Here are pros/benefits of using the Internet:

• The Internet is a network of computers at different locations around the world.
• Allows you to send an email message from every location
• Helps you to send or receive files between different computers
• Using the Internet, you can participate in discussion groups, such as mailing lists and newsgroups.
• It allows all small, medium, and large size businesses to sell their products with small investments.
• It makes information available worldwide
• It helps you updated with the latest news and technologies.
• It helps us meet people with the same interests as communities, forums, chats, websites, etc.

Advantages of Intranet

Here are pros/benefits of Intranet:

• Fast, easy, low-cost to implement
• Based on open standards
• Allows connectivity with other systems
• Access to internal and external information
• Improves communication

Disadvantages of Internet

Here are some cons/drawbacks of using the Internet:

• It allows everybody to speak about everything without any limitations or censorship. That could be a bad influence on impressionable minds.
• The search engines may display some fake news results.
• Internet could replace face to face collaborations and make us lose the human touch.
• Working or on the internet is surely tiring.
• The Internet makes us lazier – as for common things like search the nearest restaurant or finding the best hotel.

Disadvantages of Intranet

Here are drawbacks/cons of Intranet:

• Threat of sharing information and the loss of control
• Unauthorized access
• Limited bandwidth for the business
• Information overload lowers productivity
• Hidden or unknown complexity and cost.

 

 

 

 

What Is Computer Networking? Basics, Uses & Components.

 

What is a Computer Network?

A computer network is a group of two or more interconnected computer systems. You can establish a network connection using either cable or wireless media.

Every network involves hardware and software that connects computers and tools.

 

Computer Network Components

Here are essential computer network components:

Switches

Switches work as a controller which connects computers, printers, and other hardware devices to a network in a campus or a building.

It allows devices on your network to communicate with each other, as well as with other networks. It helps you to share resources and reduce the costing of any organization.

Routers

Routers help you to connect with multiple networks. It enables you to share a single internet connection with multiple devices and saves money. This networking component acts as a dispatcher, which allows you to analyze data sent across a network. It automatically selects the best route for data to travel and send it on its way.

Servers:

Servers are computers that hold shared programs, files, and the network operating system. Servers allow access to network resources to all the users of the network.

Clients:

Clients are computer devices which access and uses the network as well as shares network resources. They are also users of the network, as they can send and receive requests from the server.

Transmission Media:

Transmission media is a carrier used to interconnect computers in a network, such as coaxial cable, twisted-pair wire, and optical fiber cable. It is also known as links, channels, or lines.

Access points

Access points allow devices to connect to the wireless network without cables. A wireless network allows you to bring new devices and provides flexible support to mobile users.

Shared Data:

Shared data are data which is shared between the clients such as data files, printer access programs, and email.

Network Interface Card:

Network Interface card sends, receives data, and controls data flow between the computer and the network.

Local Operating System:

A local OS which helps personal computers to access files, print to a local printer and uses one or more disk and CD drives which are located on the computer.

Network Operating System:

The network operating system is a program which runs on computers and servers. It allows the computers to communicate via network.

Protocol:

A protocol is the set of defined rules that allows two entities to communicate across the network. Some standard protocols used for this purpose are IP, TCP, UDP, FTP, etc.

Hub:

Hub is a device that splits network connection into multiple computers. It acts a distribution center so whenever a computer requests any information from a computer or from the network it sends the request to the hub through a cable. The hub will receive the request and transmit it to the entire network.

LAN Cable:

Local Area Network(LAN) cable is also called as Ethernet or data cable. It is used for connecting a device to the internet.

OSI:

OSI stands for Open Systems Interconnection. It is a reference model which allows you to specify standards for communications.

Unique Identifiers of Network

Below given are some unique network identifiers:

Hostname:

Every device of the network is associated with a unique device, which is called hostname.

IP Address:

IP (Internet Protocol) address is as a unique identifier for each device on the Internet. Length of the IP address is 32-bits. IPv6 address is 128 bits.

DNS Server:

DNS stands for Domain Name System. It is a server which translates URL or web addresses into their corresponding IP addresses.

MAC Address:

MAC (Media Access Control Address) is known as a physical address is a unique identifier of each host and is associated with the NIC (Network Interface Card). General length of MAC address is : 12-digit/ 6 bytes/ 48 bits

Port:

Port is a logical channel which allows network users to send or receive data to an application. Every host can have multiple applications running. Each of these applications are identified using the port number on which they are running.

Other Important Network Components

ARP:

ARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol which helps network users to convert the IP address into its corresponding Physical Address.

RARP:

RARP Reverse Address Resolution Protocol gives an IP address of the device with given a physical address as input.

 

Uses of Computer Networks

Here are some common application of computer networks

• Helps you to share resource such as printers
• Allows you to share expensive software’s and database among network participants
• Provides fast and effective communication from one computer to another computer
• Helps you to exchange data and information among users via a network.

Advantages of Computer Networking

Here are the fundamental benefits/pros of using Computer Networking:

• Helps you to connect with multiple computers together to send and receive information when accessing the network.
• Helps you to share printers, scanners, and email.
• Helps you to share information at very fast speed
• Electronic communication is more efficient and less expensive than without the network.

Disadvantages of Computer Networking

Here are drawbacks/ cons of using computer networks:

• Investment for hardware and software can be costly for initial set-up
• If you don’t take proper security precautions like file encryption, firewalls then your data will be at risk.
• Some components of the network design may not last for many years, and it will become useless or malfunction and need to be replaced.
• Requires time for constant administration
• Frequent server failure and issues of regular cable faults

Summary:

• A computer network is a group of two or more interconnected computer systems
• Computer networks help you to connect with multiple computers together to send and receive information
• Switches work as a controller which connects computers, printers, and other hardware devices
• Routers help you to connect with multiple networks. It enables you to share a single internet connection and saves money
• Servers are computers that hold shared programs, files, and the network operating system
• Clients are computer device which accesses and uses the network and shares network resources
• Hub is a device that split a network connection into multiple computers.
• Access points allow devices to connect to the wireless network without cables
• Network Interface card sends, receives data and controls data flow between the computer and the network
• A protocol is the set of defined rules which that allows two entities to communicate across the network
• Hostname, IP Address, DNS Server, and host are important unique identifiers of computer networks.
• ARP stands for Address Resolution Protocol
• RAR Reverse Address Resolution Protocol gives an IP address of the device with given a physical address as input.
• Computer network helps you to share expensive software’s and database among network participants
• The biggest drawback of installing computer network is that its initial investment for hardware and software can be costly for initial set-up.

 

 

How To Hack WiFi Password: Guide To Crack Wi-Fi Network.

 

Wireless networks are accessible to anyone within the router’s transmission radius. This makes them vulnerable to attacks. Hotspots are available in public places such as airports, restaurants, parks, etc.

In this tutorial, we will introduce you to common techniques used to exploit weaknesses in wireless network security implementations. We will also look at some of the countermeasures you can put in place to protect against such attacks.

What is a wireless network?

A wireless network is a network that uses radio waves to link computers and other devices together. The implementation is done at the Layer 1 (physical layer) of the OSI model.

How to access a wireless network?

You will need a wireless network enabled device such as a laptop, tablet, smartphones, etc. You will also need to be within the transmission radius of a wireless network access point. Most devices (if the wireless network option is turned on) will provide you with a list of available networks. If the network is not password protected, then you just have to click on connect. If it is password protected, then you will need the password to gain access.

Wireless Network Authentication

Since the network is easily accessible to everyone with a wireless network enabled device, most networks are password protected. Let’s look at some of the most commonly used authentication techniques.

WEP

WEP is the acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy. It was developed for IEEE 802.11 WLAN standards. Its goal was to provide the privacy equivalent to that provided by wired networks. WEP works by encrypting the data been transmitted over the network to keep it safe from eavesdropping.

WEP Authentication

Open System Authentication (OSA) – this methods grants access to station authentication requested based on the configured access policy.

Shared Key Authentication (SKA) – This method sends to an encrypted challenge to the station requesting access. The station encrypts the challenge with its key then responds. If the encrypted challenge matches the AP value, then access is granted.

WEP Weakness

WEP has significant design flaws and vulnerabilities.

• The integrity of the packets is checked using Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC32). CRC32 integrity check can be compromised by capturing at least two packets. The bits in the encrypted stream and the checksum can be modified by the attacker so that the packet is accepted by the authentication system. This leads to unauthorized access to the network.
• WEP uses the RC4 encryption algorithm to create stream ciphers. The stream cipher input is made up of an initial value (IV) and a secret key. The length of the initial value (IV) is 24 bits long while the secret key can either be 40 bits or 104 bits long. The total length of both the initial value and secret can either be 64 bits or 128 bits long.The lower possible value of the secret key makes it easy to crack it.
• Weak Initial values combinations do not encrypt sufficiently. This makes them vulnerable to attacks.
• WEP is based on passwords; this makes it vulnerable to dictionary attacks.
• Keys management is poorly implemented. Changing keys especially on large networks is challenging. WEP does not provide a centralized key management system.
• The Initial values can be reused

Because of these security flaws, WEP has been deprecated in favor of WPA

WPA

WPA is the acronym for Wi-Fi Protected Access. It is a security protocol developed by the Wi-Fi Alliance in response to the weaknesses found in WEP. It is used to encrypt data on 802.11 WLANs. It uses higher Initial Values 48 bits instead of the 24 bits that WEP uses. It uses temporal keys to encrypt packets.

WPA Weaknesses

• The collision avoidance implementation can be broken
• It is vulnerable to denial of service attacks
• Pre-shares keys use passphrases. Weak passphrases are vulnerable to dictionary attacks.

How to Crack WiFI (Wireless) Networks

WEP cracking

Cracking is the process of exploiting security weaknesses in wireless networks and gaining unauthorized access. WEP cracking refers to exploits on networks that use WEP to implement security controls. There are basically two types of cracks namely;

• Passive cracking– this type of cracking has no effect on the network traffic until the WEP security has been cracked. It is difficult to detect.
• Active cracking– this type of attack has an increased load effect on the network traffic. It is easy to detect compared to passive cracking. It is more effective compared to passive cracking.

 

 

WiFi Password Hacker (WEP Cracking) Tools

• Aircrack– network sniffer and WEP cracker.
• WEPCrack– this is an open source Wi-Fi hacker program for breaking 802.11 WEP secret keys.
  
• Kismet– this WiFi password hacker online detects wireless networks both visible and hidden, sniffer packets and detect intrusions.
• WebDecrypt– this WiFi password hack tool uses active dictionary attacks to crack the WEP keys. It has its own key generator and implements packet filters for hacking WiFi password. 

WPA Cracking

WPA uses a 256 pre-shared key or passphrase for authentications. Short passphrases are vulnerable to dictionary attacks and other attacks that can be used to crack passwords. The following WiFi hacker online tools can be used to crack WPA keys.

• CowPatty– this WiFi password cracker tool is used to crack pre-shared keys (PSK) using brute force attack.
• Cain & Abel– this WiFi hacker for PC tool can be used to decode capture files from other sniffing programs such as Wireshark. The capture files may contain WEP or WPA-PSK encoded frames.

 

General Attack types

• Sniffing– this involves intercepting packets as they are transmitted over a network. The captured data can then be decoded using tools such as Cain & Abel.
• Man in the Middle (MITM) Attack– this involves eavesdropping on a network and capturing sensitive information.
• Denial of Service Attack– the main intent of this attack is to deny legitimate users network resources. FataJack can be used to perform this type of attack.

Cracking Wireless network WEP/WPA keys

It is possible to crack the WEP/WPA keys used to gain access to a wireless network. Doing so requires software and hardware resources, and patience. The success of such WiFi password hacking attacks can also depend on how active and inactive the users of the target network are.

We will provide you with basic information that can help you get started. Backtrack is a Linux-based security operating system. It is developed on top of Ubuntu. Backtrack comes with a number of security tools. Backtrack can be used to gather information, assess vulnerabilities and perform exploits among other things.

Some of the popular tools that backtrack has includes;

• Metasploit
• Wireshark
• Aircrack-ng
• NMap
• Ophcrack

Cracking wireless network keys requires patience and resources mentioned above. At a minimum, you will need the following tools

A wireless network adapter with the capability to inject packets (Hardware)

• Kali Operating System.
• Be within the target network’s radius. If the users of the target network are actively using and connecting to it, then your chances of cracking it will be significantly improved.
• Sufficient knowledge of Linux based operating systems and working knowledge of Aircrack and its various scripts.
• Patience, cracking the keys may take a bit of sometime depending on a number of factors some of which may be beyond your control. Factors beyond your control include users of the target network using it actively as you sniff data packets.

How to Secure wireless networks

In minimizing wireless network attacks; an organization can adopt the following policies

• Changing default passwords that come with the hardware
• Enabling the authentication mechanism
• Access to the network can be restricted by allowing only registered MAC addresses.
• Use of strong WEP and WPA-PSK keys, a combination of symbols, number and characters reduce the chance of the keys been cracking using dictionary and brute force attacks.
• Firewall software can also help reduce unauthorized access.

How to Hack WiFi Password

In this practical scenario, we are going to learn how to crack WiFi password. We will use Cain and Abel to decode the stored wireless network passwords in Windows. We will also provide useful information that can be used to crack the WEP and WPA keys of wireless networks.

Decoding Wireless network passwords stored in Windows

Step 1) Download the Cain and Abel tool

• Download Cain & Abel from the link provided above.
• Open Cain and Abel

Step 2) Select the Decoders tab and choose Wireless passwords

• Ensure that the Decoders tab is selected then click on Wireless Passwords from the navigation menu on the left-hand side
• Click on the button with a plus sign

Step 3) The passwords will be shown

• Assuming you have connected to a secured wireless network before, you will get results similar to the ones shown below

Step 4) Get the passwords along with encryption type and SSID

• The decoder will show you the encryption type, SSID and the password that was used.

Summary

• Wireless network transmission waves can be seen by outsiders, this possesses many security risks.
• WEP is the acronym for Wired Equivalent Privacy. It has security flaws which make it easier to break compared to other security implementations.
• WPA is the acronym for Wi-Fi Protected Access. It has security compared to WEP
• Intrusion Detection Systems can help detect unauthorized access
• A good security policy can help protect a network.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ways To Watch Blocked YouTube Videos (All Country Tested).

 

YouTube is a popular video-sharing platform that helps users watch, like, comment, upload and share any media creation. This online streaming platform is completely free to use. However, not everyone can access it worldwide because of restrictions placed in Vietnam, China, and some other countries.

Ways to Watch Blocked YouTube Videos in Your Country

Here are the six ways to watch blocked YouTube videos in your country and help bypass YouTube region lock.

1) VPNs

A VPN (virtual private network) is the safest and strongest way to mask your IP address. It enables you to hide your IP and bypass YouTube region lock without any hassle. VPNs have good security features that keep you more anonymous while surfing the Internet. VPNs allow you to access areas of the Internet that are blocked due to geo-restrictions.

2) Proxy

Proxy is a server application that treats you as you are using a different IP address. A proxy acts as an intermediary between clients sending requests and servers responding. The primary use of a proxy is to maintain privacy and encapsulation between multiple interactive systems. However, it slows down your connection and doesn’t encrypt your activity.

3) Smart DNS

A smart DNS is a tool that provides access to various online entertainment channels. It requires you to change the address of the Internet either manually or with the help of third-party programs. This way, DNS service will think that it has access of countries or regions online content you like to view.

4) Download YouTube Videos

This is one of the easiest options to watch YouTube videos blocked in your country. There are many websites that are designed to save YouTube video clips so that you can enjoy them offline. This requires some planning as you need to decide ideal methods to store videos on your device.

5) Use Tor to Unblock YouTube Videos

Tor is a browser that keeps your online activity completely anonymous. It slows down your internet when you connect it, but your IP address will still untraceable. The only issue with the Tor browser is that you cannot select the country from where you will finally be connected.

6) Use Google Translate

Google translate is the last option that enables you to watch blocked YouTube videos. All you have to do is to search for the videos you like in a different language. If you do not speak any other languages, you can simply utilize Google translate to get the explanation of search query in German, Portuguese, French, etc.

The search engine here will show you the foreign language results. You have to choose to view the site in your language by clicking on “Translate this page”. This way your computer will load links only from Google translate, therefore bypassing country restrictions of YouTube is imposed by your employer or school.

 

 

Top Bug Bounty Programs & Websites.

 

What is a Bug Bounty Program?

A Bug Bounty is prize money offered to the person who finds an error or vulnerability in a computer program or system. Bug Bounty Program is offered by many websites, organizations, and software developers in which individuals can receive recognition and compensation for reporting bugs.

Best Bug Bounty Programs/Companies

Below is a curated list of Bounty Programs by reputable companies

1) Intel

Intel’s bounty program mainly targets the company’s hardware, firmware, and software.

Limitations: It does not include recent acquisitions, the company’s web infrastructure, third-party products, or anything relating to McAfee.

Minimum Payout: Intel offers a minimum amount of $500 for finding bugs in their system.

Maximum Payout: The Company pays $30,000 maximum for detecting critical bugs.

2) Yahoo

Yahoo has its dedicated team that accepts vulnerability reports from security researchers and ethical hackers.

Limitations: The Company does not offer any reward for finding bugs in yahoo.net, Yahoo 7 Yahoo Japan, Onwander and Yahoo operated WordPress blogs.

Minimum Payout: There is no set limit on Yahoo for minimum payout.

Maximum Payout: Yahoo can pay $15000 for detecting important bugs in their system. 

3) Snapchat

Snapchat security team reviews all vulnerability reports and acts upon them by responsible disclosure. The company, we will acknowledge your submission within 30 days.

Minimum Payout: Snapchat will pay minimum $2000.

Maximum Payout: Maximum they will pay is $15,000.

4) Cisco

Cisco encourages individuals or organization that are experiencing a product security issue to report them to the company.

Minimum Payout: Cisco’s minimum payout amount is $100.

Maximum Payout: Company will give maximum $2,500 to finding serious vulnerabilities. 

5) Dropbox

Dropbox bounty program allows security researchers to report bugs and vulnerabilities on the third party service HackerOne.

Minimum Payout: The minimum amount paid is $12,167.

Maximum Payout: The maximum amount offered is $32,768.

6) Apple

When Apple first launched its bug bounty program it allowed just 24 security researchers. The framework then expanded to include more bug bounty hunters.

The company will pay $100,000 to those who can extract data protected by Apple’s Secure Enclave technology.

Minimum Payout: There is no limited amount fixed by Apple Inc.

Maximum payout: The highest bounty given by Apple is $200,000 for security issues affecting its firmware.

7) Facebook

Under Facebook’s bug bounty program users can report a security issue on Facebook, Instagram, Atlas, WhatsApp, etc.

Limitations: There are a few security issues that the social networking platform considers out-of-bounds.

Minimum Payout: Facebook will pay a minimum of $500 for a disclosed vulnerability.

Maximum Payout: There is no upper limit fixed by Facebook for the Payout.

8) Google

Every content in the .google.com, .blogger, youtube.com are open for Google’s vulnerability rewards program.

Limitations: This bounty program only covers design and implementation issues. 

Minimum Payout: Google will pay minimum $300 for finding security threads.

Maximum Payout: Google will pay the highest bounty of $31.337 for normal Google applications. 

9) Quora

Quora offers Bug Bounty program to all users and researchers to find and report security vulnerabilities.

Minimum Payout: Quora will pay minimum $100 for finding vulnerabilities on their site.

Maximum Payout: Maximum payout offered by this site is $7000.

10) Mozilla

Mozilla rewards for vulnerability discoveries by ethical hackers and security researchers.

Limitations: The bounty is offered only for bugs in Mozilla services, such as Firefox, Thunderbird and other related applications and services.

Minimum Payout: Minimum amount given by Firefox is $500.

Maximum Payout: The Company is paying a maximum of $5000.

 

11) Microsoft

Microsoft’s current bug bounty program was officially launched on 23rd September 2014 and deals only with Online Services.

Limitations: The bounty reward is only given for the critical and important vulnerabilities.

Minimum Payout: Microsoft ready to pay $15,000 for finding critical bugs.

Maximum Payout: Maximum amount can be $250,000.

12) OpenSSL

OpenSSL bounty allows you to report vulnerabilities using secure email (PGP Key). You can also report vulnerabilities to the OpenSSL Management Committee.

Minimum Payout: The Company pays minimum bounty rewards of $500.

Maximum Payout: The highest amount given by the company is $5000.

13) Vimeo

Vimeo welcomes any security vulnerability reporting in their products as the company pays good rewards to that person.

Minimum payout: The Company will pay minimum $500

Maximum Payout: The maximum amount paid by this company is $5000.

 

14) Apache

Apache encourages ethical hackers to report security vulnerabilities to one of their private security mailing lists.

Minimum payout: The minimum pay out amount given by Apache is $500.

Maximum Payout: This Company can maximum give a reward of $3000.

15) Twitter

Twitter allows security researchers and experts about possible security vulnerabilities in their services. The company encourages people to find bugs.

Minimum Payout: Twitter is paying minimum $140 amount.

Maximum Payout: Maximum amount pay by the company is $15000. 

16) Avast

Avast bounty program rewards ethical hackers and security researchers to report Remote code execution, Local privilege escalation, DOS, scanner bypass amongst other issues.

Minimum Payout: Avast can pay you the minimum amount of $400.

Maximum Payout: The maximum amount offered by the company is $10,000.

17) Paypal

Payment gateway service Paypal also offers bug bounty programs for security researchers.

Limitations:

Vulnerabilities dependent upon social engineering techniques, Host Header

Denial of service (DOS), User defined payload, Content spoofing without embedded links/HTM and Vulnerabilities which require a jailbroken mobile device, etc.

Minimum Payout: Paypal can pay minimum $50 for finding security vulnerabilities in their system.

Maximum Payout: Maximum payout amount given by Paypal is $10000.

18) GitHub

GitHub’s runs bug bounty program since 2013. Every successful participant earned points for their vulnerability submissions depending on the severity.

Limitation:
The security researcher will receive that bounty only if they respect users’ data and don’t exploit any issue to produce an attack that could harm the integrity of GitHub’s services or information.

Minimum Payout: Github pays a minimum amount of $200 for finding bugs.

Maximum Payout: Github can pay $10000 for finding critical bugs.

19) Uber

The vulnerability rewards program of Uber primarily focused on protecting the data of users and its employees.

Minimum Payout: There is no predetermined minimum amount.

Maximum Payout: Uber will pay you $10,000 for finding critical bug issues.

20) Magento

Magneto bounty program allows you to report security vulnerabilities in Magneto software or websites.

Limitations:

Following security research is not eligible for the bounty

• Potential or actual denial of service of Magento applications and systems.
• Use of an exploit to view data without authorization.
• Automated/scripted testing of web forms

Minimum Payout: Minimum payout amount for this is bounty program is $100.

Maximum Payout: Magento is paying maximum $10,000 for finding critical bugs.

21) Perl

Perl is also running bug bounty programs. If someone found a security vulnerability in Perl, they can contact the company.

Minimum Payout: The Company pays a minimum amount of $500.

Maximum Payout: The highest amount given by Perl is $1500.

22) PHP

PHP allows ethical hackers to find a bug in their site.

Limitations: You need to check the list of already finding bugs. If you not follow this instruction your bug is not considered.

Maximum Payout: Minimum Payout amount is $500.

Minimum Payout: Maximum $1500 is given by PHP for searching important bugs. 

23) Starbucks

Starbucks runs bug Bounty program to protect their customers. They encourage to find malicious activity in their networks, web and mobile applications policies.

Minimum Payout: The minimum amount paid by Starbucks $100.

Maximum Payout: The maximum amount goes up to $4000.

24) AT&T

AT&T also has its bug hunting channel. Developers and security experts can research the various platforms like websites, APIs, and mobile applications.

Minimum Payout: Minimum Amount Paid by them is $500.

Maximum Payout: There is no such upper limit for payout.

25) LinkedIn

The LinkedIn welcomes Individual researchers who contribute their expertise and time to find bugs.

The company will reward you, but neither minimum nor maximum amount is a fix for this purpose. 

26) Paytm

Paytm invites independent security groups or individual researchers to study it across all platforms

Limitations:

• Reports that state that software is out of date/vulnerable without a ‘Proof of Concept.’
• XSS issues that affect only outdated browsers.
• Stack traces that disclose information.
• Any fraud issues

Minimum Payout: The Company will pay minimum $15 for finding bugs.

Maximum Payout: This company does not fix the upper limit. 

27) Shopify

Shopify’s Whitehat program rewards security researchers for finding severe security vulnerabilities

Minimum Payout: The minimum amount paid by the Shopify is $500.

Maximum Payout: There is no fix upper limit for paying the bounty. 

28) WordPress

WordPress also welcomes security researchers to report about the bugs that they have found.

Minimum Payout: WordPress Pays $150 minimum for reporting bugs on their site.

Maximum Payout: The Company does not fix a maximum limit to pay as bounty.

29) Zomato

Zomato helps security researcher to identified security-related issues with company’s website or apps.

Minimum Payout: Zomato will pay minimum $1000 for finding important bugs.

Maximum Payout: There is no maximum fix amount.

30) Tor Project

Tor Project’s bug bounty program covers two of its core services: its network daemon and browser.

Limitation: OpenSSL applications are excluded from this scope.

Minimum Payout: The minimum amount paid by them is $100.

Maximum Payout: The Company will pay you maximum $4000.

31) Hackerone

HackerOne is one of the biggest vulnerability coordination and bug bounty platform. It helps companies to protect their consumer data by working with the global research community for finding most relevant security issues. Many known companies like Yahoo, Shopify, PHP, Google, Snapchat, and Wink are taking the service of this website to give a reward to security researchers and ethical hackers.

32) Bugcrowd

A powerful platform connecting the global security researcher community to the security market. This site aims to provide right mix and type of researcher suited according to the specific website to their worldwide clients. The hackers just need to select their reports on this site, and if they can detect right bugs, the specific company will pay the amount to that person.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 25 Ethical Hacking Interview Questions And Answers.

 

We have prepared the most important Ethical Hacking interview questions to help you prepare for the job interview. This detailed guide of interview questions for Ethical Hacking will help you to crack your Job interview.

In this list of Ethical Hacker interview questions, we have covered all commonly asked basic and advanced hacking interview questions.

1) Explain what is Ethical Hacking?

Ethical Hacking is when a person is allowed to hacks the system with the permission of the product owner to find weakness in a system and later fix them.

2) What is the difference between IP address and Mac address?

IP address: To every device IP address is assigned, so that device can be located on the network. In other words IP address is like your postal address, where anyone who knows your postal address can send you a letter.

MAC (Machine Access Control) address: A MAC address is a unique serial number assigned to every network interface on every device. Mac address is like your physical mail box, only your postal carrier (network router) can identify it and you can change it by getting a new mailbox (network card) at any time and slapping your name (IP address) on it.

3) List out some of the common tools used by Ethical hackers?

• Meta Sploit
• Wire Shark
• NMAP
• John The Ripper
• Maltego

4) What are the types of ethical hackers?

The types of ethical hackers are

• Grey Box hackers or Cyberwarrior
• Black Box penetration Testers
• White Box penetration Testers
• Certified Ethical hacker

5) What is footprinting in ethical hacking? What is the techniques used for footprinting?

Footprinting refers accumulating and uncovering as much as information about the target network before gaining access into any network. The approach adopted by hackers before hacking

• Open Source Footprinting : It will look for the contact information of administrators that will be used in guessing the password in Social engineering
• Network Enumeration : The hacker tries to identify the domain names and the network blocks of the target network
• Scanning : Once the network is known, the second step is to spy the active IP addresses on the network. For identifying active IP addresses (ICMP) Internet Control Message Protocol is an active IP addresses
• Stack Fingerprinting : Once the hosts and port have been mapped by scanning the network, the final footprinting step can be performed. This is called Stack fingerprinting.

6) Explain what is Brute Force Hack?

Brute force hack is a technique for hacking password and get access to system and network resources, it takes much time, it needs a hacker to learn about JavaScripts For this purpose, one can use tool name “Hydra”.

7) Explain what is DOS (Denial of service) attack? What are the common forms of DOS attack?

Denial of Service, is a malicious attack on network that is done by flooding the network with useless traffic. Although, DOS does not cause any theft of information or security breach, it can cost the website owner a great deal of money and time.

• Buffer Overflow Attacks
• SYN Attack
• Teardrop Attack
• Smurf Attack
• Viruses

8) Explain what is SQL injection?

SQL is one of the technique used to steal data from organizations, it is a fault created in the application code. SQL injection happens when you inject the content into a SQL query string and the result mode content into a SQL query string, and the result modifies the syntax of your query in ways you did not intend.

9) What are the types of computer based social engineering attacks? Explain what is Phishing?

Computer based social engineering attacks are

• Phishing
• Baiting
• On-line scams

Phishing technique involves sending false e-mails, chats or website to impersonate real system with aim of stealing information from original website.

10) Explain what is Network Sniffing?

A network sniffer monitors data flowing over computer network links. By allowing you to capture and view the packet level data on your network, sniffer tool can help you to locate network problems. Sniffers can be used for both stealing information off a network and also for legitimate network management.

11) Explain what is ARP Spoofing or ARP poisoning?

ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) is a form of attack in which an attacker changes MAC ( Media Access Control) address and attacks an internet LAN by changing the target computer’s ARP cache with a forged ARP request and reply packets.

12) How you can avoid or prevent ARP poisoning?

ARP poisoning can be prevented by following methods

• Packet Filtering : Packet filters are capable for filtering out and blocking packets with conflicting source address information
• Avoid trust relationship : Organization should develop protocol that rely on trust relationship as little as possible
• Use ARP spoofing detection software : There are programs that inspects and certifies data before it is transmitted and blocks data that is spoofed
• Use cryptographic network protocols : By using secure communications protocols like TLS, SSH, HTTP secure prevents ARP spoofing attack by encrypting data prior to transmission and authenticating data when it is received

 13) What is Mac Flooding?

Mac Flooding is a technique where the security of given network switch is compromised. In Mac flooding the hacker or attacker floods the switch with large number of frames, then what a switch can handle. This make switch behaving as a hub and transmits all packets at all the ports. Taking the advantage of this the attacker will try to send his packet inside the network to steal the sensitive information.

14) Explain what is DHCP Rogue Server?

A Rogue DHCP server is DHCP server on a network which is not under the control of administration of network staff. Rogue DHCP Server can be a router or modem. It will offer users IP addresses , default gateway, WINS servers as soon as user’s logged in. Rogue server can sniff into all the traffic sent by client to all other networks.

15) Explain what is Cross-site scripting and what are the types of Cross site scripting?

Cross site scripting is done by using the known vulnerabilities like web based applications, their servers or plug-ins users rely upon. Exploiting one of these by inserting malicious coding into a link which appears to be a trustworthy source. When users click on this link the malicious code will run as a part of the client’s web request and execute on the user’s computer, allowing attacker to steal information.

There are three types of Cross-site scripting

• Non-persistent
• Persistent
• Server side versus DOM based vulnerabilities

16) Explain what is Burp Suite, what are the tools it consist of?

Burp suite is an integrated platform used for attacking web applications. It consists of all the Burp tools required for attacking an application. Burp Suite tool has same approach for attacking web applications like framework for handling HTTP request, upstream proxies, alerting, logging and so on.

The tools that Burp Suite has

• Proxy
• Spider
• Scanner
• Intruder
• Repeater
• Decoder
• Comparer
• Sequencer

17) Explain what is Pharming and Defacement?

• Pharming: In this technique the attacker compromises the DNS ( Domain Name System) servers or on the user computer so that traffic is directed to a malicious site
• Defacement: In this technique the attacker replaces the organization website with a different page. It contains the hackers name, images and may even include messages and background music

18) Explain how you can stop your website getting hacked?

By adapting following method you can stop your website from getting hacked

• Sanitizing and Validating users parameters: By Sanitizing and Validating user parameters before submitting them to the database can reduce the chances of being attacked by SQL injection
• Using Firewall: Firewall can be used to drop traffic from suspicious IP address if attack is a simple DOS
• Encrypting the Cookies: Cookie or Session poisoning can be prevented by encrypting the content of the cookies, associating cookies with the client IP address and timing out the cookies after some time
• Validating and Verifying user input : This approach is ready to prevent form tempering by verifying and validating the user input before processing it
• Validating and Sanitizing headers : This techniques is useful against cross site scripting or XSS, this technique includes validating and sanitizing headers, parameters passed via the URL, form parameters and hidden values to reduce XSS attacks

19) Explain what is Keylogger Trojan?

Keylogger Trojan is malicious software that can monitor your keystroke, logging them to a file and sending them off to remote attackers. When the desired behaviour is observed, it will record the keystroke and captures your login username and password.

20) Explain what is Enumeration?

The process of extracting machine name, user names, network resources, shares and services from a system. Under Intranet environment enumeration techniques are conducted.

21) Explain what is NTP?

To synchronize clocks of networked computers, NTP (Network Time Protocol) is used. For its primary means of communication UDP port 123 is used. Over the public internet NTP can maintain time to within 10 milliseconds

 

22) Explain what is MIB?

MIB ( Management Information Base ) is a virtual database. It contains all the formal description about the network objects that can be managed using SNMP. The MIB database is hierarchical and in MIB each managed objects is addressed through object identifiers (OID).

23) Mention what are the types of password cracking techniques?

The types of password cracking technique includes

• AttackBrute Forcing
• AttacksHybrid
• AttackSyllable
• AttackRule

24) Explain what are the types of hacking stages?

The types of hacking stages are

• Gaining AccessEscalating
• PrivilegesExecuting
• ApplicationsHiding
• FilesCovering Tracks

25) Explain what is CSRF (Cross Site Request Forgery)? How you can prevent this?

CSRF or Cross site request forgery is an attack from a malicious website that will send a request to a web application that a user is already authenticated against from a different website. To prevent CSRF you can append unpredictable challenge token to each request and associate them with user’s session. It will ensure the developer that the request received is from a valid source.