Hacking has become an increasingly important skill in the cybersecurity world, as organizations seek to protect themselves from cyber attacks. But becoming a master hacker requires more than just theoretical knowledge – it requires hands-on experience in hacking and penetration testing.
Fortunately, there are many online platforms available that offer virtual labs, challenges, and exercises to help learners improve their ethical hacking skills.
In this article, we will explore some of the best platforms to practice hacking and how they can help you become a master hacker. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, these platforms offer a wide range of challenges and scenarios to improve your skills and build expertise.
So, let’s dive in and discover how you can become a master hacker with these platforms to practice hacking!
TryHackMe
TryHackMe platform offers interactive and gamified cybersecurity learning experiences for learners of all skill levels. It provides a virtual lab environment with a variety of challenges and real-world scenarios, including penetration testing and digital forensics.
Key features:
- Interactive learning paths
- Virtual machines for hands-on learning
- Community forums to connect with other learners and mentors
- Chatrooms for real-time assistance
HackTheBox
HackTheBox platform provides a range of realistic simulation environments to practice ethical hacking skills. It offers a variety of challenges and machines to test and improve learners’ penetration testing, reverse engineering, and exploit development skills.
Key features:
- Active community for knowledge-sharing and collaboration
- Online challenges with user rankings
- Dedicated labs for each challenge
- User-contributed challenges for added variety
Pentester Lab
Pentester Lab platform offers virtual lab environments and exercises to improve ethical hacking and penetration testing skills. It covers topics such as web application security, network security, and reverse engineering.
Key features:
- Beginner-friendly exercises to get started
- Intermediate and advanced courses to build expertise
- Real-world labs to practice skills in a simulated environment
TCM-Security
TCM-Security is a subscription-based cybersecurity training platform that offers comprehensive courses in web application security, network security, and ethical hacking. It provides practical exercises and mentorship by experienced security professionals.
Key features:
- Expert-level courses for advanced learners
- Practical lab exercises to build hands-on skills
- One-on-one mentorship by experienced professionals
- Regularly updated content to reflect the latest threats and vulnerabilities
Vulnhub Hacking Platform
Vulnhub platform offers downloadable vulnerable virtual machines that learners can practice hacking and penetration testing on. It provides a diverse range of machines, from beginner-friendly to expert-level, and extensive documentation to support learners.
Key features:
- Wide range of vulnerable machines to practice on
- Step-by-step guides to help learners get started
- User contributions to add variety to the challenges
Read More What Is Pentest (Penetration Testing)?
Offensive Security
Offensive Security is a cybersecurity training provider that offers a range of courses in ethical hacking, penetration testing, and network security. It provides hands-on lab exercises and certification programs.
Key features:
- Practical lab exercises to build hands-on skills
- Certification programs to demonstrate expertise
- A global network of cybersecurity professionals to connect with
- Regularly updated content to reflect the latest threats and vulnerabilities
Vulnmachines
Vulnmachines platform provides downloadable virtual machines that learners can use to practice penetration testing and exploit development. It offers a variety of machines with different levels of difficulty and step-by-step guides to support learners.
Key features:
- Vulnerable virtual machines to practice on
- Detailed step-by-step guides to help learners get started
- Diverse range of machines with different levels of difficulty
Portswigger Web Security Academy
Portswigger Web Security Academy is an online learning platform that provides practical exercises and courses to improve web application security skills. It covers topics such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting, and authentication.
Key features:
- Free courses and interactive labs
- Real-world scenarios to simulate common attacks
- User-contributed content to add variety to the challenges
Hacker101
Hacker101 platform offers free courses and challenges to help learners master web application security and ethical hacking. It provides interactive labs and real-world scenarios to build hands-on skills.
Key features:
- Interactive labs to build hands-on skills
- Real-world scenarios to simulate common attacks
- User-contributed content to add variety to the challenges
PicoCTF
PicoCTF beginner-friendly cybersecurity platform offers challenges and games to help learners improve their skills. It provides interactive gameplay and covers topics such as reverse engineering, cryptography, and web exploitation.
Key features:
- Beginner-friendly challenges to get started
- Diverse range of challenges covering various cybersecurity topics
- Interactive gameplay to make learning fun and engaging
HackMyVm
HackMyVm platform provides a variety of virtual machines with different levels of difficulty to practice ethical hacking skills. It covers topics such as web application security, network security, and cryptography.
Key features:
- Wide range of virtual machines to practice on
- Different levels of difficulty to suit learners of all skill levels
- Real-world scenarios to simulate common attacks
Try2Hack
Try2Hack platform offers challenges and games to improve ethical hacking skills. It covers topics such as web application security, cryptography, and steganography.
Key features:
- Free challenges to improve skills
- Different levels of difficulty to suit learners of all skill levels
- Diverse range of challenges covering various cybersecurity topics
Cybrary
Cybrary platform provides a wide range of cybersecurity courses, including ethical hacking, penetration testing, and digital forensics. It offers practical exercises and certification programs.
Key features:
- Comprehensive courses covering various cybersecurity topics
- Hands-on exercises to build practical skills
- Certification programs to demonstrate expertise
RangeForce
RangeForceis a cloud-based cybersecurity training platform that provides a virtual lab environment and practical exercises to improve ethical hacking and penetration testing skills.
Key features:
- Virtual lab environment to practice on
- Practical exercises to build hands-on skills
- Customizable training plans to suit individual learning needs
Letsdefend
Letsdefend platform provides practical exercises and real-world scenarios to improve ethical hacking and penetration testing skills. It covers topics such as web application security, network security, and digital forensics.
Key features:
- Real-world scenarios to simulate common attacks
- Practical exercises to build hands-on skills
- User-friendly interface for easy navigation
Vhackinglabs
Vhackinglabs platform provides a virtual lab environment and a variety of challenges to practice ethical hacking skills. It covers topics such as web application security, network security, and cryptography.
Key features:
- Virtual lab environment to practice on
- Different levels of difficulty to suit learners of all skill levels
- Real-world scenarios to simulate common attacks
Hacksec42
Hacksec42 is a cybersecurity training platform that offers courses in ethical hacking, penetration testing, and digital forensics. It provides practical exercises and certification programs.
Key features:
- Comprehensive courses covering various cybersecurity topics
- Hands-on exercises to build practical skills
- Certification programs to demonstrate expertise
BugBountyHunt3r
BugBountyHunt3 platform provides a variety of challenges and real-world scenarios to improve ethical hacking skills. It covers topics such as web application security, network security, and cryptography.
Key features:
- Diverse range of challenges to practice on
- Real-world scenarios to simulate common attacks
- Different levels of difficulty to suit learners of all skill levels
CyberSecLabsUK
CyberSecLabsUK is a cybersecurity training platform that offers courses in ethical hacking, penetration testing, and digital forensics. It provides practical exercises and certification programs.
Key features:
- Comprehensive courses covering various cybersecurity topics
- Hands-on exercises to build practical skills
- Certification programs to demonstrate expertise
CertifiedSecure
CertifiedSecure platform offers a range of cybersecurity courses and certification programs, including ethical hacking, penetration testing, and digital forensics.
Key features:
- Comprehensive courses covering various cybersecurity topics
- Hands-on exercises to build practical skills
- Certification programs to demonstrate expertise
CTFTime
CTFTime platform provides a comprehensive list of upcoming and ongoing cybersecurity competitions and challenges. It covers a wide range of topics, including reverse engineering, cryptography, and web exploitation.
Key features:
- Wide range of cybersecurity competitions and challenges
- Different levels of difficulty to suit learners of all skill levels
- Diverse range of topics covering various cybersecurity domains
247CTF
247CTF platform provides a variety of challenges and virtual machines to practice ethical hacking skills. It covers topics such as web application security, network security, and cryptography.
Key features:
- Different levels of difficulty to suit learners of all skill levels
- Real-world scenarios to simulate common attacks
- Interactive challenges to make learning fun and engaging.