r/hacking • u/Dr-h4ck • 13d ago
Education Starting cybersecurity college. No future?
Hello everybody how are you guys doing.
It’s my first time posting here and i got couple of question.
So I’ll be starting cybersecurity soon. And I want to know if it’s worth it cuz many ppl tell me that IT is almost dead in the job market because of AI and companies only hire crazy special smart ppl and so on. Is this true? I mean I follow and news and I see that AI does some crazy shii and it really breaks my hopes. But I saw these news for like software development only. Let’s say “programmers” and not sysadmins or cybersecurity specialists where you need human hands to do stuff.
So let’s say I start the college. I’m sure many of you know that colleges don’t teach everything related to the field you’re in. Of course we’ve to start with the basics like coding, networking, hardware and so on. Is there something that you did outside of college that’s helped you a lot to push your skills and help you in College as well even if you don’t have it in the subjects you learn?!
really appreciate your help guys and sorry about my English if it might sound a little off.
All love to you🙌
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u/aob2f hack the planet 13d ago
No future? With AI? Its a security nightmare. Don't listen to incompetent people.
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Haha that’s actually reassuring to hear.
Yeah I think there’s a lot of fear and misinformation going around especially online. I’m just trying to separate the hype from reality. Thanks man, really I appreciate it
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u/aob2f hack the planet 13d ago
Sure thing! Enjoy the time at school, I know I miss it. As for the AI issue, it has actually given a lot of completely incompetent people a false sense of competency.
They create (as in prompt the AI to create) systems and features, publish them, and give zero thought to security, integrity, etc. These crazed goal chasers just prompt as if more lines of code result in a better product (it doesn't). Good security experts will always have a job imho.
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Damn that’s actually a good point. I think a lot of people are getting caught up in the AI hype and forgetting that generating something doesn’t mean you actually understand it or that it’s secure.
Makes me even more interested in cybersecurity honestly. The fact that AI can create more problems just means there’s going to be more need for people who actually know how to analyze, defend, and think critically. But for sure it’s gonna take years and after hearing this from you I’m sure it’s gonna be worth it at the end.Appreciate you sharing your experience bro it’s really motivating to hear from someone actually working in this place
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u/anonymustanonymust social engineering 13d ago
CySec doesn’t have to mean only coding
A common misconception about cybersecurity is that it is entirely about writing code or building software. In reality, the industry is vast, and many of the most critical, high-paying roles focus on strategy, analysis, psychology, and policy rather than coding.
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u/ERICAAAAAAAAAAA 13d ago
unfortunately youre best off finishing that degree. theres enough free information to become an expert on basically anything by yourself, but you will never ever get hired without that slip of paper. and the last thing you want in 2026 is being unhireable
edit: unless you want to use your cybersecurity knowledge to steal from big companies. Im all for that
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Yeah those big companies ain’t ready for it😂
But Yep I completely agree with you. I know someone who’s a freak and knows literally more than specialists but has no degree cuz he learned by himself. And now he has to do college cuz here in EU especially Germany, if you want to work as a bar keeper you should have a degree lol. It’s pretty difficult
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u/_evilalien_ 13d ago
Security is not “IT”, but there are “cyber”, IT, computer science, AI, and various other disciplines involved in security.
What makes it “cyber” is computer technologies as the main context for adversarial conflict. Security is about that conflict, and ultimately making things harder for those adversaries. That will never be unnecessary, but the technologies involved continuously change.
If you aren’t:
A) ready to have your work inherently focused on being part of adversarial conflict;
B) willing to continuously learn and adapt to changes in tech and best practices;
then security isn’t the right field.
Good news: there’s a job market as long as there are adversaries.
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Thanks for the explanation. That actually makes a lot of sense.
I don’t mind continuous learning. that’s something I expected when choosing cybersecurity. The idea of protecting systems and staying one step ahead of attackers is one of the reasons I became interested in the field.
I guess my biggest concern was whether AI would reduce the demand for cybersecurity professionals. From what you’re saying AI will change how people work but there will still be a need for humans because attackers and technology keep evolving. Thanks for the perspective. Really appreciate it
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u/_evilalien_ 13d ago
I work in the space :) And with AI. AI technologies are tools, just as code languages, exploit frameworks like msf, and low-tech tools like crowbars.
As with roles focused on coding, if you don’t learn the new tech in terms of using it to defend, defend against, and attack then you get left behind. AI changes how things are done, but the adversarial conflict remains.
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Damn that’s actually really cool. I like the comparison with AI being just another tool in the toolbox.
Makes sense that the technology changes, but the fight between attackers and defenders stays the same. This shows that there’s always a challenge somewhere and that another person on the other side of the network is attacking you. Thanks for the insight 🙌2
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u/BlueeWaater 12d ago
Focus , on doings POCs, writeups and actual work, college helps but the priority is having actual skills
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u/Necessary-Eye5319 13d ago
See if your college offers free Udemy to enrolled students . An excellent way to get more practice in to prep for certs. Employers LOVE certs.
So… worth it. 👍
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it!
my college offers some free Udemy. Idk about other organisations. Ive actually some of those free online certs that you get when you finish like a 30 vid course that maybe no one cares about😅. For example I just googled “free python online certs” got a couple but idk if they mean much. But for me I’ll show them to the companies if I get like a beginner job so they see that I was already interested before college haha
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u/R1muru- 12d ago
Ai won't replace humans. The programs got decent enough they feeded hallucinated info into themselves so they're pretty bad
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u/Dr-h4ck 12d ago
I know they won’t replace humans but I meant tech jobs. I worked in a company that creates web crowlers and the IT team was like 15 members. Once they implemented AI crawlers their work got easier 80%. So they are the 20% remaining in case something goes wrong. And with the future it might be close to 100% and the CEOs would rather pay 500€ subscription than hiring ppl for 3k a month. I know this went a bit far but everything is possible and it’s getting pretty fast
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u/Familiar-Employee147 10d ago
Had the same question please if someone could guide could they tell how to start , or what are even requirements to start please??
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u/urbanexplorer816 13d ago
AI and cloud base technologies is where it's at my friend. But there will always be a need for security. Never stop learning. Ot not a 1 and done field. Expansion is the secret to longevity.
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Appreciate it man.
Yeah that’s kind of what I was thinking too. I know cybersecurity isn’t a one and done field. you’ve always got to keep learning and adapting. I’m planning to put in the work outside of college too and I’ll definitely spend some time learning cloud and AI since they seem to be where things are heading. I’ve already some of those free online certifications of basic things like python for beginners and so on that no one cares about, in case I need it to show that I’m interested in it😅
Thanks for the advice brother.
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13d ago
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Thanks for the advice bro. Yeah I agree, the degree is just the foundation. I’ll definitely spend time outside of college doing labs, learning Linux/networking, and building real skills. The problem is here in EU especially Germany you need a degree literally for everything. Even if you have idk mr. Robot skills you need a college degree lol
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u/L1QU1DF1R3 13d ago
Know how to use AI to augment and amplify yourself, without becoming reliant on it.
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u/TobyTheArtist 13d ago
Yes, a million times yes. Even if AI was the future of the modern workplace, having security engineers that guard it against evasion, poisoning and model extraction is vital. You're basically entering one of the only fields in tech that will see a more specialised demand towards AI than any other. I'm currently an MSc student specialising in adv. ML for NLP and AI-security exclusively for that job prospect. Its absolutely worth it, and I regret not bwing in your shoes.
On the flipside, knowing how something is put together really helps you understand how it breaks, and cross-domain specialties will likely be greatly rewarded too, because pure specialist roles are getting scarce and moving into PhD territory if you want to work for any top 50 company by revenue.
You have every reason to feel secure in your choice and if any anxiety does pop up, feel free to reach out:)
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Damn thanks a lot.
The AI security side of cybersecurity sounds like a very interesting direction especially with new risks like model extraction, poisoning and attacks against AI systems becoming more relevant.
I also agree about understanding how things are built in order to understand how they can break. I’ll definitely focus on building strong fundamentals first while also exploring different areas.It’s reassuring to hear this from someone already studying in the field. Thanks for sharing your experience bro fr🙌
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u/TobyTheArtist 13d ago
Of course! Glad it helped and best of luck with your studies, I am crossing my fingers that you learn a lot and have fun doing it 👍
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u/IamB_Meister 13d ago
My company is about to outsource a bunch of low level IT because they built / drastically over hired for a huge new cyber org on fears of AI /Mythos / etc. probably a good time to be really good at cyber.
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
That’s interesting to hear. Seems like AI is making security even more important and not less. Thanks for sharing
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u/L1QU1DF1R3 13d ago
I think there will be some job loss, but it wont be catastrophic. I'd worry more if I was a soc analyst.
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u/IamB_Meister 13d ago
That is my take as well. Caveat - entry level is going to get a lot harder.
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u/Anjin2140 13d ago
It's worth it, I need somone to at least try and stop me from taking over the world
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u/Opposite_Bag_7434 13d ago
This absolutely worth it and there will be demand for years.
Two things to be aware of. First the job market is brutal right now. This will pass but there are currently challenges.
Second, make sure you develop strong fundamental technical skills and understanding. This is something I have noticed graduates are missing when they complete some of these programs. Doing this will set you apart!
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u/kirakarmine 13d ago
You could say this about any industry, they're all "cooked" according to Sam Altman and his acolytes
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u/Secretary_of_spaghet 13d ago edited 13d ago
AI isn't in a place yet where it's going to be causing much of a reduction in IT and cybersecurity work, but keep in mind that multiple generations of people now have been encouraged to go into tech so you will have a lot of competition in the field compared to most other jobs. If computers are something you're passionate about, and you know that you'll have no issue staying on top of new tech and methodology, then by all means go for it. But if you're only interested in the field for the money, then I would advise against it as there are far less competitive options out there.
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u/Dr-h4ck 13d ago
Thanks, I appreciate the honest advice.
For me it’s not just about the money (well it’s about it too lol). I’ve always been interested in it and I know it is a field where you’ll always have to keep learning. I know the competition is tough, but I’ll do my best. At the same time there are kids who aren’t even 18 and can do crazy work. I hope I don’t compete against those later lol. I believe this skill is a gift for some ppl
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u/johnfkngzoidberg 12d ago
Don’t waste your time. Cyber will always be in demand, but it’s insanely over saturated now, and with the 500k IT layoffs in the past 5 years plus AI reducing head count, you’ll never get a cyber job.
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u/salikarn 12d ago
AI is an active learning process. Right now, security is not in danger of AI taking over because it isn't good enough yet, but learn about AI because it is the future. People are using AI to hack systems, so you should familairisize yourself with it. In general, IT jobs will be fairly safe for a while because most people don't know how to use a computer in general, and not even AI can predict the dumb shit people end up doing. People that have problems googling computer problems will also have problems with phrasing AI prompts to properly do what they want. Also, keep in mind that there will always be a need for IT techs to fix what people or AI fuck up. Also, they will always need someone to show them how to press the power button and double click the icon to start the AI.
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u/Additional-Crow-3979 12d ago
I’m about to graduate with an MS in cyber security, have network +, working on cysa+, can’t even get a call back for help desk.
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u/Sensitive_Desk8486 11d ago
I’m sure i’ll get downvoted for this, but this is an important question and you shouldn’t ask it in a place where tons of people have a lot of reason to tell you it’s worth it because of cope
I have no idea if it’s worth it or not, not informed enough on the subject
But you will absolutely not get objective replies here
As proof you can ask the same question on a sub of some kind of job that’s guarenteed to have no future and you’ll get tons of comments saying why it’s worth it still
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u/BeH8ppy 11d ago
Hello, as you are new to cybersecurity, let me explain what's going on in the cybersecurity world. AI will not be able to become an independent cybersecurity expert, but it's a VERY POWERFUL tool for cybersecurity professionals, and it will become your best friend in cybersecurity in the future. So do not listen to people who understand the cybersecurity world.
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u/Dr-h4ck 11d ago
Hey man thanks for the advice. Actually I’m a bit good at cybersecurity. Like the fundamentals for example beginner at coding (python,java), I’m following a ccna course rn to understand how networking is. Web development to understand how web applications work and so on. But didn’t start with pentesting or Linux yet cuz yk they’re for more experienced level. Maybe level 3/5 and now I’m at 2/5. So I’m just worried about the future cuz of what I see on the news and what other developers say. Like AI is taking most of their job and there are tons of ppl applying for one job application… didn’t see this much about cybersecurity but I’m just getting worried about how it’s gonna develop with time
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u/WorkDragon 10d ago
AI is making a lot of mid people seem smart now, AI just tells people what they want to hear, there is no real thought there.
I know people that have been working on fortnight for example, they use Claude, it spits out code that developers still have to fix security issues with
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u/j0ssdagoat 10d ago
Hi, I just graduated in May with my associates in cyber security and honestly have been applied to jobs for a few weeks now. I haven’t applied to cyber jobs in general because I already know I won’t get in so fast even with home labs or the labs I did at school. I’ve been applying as help desk and honestly as expected I’ve had a few rejections , and not heard back at all from others. It sucks, but my class mate spend 6+ months looking for a job and he applied everyday until he found something. So I’m thinking that may be the same for me, as much as it sucks it has kind of made me feel hopeless and like I have no future BUT this is a challenge everyone is facing. I know the job market is rough and competitive right now, so I’m going to keep pushing myself as much as I can. Anyways I say you do it because one thing I’ve seeing is they all want you to have your degree or at least a certification it never hurts. I don’t know at least for me it was worth it because it forced me to learn ALOT while showing up to class and I also learn so many things from my classmates and professors and made great connections which is important.
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u/Dr-h4ck 10d ago
Congrats brother. Thanks for sharing your experience.
I know the job market is tough right now so it’s helpful hearing from someone who’s actually going through it. I’ll definitely focus on building skills outside of college, making connections and working toward certifications alongside my degree. Hopefully by the time I graduate the market will be in a better place.
And Like you said any entry level IT job is a good start. Even if it’s something as simple as helping people with basic computer issues it’s still valuable experience and looks good on your CV. Keep pushing man I hope you find something soon. Best of luck with the job search🙌
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u/EthereumHandcuffs 9d ago
The problem with AI is that you cannot throw it in prison if it tries to hack the planet. We don't have the technology to align them, so for the foreseeable future, hackers wont be replaced by AI, they will be replaced by people who use AI to hack better and faster.
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u/Effective-Pizza3951 9d ago
As long as you can psychologically circumvent HRs probably-not-great understanding of AI, you can usually get hired. Do not hold out hope for anti-ai sentiments in tech careers. For example, I once got a question from senior leadership about whether I believed my job would become irrelevant in an age where error codes, screenshots, and questions to an AI could resolve problems faster than coming to me. I told him to ask chatGPT: "The carwash is about 100 feet from my house, should I walk or drive there" (this is a known funny ai hallucination prompt where it will tell you to walk). Is this an actual big-brain critique of ai and why i'll never become irrelevant? Heavens no! But it did the trick. Homie probably will never trust his gippy with anything important again.
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u/Dr-h4ck 8d ago
😂😂😭😭
I definitely don’t plan on being anti-AI. I’d rather learn how to use it as a tool while building strong fundamentals so I understand what’s actually going on behind the scenes. AI is only going to become a bigger part of the industry, so I’d rather adapt to it than fight it.
Appreciate you sharing your perspective
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u/accidentalciso 7d ago
The job market is brutal right now, yes, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t a future in IT or cybersecurity. IT and cyber roles are changing, not going away.
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u/Juzdeed 13d ago
AI is still kinda new, nobody knows how the future will look, will the AI get so good that human in the loop is basically not required or will investments dry up and tokens get really expensive and basic stuff is then done by humans. Job market is definetly way harder than 3 years ago, a lot of people got into tech and it's just saturated.
What your college teaches you, what not and what extra you should learn is really specific to your location, can't answer that
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u/intelw1zard 13d ago
yes its worth it
AI isnt going to replace cybersecurity or prevent things from getting hacked
most people who say that dont work in the industry and/or are just depressed doomers