Today, our daily lives revolve around computers and the internet, so hacking has become a rapidly expanding field. Many businesses said that phishing attempts with specific information were their primary security concern.
A lot of people have found that studying hacking leads to satisfying and lucrative careers. Therefore, the interest in this occupation continues to rise.
I’ll tell you about the top ten hacking courses. These classes are designed for beginners and experienced alike, and provide the foundation for a cybersecurity career. Take a look at my options to decide which course is right for you.
I’ll go into depth about these hacking courses. These reviews will help you decide whether signing up for the course is a good idea.
1. Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: Multi-day
- Price: $149/year
- Provider: Zaid Al-Quraishi
Course’s highlights
Even if you know nothing about computer security currently, this course taught me all you need to know to breach systems like a black-hat hacker and safeguard them like a security professional.
This course focuses on both practical applications and theoretical foundations. I began with an introduction to ethical hacking, discussing the many penetration testing disciplines and software installation (for Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X).
I learned everything I know about computers, networks, servers, clients, webpages, etc., through analyzing and exploiting real-world examples.
The course consists of different modules, each focusing on another aspect of penetration testing and hacking. In each module, I gained an understanding of the target system’s inner workings, identified its vulnerabilities, and then learned how to exploit those vulnerabilities in practice.
With the knowledge you gain from this course, I was able to identify, block, and safeguard myself and my systems from the assaults it covers.
Enroll Here: https://courses.stationx.net/p/learn-ethical-hacking-from-scratch
Pros
- Focusing on both practical applications
- Introduction to ethical hacking
- Penetration testing disciplines and software installation
Cons
- The instructor does not speak native English.
2. Introduction to Cybersecurity Tools & Cyber Attacks
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 20 hours
- Price: Free
- Provider: IBM Security Learning Services
Course’s highlights
This course provided me with the fundamentals of Cybersecurity. To better understand the current challenges facing businesses and people, I studied the evolution of Cybersecurity and gained insight into the many forms and motivations of cyber assaults.
In this Introductory Cybersecurity course, I looked at some of the fundamental ideas and technologies used in the subject and some key terms that define them. I gained the value of critical thinking in the field of Cybersecurity.
At last, I gleaned information regarding where to go for help with studying contemporary cybersecurity challenges. I’ve learned a lot from this class. All of the materials they provide are of excellent quality.
In this course, I learned a few words and rare terminologies I’ve never seen in other online forums or blogs. It is the positive aspect of this training.
Anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of Cybersecurity will benefit from taking this class. This course will provide you with a solid foundation in Cybersecurity and the skills you’ll need to protect your organization.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/learn/introduction-cybersecurity-cyber-attacks
Pros
- Providing cybersecurity fundamentals
- Excellent-quality materials and new terminologies
- Training your critical thinking
Cons
- Poor audio quality
3. Ethical Hacking Essentials Labs
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: Multi-Week
- Price: $149
- Provider: Learningtree
Course’s highlights
In this course, I learned the hacking methods used by the best hackers on the web today. I was ready to play the part of an ethical hacker participating in the 22 laboratories that simulate real-world scenarios.
The instructors taught me how to exploit networks as an attacker does so I could learn how to defend against them. In the end, this course prepared me for the Certified Ethical Hacker exam based on the goals laid forth by the EC Council.
I learned how to defend a system by attacking it like a pro. Moreover, I could identify the exploit code in the network data and so understand the nature of the assault.
The Scanning Options lab taught me how to use Nmap to locate the nodes inside a given network. Using non-standard scans was an effort to evade an intrusion detection system (IDS).
I took a lab called “Cybersecurity Testing with Core Impact,” where I learned how to conduct a vulnerability scan using Core Impact to discover which virtual machines on a local area network were susceptible to attack. During the vulnerability scan, I utilized Core Impact to perform a penetration test against a vulnerable system.
At last, I figured out how to leverage Core Impact’s in-built reporting mechanism to provide a host-based evaluation that detailed the real vulnerability or penetration testing procedure and focused on potential repair activities.
Enroll Here: https://www.learningtree.com/courses/ethical-hacking-essentials-labs
Pros
- Provide 22 different laboratories
- Prepare you for Certified Ethical Hacker Exam
- Teach you how to exploit networks as an attacker
Cons
- Paid course
4. Ethical Hacking: Understanding Ethical Hacking
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 2 hours 37 minutes
- Price: Free trial
- Provider: Dale Meredith
Course’s highlights
Security experts must stay abreast of emerging threats to provide optimal protection against them. You will study the basics of Ethical Hacking, including its core principles, limitations, ideas, and expectations.
You’ll start by looking at the most recent developments in the security industry. After completing this course, you will be ready to take the CEH 312-50 test and become an ethical hacker.
Overall, I was pleased with the course. The lesson was appealing by the instructor’s incorporation of new material, making me want to study beyond the scope of the curriculum.
However, there is much theory in this class. You’ll have to learn it by rote.
Enroll Here: https://www.pluralsight.com/courses/understanding-ethical-hacking-ceh-cert
Pros
- Provide recent developments in the security industry
- Enlivened presentation
- Prepare you for CEH 312-50 test
- Provide recent developments in the security industry
Cons
- Much theory
5. Ethical Hacker
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Duration: 2 Months
- Price: $399/month
- Provider: Sagar Bansal
Course’s highlights
This course will provide an overview of the many skills and duties required of an Ethical Hacker. It instructs you on conducting a cyber security evaluation of a targeted system as part of an internal penetration testing effort to identify security holes and threats.
You’ll learn in-demand IT skills via hands-on experience with real-world projects and an engaging curriculum created in collaboration with industry leaders. It also helps you to discover and exploit system vulnerabilities and design and execute a penetration testing strategy.
Mentors direct your education by responding to your inquiries, boosting your confidence, and keeping you on course. Therefore, you’ll be able to become a professional Ethical Hacker using the knowledge you gain from this course.
Enroll Here: https://www.udacity.com/course/ethical-hacker-nanodegree–nd350
Pros
- Providing an overview of the many skills and duties required of an Ethical Hacker
- Instructing you on conducting a cyber security evaluation
- Teaching in-demand IT skills via hands-on experience with real-world projects
Cons
- Paid course
6. Scan Systems with Nmap
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 2 weeks
- Price: Free trial
- Provider: Codecademy
Course’s highlights
IT security experts can only do their jobs properly by regularly monitoring their networks for vulnerabilities and suspicious activity.
Cybersecurity experts may save time and effort when doing network discovery and security audits using Nmap, a widely-used ethical hacking tool.
By going through Scan Systems with Nmap, you may improve your knowledge in cybersecurity toolkit expansion, network scanning, and security audits.
All of the material covered in class is comprehensive and applicable to real life. Thanks to this class and its accompanying resources, I plan to transition in my professional life significantly.
It was helpful that the teacher had many examples ready to go in separate tabs. Each lesson covered a lot of material, and the classes went swiftly.
My only suggestion as a student would be for the teacher to spell out or write in a text when he mentions a new method. Their spelling and pronunciation may be downright weird at times.
As a result, searching for it on Google might be time-consuming. Apart from that, I have no significant complaints.
If you’re new to NMAP and want to understand how it works from the ground up, this is the finest training course for you. This course has taught me a lot, and the exercises apply to real life.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/paths/scan-systems-with-nmap
Pros
- Improve your knowledge and abilities
- Comprehensive material
Cons
- Hard-to-spell new term
7. Defending Node Applications
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Duration: 8 hours
- Price: $19.99/month
- Provider: Codecademy
Course’s highlights
Upon finishing this course, you will have a foundational understanding of how to begin securing your Node.js online application against common vulnerabilities such as SQL Injection, Cross-Site Scripting (XSS), and Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF).
More than that, you’ll get a grounding in the fundamentals of Remediation and Incident Response and better techniques for writing JavaScript code.
The course is fantastic. It was helpful to learn about the inner workings of Node.js’s thread pool and multitasking and other topics covered in this course before beginning to work with Node.js.
The theory and the code examples provided by the teacher were right on. He has a great way of teaching and reinforces what we’ve learned by repeatedly bringing up critical topics in various scenarios.
As a result of talking to him, I could fill in specific gaps in my knowledge of fundamental concepts that I had previously lacked. This course is excellent if you want to learn more about Node.js.
Enroll Here: https://www.codecademy.com/learn/defending-express-applications-from-sql-injection-xss-csrf-attacks
Pros
- Great teaching
- Helpful examples
- Foundational knowledge of Node.js security
Cons
- Not suitable for newbies
8. Become a Web Pentester
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Intermediate
- Duration: Multi-day
- Price: $149/year
- Provider: Geri Revay
Course’s highlights
This course includes everything you need to know to launch a career as an online pentester. It will cover the exploitation methods, hacking software and hardware, and assessment methodologies and procedures in detail.
You’ll have to put in some time and effort, but in the end, you’ll be able to do independent site security evaluations like a true ethical hacker. It is the best resource available for learning about hacking and computer security.
An IT background can sometimes mean you’re a developer or an IT administrator. This course includes everything you need to know to launch a successful career as a web penetration tester.
It is efficient training. Instructors will use existing open-source software as targets, allowing students to test various hacking methods in a safe environment.
However, it could be a much more flawless course. In information technology, there is often no such thing as perfect.
Every day, new technology and systems enter the world. No matter how much time you devote to education, you will always need more preparation.
Enroll Here: https://courses.stationx.net/p/web-hacking-become-a-web-pentester
Pros
- Various hacking methods
- Open-source program
- Practical presentation
Cons
- Not new technology updated
9. IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 8 Months
- Price: Free
- Provider: IBM Security Learning Services
Course’s highlights
Beginning your career in the highly sought-after profession of Cybersecurity with an IBM Professional Certificate is a smart move.
You’ll gain practical experience with essential cybersecurity technologies while studying compliance and threat intelligence fundamentals.
This specialized certificate consists of 8 separate classes. This foundational course will give you the knowledge you need to proceed with the rest of your studies in Cybersecurity.
For a deeper understanding of the current challenges facing businesses and people, you will study the evolution of Cybersecurity and the many kinds, methods, and motivations of cyber assaults.
As a beginner in the field of Cybersecurity, this course is an excellent opportunity to get exposure to a wide range of fundamental ideas. It aided me in grasping basic concepts in Cybersecurity and gives me an edge over other cyber professionals.
The last course evaluates everything you’ve learned up to this point. To get your IBM Cybersecurity Analyst Professional Certificate, you must complete all seven required courses and pass their final exams.
If you’re interested in learning about Cybersecurity but know next to nothing about the subject, this is the perfect course to take since it will teach you all you need to know from the ground up.
While the video is excellent, the sound needs to improve. Most videos have decent sound, but the sound of the Data Source Types course is terrible.
Enroll Here: https://www.coursera.org/professional-certificates/ibm-cybersecurity-analyst
Pros
- Excellent course for beginners
- Offer professional certificate
- Provide practical experience
Cons
- Sound in some videos
10. The Complete Ethical Hacking Bootcamp
Specifications:
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Duration: 25 hours
- Price: $149/year
- Provider: HackerSploit Academy
Course’s highlights
You will learn about ethical hacking over more than 25 hours. The service provider has thoroughly discussed each facet of Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing.
This course is ideal for anyone interested in learning the fundamentals of Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing. The course includes everything from Linux administration to checking the security of websites.
It takes you from zero knowledge of hacking or penetration testing up to writing your sophisticated backdoors in code. You’ll begin by learning the fundamentals of the Unix operating system and setting up a Linux device.
You will learn how to set up a safe environment for penetration testing techniques, including scanning, footprinting, and hacking a website. Next, the lecturer dives into the principles of python programming, system hacking, WPA2 wireless network cracking, and man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.
In the end, you’ll be able to create your pen-testing tools from scratch, complete with a reverse shell, keylogger, and bruteforcer. You may complete this online class at your speed. Your starting and stopping times are entirely up to you.
As a registered user, your course access is permanent and unending. You may watch the videos on any device you possess.
Enroll Here: https://courses.stationx.net/p/the-complete-ethical-hacking-bootcamp
Pros
- Multi-platform learning
- Permanent access to the course
- Diving into the python programming
Cons
- Paid course
Learning Guide
Learning hacking will help you enhance your knowledge about security and get a job. But how to learn is the question of many people. Here, we list a few tips to get you started.
Self Learning
To master hacking, you need to do two specific actions. As a first step, you should educate yourself on and thoroughly grasp several ideas. You may find a wealth of educational materials on the web.
Having a working familiarity with the markup of a scripting language (JavaScript), a web language (HTML), a data transfer language (XML or JSON), and basic programming in C, C++, Java, or Python will get you started well.
The next stage is to put what you’ve learned into action. Putting what you’ve learned into practice is essential if you want to retain that knowledge. As a bonus, you’ll feel better about your abilities.
Intentionally susceptible virtual systems and CTFs are the most excellent approach to practice. bWApp, DVWA, and Metasploitable are among the finest sensitive VMs.
Take Certification Courses
A decent course will teach you fundamentals like data access control and web application penetration testing based on real-world assaults.
In the end, you should be prepared to pass the industry’s benchmark tests. Get these certifications if you want to show potential employers that you have what it takes to work in the cybersecurity field.
FAQs
Can I become a hacker in one year?
It’s always possible to start learning how to hack. It may take some time, but a year is doable if you commit to learning daily.
What skills do hackers use?
- Computer Skills.
- Networking Skills.
- Programming Skills.
- Linux Skills.
- Hardware Knowledge.
- SQL Skills.
- Cryptography.
- Knowledge in Reverse Engineering.
Is becoming a hacker hard?
Learning the skills necessary to become an ethical hacker is straightforward yet complex. Learning a programming language and the tools available can aid you in many ways. Furthermore, hacking is constantly evolving, so staying abreast of the latest techniques and technology is essential.
What Does an Ethical Hacker Do?
Ethical hackers are responsible for evaluating the safety of a computer network or server as part of their profession. They must test the security of a system, website, or network by hacking into it.
What code do hackers use?
Python is the widely used programming language in the world. Also, hackers love it because it has robust, user-friendly libraries that make their work go by fast.
Final Thoughts
These days, hacking jobs are some of the most sought-after there are. If you are interested in a career in the sector, the programs above will provide you with the necessary foundation.
We recommend the Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch course at the StationX Cyber Security School if you are entirely new to ethical hacking.
It’s probably to get the best deal if you enroll in one of the courses recommended above.