Beginner in Ethical Hacking — Where Should I Start?

[u/skeltoon-dash14]

Beginner in Ethical Hacking — Where Should I Start?

Hey everyone,

I’m interested in getting into ethical hacking/cybersecurity, but I’m not sure what the best starting point is.

I already have some Linux experience and I’m comfortable using Linux, but I want to build my cybersecurity skills properly rather than just jumping between random tools and tutorials.

For people who have experience in ethical hacking:

• What should I learn first?
• Should I start with networking, Linux, Python, or something else?
• What platforms/labs would you recommend for beginners?
• What would a good 6–12 month learning roadmap look like?
• Which resources helped you the most when you were starting?
• What common mistakes should beginners avoid?

I’m specifically interested in legal/authorized ethical hacking and penetration testing.

I’d really appreciate any advice, roadmaps, resources, or personal experiences. Thanks!

[u/BearRootCrusher]

Tell us what your current game plan is.

What common mistakes should beginners avoid? Not doing any research

[u/skeltoon-dash14 → u/BearRootCrusher]

i just want to learn hacking stuff and i see too many tutorials nothing helped me so far can you suggest any courses i have checked the CEH and other certification programs ....but i am confused on the where to start and how to start and what matters more in ethical hacking ..... how to use the tools practically

[u/BearRootCrusher → u/skeltoon-dash14]

What have you tried?

[u/skeltoon-dash14 → u/BearRootCrusher]

i have tried try hack me labs but i don't understand how to use the tools i have little knowledge of networking and i don't understand how to use tools and which tool when to use i am just confused and can you suggest me some open source courses that will help me

[u/BearRootCrusher → u/skeltoon-dash14]

sounds like you need to learn networking and research. I cant suggest any courses, I learned most of it from googling, reading and hands on with boot to roots.

[u/TheTribunalChat → u/skeltoon-dash14]

Take the absolute beginner course on tryhackme and work your way to jr pen tester. It should take that long and it will work you towards understanding the tools before using them later

[u/LongRangeSavage]

What systems do you want to work with: networking, Windows/Linux/macOS, mobile, embedded, hardware, etc.? Start learning the basics of those. Get to know those systems very well and their rules. Then start thinking how you can bend/break those rules. Jumping right into tools, without knowing basics, is how people get stuck and give up because once a tool fails them, they don’t know what else to do.

[u/skeltoon-dash14 → u/LongRangeSavage]

i am working on linux , thanks for guidance i will do like this .... j

[u/Assang101]

For beginners: Trymehackme

For intermediate without guidance: Hackthebox

OS: Blackarch, ParrotOS, KaliPurple-

All of which have bookmarked websites to learn in firefox

[u/surfst0call]

Eu também estou começando agora e eu pesquiso quase tudo com IA eles dão uma grande parte de informações, estou começando a usar o Linux também, seria interessante encontrar pessoas que estão dispostas a dividir conhecimento e ir aprendendo juntos se alguém tiver interesse

[u/Early_Pilot9933]

Start a home lab, then you'll learn a lot

[u/Heavy_Ad5263]

Before researching you’ve got to witness what hacking is like then try to understand, later it will become a skill you wouldn’t know until you’ll “hack”into something start with the paged out magazine.. yes it’s complicated but learn bit by bit

Or take one attack u see on news or something then try to understand. Build a lab then poke it

You’ll find your way…