Ultimate Free Resources to Learn Ethical Hacking Online 
Unlock top-tier resources to start learning ethical hacking completely free — without compromising quality. This comprehensive collection of platforms, tools, and structured learning paths gives you the insider’s edge to master cybersecurity from the ground up.
Top Free Platforms to Learn Ethical Hacking
1. Hack The Box (HTB Academy)
academy.hackthebox.com
HTB Academy offers interactive, gamified cybersecurity labs that let you learn by doing. Start with beginner-friendly tracks like “Introduction to Cybersecurity” and “Linux Fundamentals.” Registration is free and includes access to basic modules and challenges.
2. TryHackMe
tryhackme.com
TryHackMe breaks down complex hacking concepts into bite-sized rooms with guided labs. Free users get access to a wide range of beginner to intermediate content, including the “Pre Security” and “Complete Beginner” learning paths.
3. PortSwigger Web Security Academy
portswigger.net/web-security
PortSwigger offers professional-grade labs to understand web vulnerabilities like XSS, SQLi, CSRF, and more. All content, including advanced labs, is 100% free with no account required.
4. OverTheWire Wargames
overthewire.org
Focus on Linux, networking, and exploit basics through hands-on text-based challenges. Ideal for understanding real-world attack vectors in a controlled environment.
5. PicoCTF by Carnegie Mellon
picoctf.org
Designed by cybersecurity experts at CMU, PicoCTF is a free Capture The Flag competition for beginners and intermediates. Learn through practical problem-solving with increasing difficulty.
6. Cybrary
cybrary.it (Learning Paths, SOC, etc)
Cybrary offers hundreds of free courses, especially in cybersecurity, network defense, and ethical hacking. Check out the “Intro to IT & Cybersecurity” and “CompTIA Security+” courses for solid foundations.
7. Hacker101 (by HackerOne)
hacker101.com
Hacker101 provides video lessons and Capture The Flag exercises. It’s a great resource for aspiring bug bounty hunters to learn practical skills fast.
Complete Free Curriculums & Roadmaps
-
Practical Ethical Hacking Roadmap
github.com/infosecn1nja/Red-Teaming-Toolkit
A curated list of tools, scripts, and practice labs structured like a red teamer’s study plan. -
Awesome Hacking Resources
github.com/Hack-with-Github/Awesome-Hacking
A GitHub community collection of hundreds of categorized hacking resources including books, tutorials, and lab environments. -
PentesterLab (Free Badge Tracks)
pentesterlab.com
PentesterLab offers free exercises for learning web vulnerabilities using your own environment. Look for free badges like “Intro” or “Essential.”
Free Tools for Practice
- Kali Linux – Pre-installed with all major hacking tools.
kali.org - Burp Suite Community Edition – Web app vulnerability scanner.
portswigger.net/burp - Wireshark – Network protocol analyzer for sniffing and analyzing traffic.
wireshark.org
Other Highly Valuable Free Resources
YouTube Channels
- The Cyber Mentor – Real-world pentesting projects
- John Hammond – CTF walkthroughs, malware analysis
- NetworkChuck – Entertaining yet deeply technical tutorials
OWASP Top 10 – OWASP Top Ten | OWASP Foundation
A must-read for all security learners. Learn the top web application vulnerabilities used by hackers and defenders.
Free eBooks & PDFs
- “The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook” (free editions often shared via GitHub)
- “Metasploit Unleashed” by Offensive Security
Practical Labs & Sandboxes (Free)
- VulnHub – https://www.vulnhub.com
Download vulnerable machines to practice offline with tools like Kali Linux. - PortSwigger Web Security Academy – Web Security Academy: Free Online Training from PortSwigger
Free interactive labs that teach web hacking using Burp Suite. - Google Gruyere – https://google-gruyere.appspot.com/
A fun way to learn how to hack insecure web apps, built by Google.
Tools You’ll Use as You Learn
- Kali Linux – Pre-loaded with tools like Nmap, Wireshark, Burp Suite
- Metasploit Framework – Penetration testing powerhouse
- Burp Suite Community Edition – Web application security testing
- Wireshark – Network traffic analysis
All of these tools are free and open-source (except for some premium upgrades).
Certifications to Target After Learning
Once you’ve trained with the above, aim for industry-respected certifications:
- CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)
- CompTIA Security+
- OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)
These can boost your career prospects in roles like penetration tester, SOC analyst, or red team specialist.
Daily Study Plan (Suggested)
Week 1–2: Learn networking, Linux, and basic tools on TryHackMe
Week 3–4: Dive into web application vulnerabilities via PortSwigger
Week 5–6: Practice with CTFs and labs from VulnHub, HTB, or OWASP
Week 7+: Join communities, contribute to GitHub repos, prep for certs
Suggested Learning Flow for Beginners
- Understand the Basics — Learn networking, Linux, and system architecture. Use HTB or OverTheWire.
- Study Web Vulnerabilities — Practice on PortSwigger and Hacker101.
- Explore Real Attacks — Join TryHackMe’s guided paths or PicoCTF challenges.
- Advance to Tools & Exploits — Use tools in Kali Linux and simulate attacks in safe labs.
- Contribute & Compete — Participate in CTFs or join bug bounty platforms like HackerOne.
No experience? No problem. These platforms support self-paced growth, real-world challenges, and structured paths — making ethical hacking accessible to anyone with curiosity and dedication.
Ethical hacking is no longer a secretive domain—you can learn everything legally and for free. These handpicked resources and tools will guide you from a complete beginner to a job-ready cybersecurity professional. Stay consistent, keep hacking ethically, and grow your skills one exploit at a time.
Start now — and build real hacking skills without spending a cent.
ENJOY & HAPPY LEARNING! 
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