Ethical hacking is also known as penetration testing and intrusion testing. It is a discipline in which security experts use techniques to attack the security, or break into systems, on behalf of its owners. One of the most common reason for this service is to pinpoint vulnerabilities that a malicious hacker could exploit.
Another reason for ethical hacking is to break into a computer system that has been hijacked. A hacker, a disgruntled or incapacitated employee as well as a simple mistake can render a computer and everything it contains within it inaccessible.
While it is still normally common for companies to request such services, as more and more people hold more about themselves on a computer, this type of service is being rendered to families of deceased people. The family members would normally want to access their loved one's computer for electronic content such as audio files, photos, videos, notes, financial transactions and other subject matter.