Cybersecurity today is more important than ever in this digital age, and hacking, but more so ethical hacking, was a very significant deal for securing systems. So, whether you’re just a beginner looking to understand the basics of hacking or an advanced learner looking to hone your skills in light of the present need, this guide will take you through the essential resources that will get you started on hacking. This guide starts with beginners; it talks about basic education that can help with hacking and advances to certification courses that can be availed.
Start with Free Online Education
Why Free Online Resources Matter?
Before trying to get actively into hacking, one must first get a good foundational understanding of computer systems and networking security concepts. Free learning websites provide an outline of these topics and ensure that one has an elementary level of knowledge required for an understanding of hacking techniques.
Some significant learning websites include the following:
ClassCentral: This website aggregates free courses from top universities on a wide range of topics-from cybersecurity to networks and programming.
SANS Cyber Aces: Cyber Aces emphasizes the basics of cybersecurity and involves topics in networking, operating systems, and system administration.
EdX and Coursera offer courses from the top institutions in programming, cybersecurity and IT.
FreeCodeCamp: This is a hands-on coding environment. You will develop your programming skills, which are essentially part of your understanding of scripting and automation in terms of hacking.
Free Online Education:
ClassCentral: https://www.classcentral.com/
SANS Cyber Security Training: https://www.sans.org/cyberaces/
EdX: https://www.edx.org/
Coursera: https://www.coursera.org/
Codecamp: https://www.freecodecamp.org/Building a Solid Knowledge Base
First, learn programming languages such as Python, bash scripting, and JavaScript before jumping into hacking. All of these programming languages will enable you to automate many tasks, script attacks, and appreciate vulnerabilities in code. All three of the aforementioned sites, FreeCodeCamp, EdX, and Coursera, are great places to learn these languages.
Explore Pentesting Resources
What is Penetration Testing?
Penetration testing, or pentesting for short, is the process of testing a computer system, network, or web application to find their potential security weaknesses that an attacker could exploit. The learning process of pen testing is a step-by-step guide for aspiring ethical hackers.
Here are some of the best resources for getting started in pen testing:
Web Security Academy: Free interactive learning system teaching web security concepts and allowing you to practice hacking skills.
OWASP Juice Shop is one vulnerable web application under which it is possible to practice exploiting common security vulnerabilities in a safe controlled environment.
Damn Vulnerable Web Application (DVWA): Another honeypot designed to deliberately go wrong, helping you practice on web security testing.
AWSGoat and AzureGoat: If you’re interested in cloud security, then these tools allow hands-on challenges in a simulated AWS or Azure environment.
Pentesting:
Web Security Academy: https://portswigger.net/web-security
OWASP Juice Shop: https://owasp.org/www-project-juice-shop/
Damn Vulnerable Web Application: https://github.com/digininja/DVWA
AWSGoat: https://github.com/ine-labs/AWSGoat
AzureGoat: https://github.com/ine-labs/AzureGoat
Attack Defense: https://attackdefense.com/
Damn Vulnerable DeFi: https://www.damnvulnerabledefi.xyz/
Ethernaut: https://ethernaut.openzeppelin.com/
Hacker 101: https://www.hacker101.com/
PentesterLab: https://pentesterlab.com/
PwnTillDawn: https://online.pwntilldawn.com/
VulnMachines: https://www.vulnmachines.com/
CyberSecLabs: https://cyberseclabs.io/
HackXOR: https://hackxor.net/
Exploit Exercises: https://exploit-exercises.com/
HackMyVM: https://hackmyvm.eu/
Cmd challenge: https://cmdchallenge.com/
LordofSQLi: https://los.rubiya.kr/Hands-On Pentesting
Hands-on Pentesting labs and challenges. Some platforms to consider for hands-on exercises simulating hacking as observed in the real-world environments are PentesterLab, PwnTillDawn, and CyberSecLabs.
These offer interactive practice that recreates attacks in order to help create a safe space to learn how one might harden systems against such attacks. Most follow the format for Capture the Flag, or CTF, which is one way to game-ify the practice of hacking techniques: solving different security challenges.
Participate in Hacking Challenges and Activities
Why Hacking Challenges are Important?
Hand-on, it is possible to master hacking. A good ground to start would be to have a hold on the basics of programming and security concepts and then participate in online hacking challenges.
Here are some of the top hacking challenge platforms:
OverTheWire: One of the best, and arguably available today, it’s known for the “wargames.” OverTheWire has games like Bandit and Narnia that teach you Linux and scripting.
Both have virtual hacking labs where the participant can practice penetration testing, exploit development, and the like.
These websites focus on enhancing one’s coding skills by having fun solving challenges and puzzles.
PicoCTF: In terms of size, it’s one of the largest Capture the Flag platforms, but its main aim is for teaching cryptography to beginners and web exploitation and binary exploitation.
Joining challenges from services like RootMe and Pwn.College will also give you practical experience with all these hacking techniques, ranging from web hacking to binary exploitation.
Activities:
Pwn.College: https://pwn.college/
OverTheWire: https://overthewire.org/wargames/
UnderTheWire: https://underthewire.tech/
TryHackMe: https://tryhackme.com/
HackTheBox: https://www.hackthebox.com/
Coding Game: https://www.codingame.com/
Code Wars: https://www.codewars.com/
Crypto Pals: https://cryptopals.com/
PicoCTF: https://picoctf.org/
RootMe: https://www.root-me.org/?lang=en
Malware Unicorn: https://malwareunicorn.org/Earn Beginner Certifications
Why Certifications Matter
Certification is an essential tool that highlights your capabilities for a potential employer. It proofs your knowledge in particular aspects of cybersecurity and hacking, thus which makes it much more easier to get a job.
Some of the certifications to be checked at the introductory levels are:
CompTIA Security+: This will give you an all-around view of how knowledge is going in the field of cyber security.
CompTIA Network+: This focuses highly on the principles of networking that will explain better on the spreading mechanisms of attacks to systems.
eJPT (eLearnSecurity Junior Penetration Tester): This is a hands-on penetration test for the beginners.
Some other famous ethical hacker certification standards are Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH), Cisco CCNA that gives a strong base for understanding network infrastructure and the basic concepts of security. Other certifications include ISC2 and GIAC, whose foundational courses and exams prepare you for more advanced studies and specialized roles.
BEGINNER CERTIFICATIONS:
CompTIA Security+: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/security
CompTIA Linux+: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/linux
CompTIA A+: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/a
CompTIA Network+: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/network
CompTIA CySA+: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/
eJPTv2: https://security.ine.com/certifications
Cisco CCNA: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training
ISC2: https://www.isc2.org/
eWPT: https://security.ine.com/certifications
eCDFP: https://security.ine.com/certifications
BTL-1: https://www.securityblue.team/why-btl1
Certified CyberDefender: https://cyberdefenders.org/
eCIR: https://security.ine.com/certifications
CEH: https://www.eccouncil.org/train-certify
GIAC: https://www.giac.org/
eMAPT: https://security.ine.com/certifications
LPIC-1: https://www.lpi.org/it/our-certification
PNPT: https://certifications.tcm-sec.com/pnpt/
PJPT: https://certifications.tcm-sec.com/pnpt/Pursue Advanced Certifications for Mastery
Why Advanced Certifications?
Now that you’ve built a foundation and have some hands-on experience, it’s time to specialize in areas like web application security, cloud security, or exploit development using advanced certifications to set yourself apart as a specialist in these niche areas.
Here are just a few of the most advanced certifications:
Offensive Security Certified Professional (OSCP): One of the most prestigious certifications in the areas of ethical hacking, focusing entirely on real-world pentesting.
Burp Suite Certified Practitioner: This is specialized for web application security testing with the help of Burp Suite.
CISSP: This is one of the most recognized certifications available for security professionals that entail a broad area of security-related topics.
HTB CPTS and OSWE: These are specialized certifications in the realms of web application pentesting and exploit development.
Advanced certifications will always be respected and usually required for senior-level positions in penetration testing, cyber security consulting, and other security-focused career paths.
ADVANCED CERTIFICATIONS:
eWPTXv2: https://security.ine.com/certifications
eCPPTv2: https://security.ine.com/certifications
OSCP: https://www.offsec.com/courses/pen-200/
Burp Suite Practitioner: https://portswigger.net/web-security/certification
HTB CPTS: https://academy.hackthebox.com/preview/
OSWP: https://www.offsec.com/courses/pen-210/
OSEP: https://www.offsec.com/courses/pen-300/
HTB CBBH: https://academy.hackthebox.com/preview/
BTL-2: https://www.securityblue.team/btl2
CISSP: https://www.isc2.org/certifications/cissp
OSDA: https://www.offsec.com/courses/soc-200/
OSWE: https://www.offsec.com/courses/web-300/
CRTO: https://training.zeropointsecurity.co.us
eCTHPv2: https://security.ine.com/certifications n/
Cisco CCIE: https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/training
LPIC-2: https://www.lpi.org/it/our-certification
LPIC-3: https://www.lpi.org/our-certifications/Continuing Your Journey
Stay Engaged and Updated
Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field. So, one always needs to be up-to-date with the latest developments. Participate in forums such as the Reddit’s NetSec or get part of the cybersecurity communities, such as HackerOne, so one can be updated regarding the recent vulnerabilities and hacking techniques.
Stay curious and challenge yourself often: engage in new CTFs, read blogs about cybersecurity or open-source security projects.
Conclusion
Hacking skills change with time and efforts. Starting from free educational resources, then going to Pentesting, hands-on challenges, getting certifications, and always pushing the boundaries of your knowledge; from beginner to advanced ethical hacking skill sets are possible.
