Ethical hacking involves legally breaking into computers and devices to test an organization’s defenses. It is performed by professionals known as ethical hackers, who use their skills to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in systems, networks, or applications. The goal is to strengthen security by fixing these issues before malicious hackers can exploit them. Ethical hacking follows a structured approach, often mirroring the tactics and techniques used by cybercriminals but with permission from the system owner.