Learn hacking and cyber security with these free courses
The term ‘hacking’ is much more than using software to brute-force a password, or hiring a botnet to launch DDoS attacks against a website for the fun of it or cracking your media streaming kit to download shows for free. It is about solving problems and finding answers, whether in the IT field or otherwise.
However, over the years, the term ‘hacking’ has got a negative connotation due to few hackers who are also cyber criminals. But, if you keep the cybercrime part aside, hacking is a very respectable field with top dollar being paid to top grade ethical (white hat) hackers. Most of the tech companies hire hackers to test the strengths and weaknesses of their own system and software. These hackers know when to stop, and the positive trust they build earns them a large salary.
So, if you are looking to learn about IT, security and hacking online, there are a lot of free courses available online that can help you. In this article, we bring you six free programs for the said purpose.
Udemy
Udemy is another MOOC, which has over 10 million learners and aims to provide well-rounded, entry level information related to important terms and the ideas supporting Internet security practices. Starting with threat analysis and risk management, additional lessons explore core technologies such as basics of IT security, Java, encryption, networking, firewalls, and intrusion detection systems. Cloud security is also featured, as are incident response, disaster recovery, and how to conduct cyber exercises.
The course takes around 2.5 hours delivered over 15 lectures. You can subscribe for both free and paid courses.
Source: Udemy
Hacker Academy
For those who are looking to get some professional contacts, Hacker Academy, ran by Symantec, is the place to be. Though not free, at $49 a month, this online service not only offers practical tutorials, access to instructors but it also provides learning that can adjust as per your schedule.
Source: Hacker Academy
HackThisSite
HackThisSite (HTS) aims to provide users with a way to learn and practice basic and advanced “hacking” skills through a series of challenges, in a safe and legal environment. This free website prepares you to try out various cracking methods through projects and war games. HTS involves a small, loose team of developers and moderators who maintain its website, IRC server, and related projects.
Source: Hack This Site
Coursera
Coursera offers massive open online courses (MOOCs). Coursera works with universities and other organizations to make some of their courses available online for free, offering courses in subjects, such as: physics, engineering, biology, social sciences, humanities, medicine, mathematics, computer science, business, digital marketing, data science, and other subjects.
Source: Coursera
Cybrary
Cybrary offers free online training for the more and most complicated topics of the IT sector that was launched in 2015. The website supports a community of people to keep up-to-date in the field, free lessons and learning materials, and the chance to connect to businesses in the industry.
Source: Cybrary
YouTube
Google’s YouTube is a global video-sharing website and also an important resource for learning cybersecurity skills. There are many how-to’s and guides on offer by a range of contributors, free tutorials, teaching you everything from how encryption protocols work to full ethical hacking courses.
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