IFN656 Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing

Ethical hackers and penetration testers share the same goal: ensuring systems are secure. They use similar techniques, adopting methods often used by malicious threat actors, but not for malicious purposes. Ethical hackers try to anticipate malicious hackers’ behavior to expose system vulnerabilities so that they can addressed before they are exploited. Penetration testers focus on specific systems and methods to ensure security and compliance. Penetration testing helps to determine the level of risk of an information system. This course covers penetration-testing techniques and tools that ethical hackers and cyber security specialists use to discover vulnerabilities in the people, process and technology aspects of networked communication and computer systems. The course provides a structured knowledge base for security professionals to identify vulnerabilities and recommend actions for mitigation to enhance network security and protect data from potential attackers.

Unit information

Unit code: IFN656
Faculty: Faculty of Science
School/Discipline: School of Computer Science
Study area: Science
Credit points: 12

Dates and locations

Teaching period	Dates	Locations
Semester 1, 2026	23 February 2026 - 20 June 2026	Gardens Point

See all available class timetables for this unit

Previous study requirements

Prerequisites: IFN658 and IFN694

Guide to previous study requirements

Prerequisites: To enrol in this unit, you must have completed these prerequisite units (or have credit, advanced standing or exemption for them), or be able to demonstrate that you have equivalent background knowledge.
Anti-requisites: You can’t enrol in this unit if you have completed any of these anti-requisite units.
Co-requisites: To enrol in this unit, you must have already completed these co-requisite units, or you must enrol in them at the same time.
Equivalents: You can’t enrol in this unit if you have completed any of these equivalent units.
Assumed knowledge: We assume that you have a minimum level of knowledge in certain areas before you start this unit.

Apply

Single-unit study

You can apply to study this unit for personal or professional development.

Apply now

Unit outlines

Loading unit outlines...

Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of the teaching period.