Free Platforms To Study Hacking in 2025
So you have decided to dive into cybersecurity? Maybe you have heard about ethical hacking, Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges, or just want to break into tech in a fun and hands-on way.
Good news: You don’t need a degree or years of experience to get started. In fact, there are platforms out there made for people like you, places where you can learn by actually doing.
In this post, I’ll walk you through 5 amazing platforms that helped me and thousands of others learn cybersecurity from scratch:
Hack The Box (HTB)
Best for: Learning ethical hacking and penetration testing (Red Team)
Hack The Box is like a gym for hackers, full of challenges that simulate real world systems. You get to break into machines, escalate privileges, and learn how vulnerabilities work.
- Machines range from easy to insane difficulty
- No step-by-step help (great for learning by trial and error)
- Great if you’re preparing for certifications like OSCP
Advice: HTB might feel overwhelming at first. Start with “Starting Point” machines, they’re beginner friendly and walk you through the basics.
TryHackMe (THM)
Best for: Total beginners and hands-on learners
TryHackMe is super beginner friendly. It teaches you cybersecurity concepts with interactive lessons in your browser, no setup required.
- Has learning paths like “Pre Security,” “Jr Penetration Tester,” and more
- Built in tutorials and hints to help you along the way
- Great for learning at your own pace
Advice: If you’re just starting out and want structure, this is the best place to begin.
VulnHub
Best for: Practicing on your own system, offline
VulnHub is a collection of downloadable vulnerable machines. You download them, run them in something like VirtualBox, and try to hack into them.
- No internet needed (great for practicing offline)
- Tons of community created content
- Great for sharpening your Linux and enumeration skills
Advice: There’s no built in help or progress tracking, so it’s more suited for practicing what you’ve already learned.
picoCTF
Best for: Students and beginners who love puzzles
picoCTF is a free cybersecurity game created by Carnegie Mellon University. It’s built like a competition, with puzzles in areas like cryptography, reverse engineering, and web exploitation.
- Fun, puzzle style challenges
- Totally free, no sign up barriers
- Great for building problem solving skills
Advice: Even if the annual competition isn’t running, you can still access past challenges anytime.
SANS Holiday Hack Challenge
Best for: A fun, festive way to learn advanced topics
Once a year, SANS drops this free holiday themed hacking challenge that’s equal parts educational and entertaining. You play as a character solving missions inside a virtual winter wonderland.
- Mix of storytelling and cybersecurity puzzles
- Challenges range from easy to expert
- Write ups are often shared online and can impress employers!
Why it’s awesome: It’s one of the most creative cybersecurity experiences out there, and it’s free!
Not Sure Where to Start?
| Your Level | Start With |
|---|---|
| Total beginner | TryHackMe or picoCTF |
| Comfortable with Linux | Hack The Box (Starting Point) |
| Like puzzles/games | picoCTF or SANS Holiday Hack |
| Want offline practice | VulnHub |
| Looking for a challenge | Hack The Box |
Final Tips for Beginners
- Take notes: Write down what you try, what worked, and what didn’t. This helps solidify your learning.
- Google everything: Seriously. Google is your best friend in this field.
- Follow write ups: Search for HTB machine name write up or picoCTF solution to learn from others.
- Share your progress: Posting your journey on LinkedIn or GitHub can help you connect with the cybersecurity community and show potential employers you’re serious.
Happy Hacking!!!