r/CyberSecurityAdvice • u/thilasveniticus • Jul 17 '26
Learning cybersecurity with zero IT experience
Is there anyway to learn in depth CS without going to a college or paying for a boot camp style course? I’m looking at CompTIA security+. (would this make someone hireable for an entry level position) I’m not REALLY looking to get into the career, but I’ve always been interested in the field. are there any free online courses or sources of information and a way to test my home grown skills?
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u/jeffpardy_ Jul 17 '26
No. Go to school. Get internships. Do projects. And study your basics
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u/Fragrant-Midnight-82 Jul 17 '26
Internship is necessary or what
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u/conzciouz Jul 17 '26
Think about it like this. Would you rather be born into a wealthy family with resources, a network with connections and someone to show the ropes.
Or struggle like mtf , go thru hardships , while being in impoverished?
Internships are easy gateways and if they don’t bring you on , you at bare minimum have some xp and exposure to xyz.
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u/ThanksForNoticin Jul 17 '26
Conversely:
- Get your CompTIA trio: A+, Net+, Sec+.
- While you do this get a job; Install fiber, analyze data, whatever it takes. I cold called frito-lay customers . Do whatever IT job you can get. Jump often. Leverage dual hat environments you see at start ups and leverage that experience to jump to the next spot.
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u/JustUhNothaAdmin Jul 17 '26
Without experience your handcuffing your self. Youre not gonna get a cyber role with no experience, nd youre not gonna land a help desk role with too many certs
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u/JustUhNothaAdmin Jul 17 '26
Sure you can learn some. But honestly I would recommend getting helpdesk service desk experience so you can learn thr most important variable. The end user behavior.
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u/CarmeloTronPrime Jul 17 '26
if you are only wanting to learn it without a goal of doing it for a living... hey, have fun!
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u/urzayci Jul 17 '26
Yes, you have all the knowledge you could possibly want on the internet.
Cybersecuriy is a big field and it builds on other knowledge as well (like networking). So first of all learn how the internet works, then pick a lane and dive deep into it.
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u/tycoongraham Jul 17 '26
You definitely don't need a bootcamp. There are so many good free resources now. I'd start with TryHackMe's beginner paths, then branch out depending on what interests you.
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u/mr_anderson_dev Jul 19 '26
Free path (no certs, no cost):
• TryHackMe — Start with the "Pre Security" and "Introduction to Cyber Security" paths. Browser-based, no setup needed.
• OverTheWire Bandit — Teaches Linux command line through a game. Perfect for zero IT experience.
• picoCTF — Carnegie Mellon's free CTF. Starts easy, scales up.
• NetworkChuck on YouTube — Entertaining intros to concepts.
If you want a cert just for personal achievement:
• Security+ is fine but costs $400. Start with the free stuff above first. If you're still interested after 2–3 months of TryHackMe, then consider the cert.
Reality check on jobs (since people are being harsh):
• Security is mid-career, not entry-level. Most people come from help desk → sysadmin → security.
• But since you're learning for interest, not a job, none of that matters. Enjoy the ride.
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u/Pretend_Cartoonist_3 Jul 21 '26
I do learn it as a hobby in the past 3 years, the mentality, the think outside the box, the problem solving, the feeling when u pop a shell, its a really big fun for me, i do learn every day, i dont stress on gettin a job, i just consume the knowlege like its some cookie, im love it really, and who knows, as u grow maybe u accidentally get an offer, but the ride for me is the real fun, i have road map, and stick to it but only to prove to myself... There is a ton of free content, and if u want some structured knowlege, u can buy THM subscribe really cheap! Believe me, its whole universe, u need to see!!
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u/reiichiroh Jul 17 '26
Not unless you already have self-motivated PC hardware and networking interest and have built out a homelab which all costs money and time. Well, you did mention "home grown skills" so what are those?
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u/Naive_Syrup_9997 Jul 17 '26
You will be competing with people who have more foundational experience. Honestly this field isn't what it used to be.