Hacker’s Review: TryHackMe.com
As I have been involved in cybersecurity research and education for a while, both as a student and a lecturer, I had plenty of opportunities to try firsthand many of the online platforms that allow students, hobbyists, and professionals alike to practice their craft and learn new skills. There are a few I really like and, among these, the one where I spent the most time on so far was TryHackMe (THM). You can find my public profile here: https://tryhackme.com/p/sys64738
TryHackMe, with 1.7 million users and counting, is indeed an excellent platform for individuals looking to learn about cybersecurity and gradually improve their hacking skills by exploring a topic at a time. The website offers a wide range of hands-on hacking challenges and exercises that are designed to teach users about various aspects of cybersecurity, from the very basics of networking to advanced penetration testing techniques.
Most importantly, since learning cybersecurity from scratch is indeed a daunting task and, more often than not, beginners have no idea where to start, it is great to see the attention to detail that THM put into designing the learning experience. All the materials are organized into a proper “funneling” of topics, gently leading a user into a specific area by recommending a learning path first. This is then broken down into “modules”, which are themselves broken into a series of “rooms” and, ultimately, into short “tasks”. There are learning paths expressly dedicated to absolute beginners as well as more advanced ones for red and blue teamers. Besides the very well-structured teaching materials, plenty of accompanying CTF challenges of various difficulties are provided as well to test our skills.
It should also be pointed out how the platform regularly releases new challenges and updates to ensure users are staying informed about the latest threats and trends in cybersecurity. For example, the Christmas-themed “Advent of Cyber” is absolutely terrific! Check out the 2022 edition here https://tryhackme.com/room/adventofcyber4
Almost all lectures and challenges can be taken online directly on the platform itself or can be executed by connecting via OpenVPN with our own Kali (or ParrotOS) machine, which makes the whole experience very class and student friendly.
In addition to the hacking challenges themselves, TryHackMe also offers a community aspect that allows users to connect with other cybersecurity enthusiasts, ask questions, and receive support. This community aspect adds a valuable social component to the platform, making it easier for users to learn and collaborate with others (of course, feel free to add me as a friend once you register!)
Overall, I highly recommend TryHackMe to anyone interested in cybersecurity or looking to improve their hacking skills. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cybersecurity professional, you will find valuable resources and learning opportunities on this platform.
