An ethical hacker is also known as a white hat hacker. An ethical hacker is a cybersecurity professional who uses hacking techniques to identify vulnerabilities in computer systems and networks with the aim of improving their security. Unlike "black hat" hackers, who use their skills for illegal or malicious purposes, ethical hackers use their skills for lawful and ethical purposes.

Ethical hackers are often hired by organizations to perform penetration testing, which involves simulating attacks on computer systems and networks to identify potential vulnerabilities and weaknesses. The goal of penetration testing is to identify security vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors, and to help organizations improve their security measures.