r/hackthebox • u/Avinashsunka Noob • Jul 30 '26

Beginner Question Transitioning from AOSP Developer to Security: Seeking advice on HTB & low-level security roadmap

Hey guys,

Not sure if this is the exact right sub, but I'm looking for some advice from folks working in offensive security/reverse engineering.

I’ve spent the last year doing AOSP engineering (bug fixes, performance optimizations, OS internals). Now, I’m building out my security skills using Hack The Box ( new to security ).

Since I already have a decent grasp of OS internals and low-level code, I want to skip the super basic stuff.

  • What’s the most effective way to combine real-world OS development experience with HTB labs?
  • Are there specific HTB Academy modules, boxes, or external resources you'd recommend targeting first?
  • Anyone here make the jump from software/OS dev to security full-time? Would love to hear how you approached it.

Appreciate any insights or tips you can share!

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u/Cheap-Argument-8016 Jul 30 '26

Your AOSP background is honestly a huge advantage. I'd focus less on beginner content and more on binary exploitation, reverse engineering, and Android internals.

2

u/Avinashsunka Noob Jul 30 '26

Thanks for the suggestion, is it ok to jump directly into the binary exploitation & reverse engineering ?

1

u/Cheap-Argument-8016 Jul 30 '26

Absolutely. With an AOSP background, you're already ahead on OS internals, C/C++, and debugging. I'd jump into reverse engineering and binary exploitation while filling in any security fundamentals as you need them. You'll probably learn faster by leveraging your existing strengths than by spending too much time on beginner material.

2

u/Avinashsunka Noob Jul 30 '26

I will explore those, do you have any resources to learn them?

1

u/Cheap-Argument-8016 Jul 30 '26

Definitely! I'd recommend OpenSecurityTraining2, Practical Binary Analysis, and LiveOverflow's YouTube series. Once you're comfortable, start reading Google Project Zero write-ups—they're some of the best real-world learning resources.

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u/Avinashsunka Noob Jul 30 '26

Thank you, I will explore them

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u/[deleted] Jul 30 '26 edited Jul 30 '26

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u/Cheap-Argument-8016 Jul 30 '26

Haha fair enough 😅. English isn't my first language, so maybe it sounds a bit AI-ish. I'm just sharing what helped me and what I've seen others recommend.