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Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing 2026
4.8
Offered by HarvardX & IBM SecurityProfessional CertificateAccredited
Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing 2026
Master offensive security: reconnaissance, network port exploitation with Nmap, web app vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10), Metasploit payloads, and defensive hardening.
4.8(28,450 ratings)
•95,000 already enrolled
Instructor: Dr. Alexander Ross
Chair of Software Engineering · HarvardX & IBM Security
Curriculum Overview
About This Course
Master offensive security: reconnaissance, network port exploitation with Nmap, web app vulnerabilities (OWASP Top 10), Metasploit payloads, and defensive hardening.
Throughout this track, you will transition from core conceptual mental models to building hardened, real-world software. Every module combines structured conceptual explanations with live in-browser coding katas, architectural diagrams, and automated test assertions. By completing the hands-on milestones, you build a verified portfolio demonstrating deep competency to engineering leaders and top employers.
Interactive In-Browser Katas
Write, compile, and debug real code in our integrated sandbox with instant test verification and syntax hints.
Production Architecture
Explore real enterprise patterns, memory trade-offs, concurrency paradigms, and scalable system design.
Verifiable Certificate
Earn an accredited, shareable digital credential authenticated by HarvardX & IBM Security and ASCI Institute.
Portfolio Capstone Project
Build and deploy an end-to-end applied capstone deliverable ready to showcase on your GitHub and resume.
Curriculum Highlights & Architectural Focus
- Reconnaissance & Passive OSINT: Shodan, WHOIS, DNS Zone Transfers & Subdomain Enumeration
- Network Penetration: SYN Stealth Scans, Service Fingerprinting & CVE Exploitation
- Web Application Hacking: Burp Suite Proxy, CSRF, IDOR, SSRF & Cross-Site Scripting
- System Exploitation & Post-Exploitation: Metasploit Meterpreter & Privilege Escalation
- Professional Penetration Test Reporting & CVSS v3.1 Severity Scoring
Technologies, Frameworks & Tooling Covered
Kali LinuxNmapBurp SuiteMetasploitWiresharkJohn the RipperHydra
Course Specifications
Offered ByHarvardX & IBM Security
CredentialProfessional Certificate
Skill LevelAdvanced
Curriculum4 Modules · 4 Lessons
Commitment14 Weeks · Self-Paced
InstructionEnglish · Auto Subtitles & Transcripts
CertificateIncluded upon Completion
Free Audit Available · Full Access Included with Plus
Who Should Take This Course?
Ideal for students, software engineers, and technical professionals aiming to master Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing 2026, pass technical interviews, and build production-grade applications.
Official Partner Masterclass
Official Course Video & Keynote
Official Course Video:HarvardX & IBM Security
Click to Watch Official Lecture
1080p HDEthical Hacking & Penetration Testing 2026
Official Lecture & WalkthroughKey Lecture Chapters & Timestamps
What you will learn
Key competencies verified by HarvardX & IBM Security
Master production-grade engineering principles in Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing 2026
Write clean, idiomatic, and highly maintainable code conforming to industry standards
Solve rigorous real-world problem sets with automated in-browser feedback
Build a portfolio-grade capstone project ready for technical interviews and resume presentation
Skills you will gain
Software EngineeringAlgorithmsClean CodeSystems ArchitectureProduction Deployment
Shareable Certificate
Earn a certificate upon completion backed by HarvardX & IBM Security.
100% Online & Self-Paced
Start instantly and learn at your own schedule from any device.
Hands-on Challenge Katas
Write, compile, and debug real code in the browser IDE.
Flexible Deadlines
Reset deadlines according to your personal availability.
Syllabus: What is in this Professional Certificate
4 Modules · 4 Lessons · 4 Capstone Projects
•
1
Module 1: Passive OSINT & Active Network Reconnaissance
Map target infrastructure footprints using DNS enumeration, Shodan, and Nmap timing scans.
1.1
1.1 Nmap TCP SYN Stealth Scanning (-sS)
Perform half-open TCP SYN scans that tear down connections with RST before completion.
Coding KataLaunch
2
Module 2: Web App Exploitation (OWASP Top 10)
Identify and exploit Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) and Insecure Direct Object References (IDOR).
3
Module 3: Post-Exploitation & Privilege Escalation
Escalate from unprivileged service accounts to root/SYSTEM via SUID binaries and misconfigured cron jobs.
4
Module 4: Remediation & CVSS v3.1 Severity Scoring
Calculate Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Base Metrics for executive security audits.
Capstone Applied Learning Project
Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing 2026 Industry Capstone
Architect and deploy an end-to-end production application demonstrating all core competencies acquired throughout the Ethical Hacking & Penetration Testing 2026 curriculum.
Final Deliverable
Complete open-source repository with documentation, unit test suite, and deployment configuration.
Technologies & Stack
GitVS CodeTerminalDocker
Instructors
Learn from industry pioneers and senior educators from HarvardX & IBM Security
Dr. Alexander Ross
Chair of Software Engineering
HarvardX & IBM Security
Senior educator and systems architect with over 15 years of industry and academic experience.
91%
Positive Career Outcome
of graduates reported significant skill advancement and improved readiness for engineering roles.
Median reported compensation: ₹26,00,000 / year
Learner Reviews
4.8 out of 5(28,450 ratings)
January 2026
"Clear explanations, excellent hands-on challenge katas, and great pacing. Highly recommended."
Cameron ReedSoftware Developer at Atlassian
Verified LearnerFrequently Asked Questions
Answers to common queries about certificates, grading, and prerequisites