Computer security, cyber security, or information technology security (IT security) is the protection of computer systems and networks from information disclosure, theft of, or damage to their hardware, software, or electronic data, as well as from the disruption or misdirection of the services they provide.
The field has become of significance due to the expanded reliance on computer systems, the Internet, and wireless network standards such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, and due to the growth of smart devices, including smartphones, televisions, and the various devices that constitute the Internet of things (IoT). Cybersecurity is also one of the significant challenges in the contemporary world, due to the complexity of information systems, both in terms of political usage and technology. Its primary goal is to ensure the system’s dependability, integrity, and data privacy
Best websites to cybersecurity & hacking
Best free online cybersecurity & hacking courses. The best online cybersecurity courses offer a quick and accessible way to train up in cybersecurity skills. How about taking one of the best free cybersecurity courses online and get yourself a new qualification while the whole notion of “new normal” sinks in as the effects of the great pandemic impact the global workforce.
With the increasing need for cyber-security professionals in this day and age of constant threats and sophisticated hackers, having even the most basic knowledge in cyber-security is more important than ever.
Below are some of the best free sites to learn how to hack and various cyber security skills needed in 2021:
1. Cybrary
Cybrary is a rather new site that offers a wide range of courses and classes spanning everything from basic networking to advanced penetration testing. The website has dozens of detailed courses all taught by leading professionals in the industry. Cybrary even offers certification classes that can prepare you before applying for security certifications in a certain field, ensuring your ready for course material.
Cybrary covers a wide range of hacking topics including:
- Ethical Hacking
- Penetration Testing
- Cryptography
- Forensics
- Social Engineering
- Post Exploitation
- Malware Analysis and Reverse Engineering
- Dozens of certification courses
Alongside their vast range of classes they also offer material specific to certifications including, A+, Linux+, Network+, Security+ and can also prepare you for MCSA, CCNA, CISA, CASP, CISSP and several other certifications.
Cybrary is a great free tool for learning and can help any newbie just starting or help advanced hackers take their skills to the next level.
2. SecurityTube
Starting all the way back in 2008, SecurityTube was created by fellow security researcher Vivek Ramachandran, a trusted professional in the security industry.
As the name suggests, SecurityTube is virtually the YouTube for ethical hacking and information security. Containing everything from basic penetration testing in a variety of fields to full hacking tool rundowns, SecurityTube is jam-packed with dozens of security courses.
With its community style layout, SecurityTube offers various collections of courses taught by Vivek himself alongside several hundred other security researchers. The site offers hundreds of hours of security, vulnerability, and hacking related content.
After providing free information security courses for nearly eight years, Vivek started to offer additional in-depth security classes at his premium site, pentester academy. However, all courses on SecurityTube are 100% free of charge and will remain free for their lifetime.
SecurityTube has been created a reliable crowd-sourced information security network that can’t be found elsewhere!
3. Harvard/EDX
You read that right! Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to be accepted into a prestigious college to be able to enroll in a number of their classes. That’s where EDX comes in, compiling a large catalog of free college-level courses you can sign up for. Among everything from Business to agriculture, EDX has you covered with college courses.
EDX complies with college-level courses from top institutions that make them publicly available online, allowing you to freely signup and enroll in the class. If you want a certified form of completion for your college course, you can grab most certificates in the $100-$200+ range on EDX. This can show employers that you are properly certified and have taken the college-level course and successfully completed it along with its online tasks.
Among our completed favorites is Harvard’s introduction to computer science. The course is great and jam-packed with hours of content, lab activities, and fun exercises. These aren’t your typical college courses, you’re learning hacking!
4. SANS Cyber Aces
The SANS Institute is a company that specializes in information security and cybersecurity training. The SANS Institute is among the top information security trainers in the world, offering dozens of high-priced classes touring the world every year.
Among their dozens of high-value classes comes SANS Cyber Aces, a free information security initiative developed by the SANS Institute. While SANS understands not everyone can afford $5,000 for a four-day cyber-security course, they birthed Cyber Aces.
Cyber Aces offers a great way for both teachers and students to learn hacking and information security from true experts. As SANS continues to grow and develop Cyber Aces, more information is being added all the time!
For true cyber-security training by the professionals, be sure to check out the SANS Institute and Cyber Aces.
5. LEAP
LEAP (site defunct, will be updated shortly), the last free website to learn hacking on the list is another great website with several free cyber-security courses spanning a variety of subjects. Various topics consist of cyber security fundamentals, cyber forensics fundamentals, cyber law and even countering cyber attacks.
LEAP offers various great courses for beginners, our favorite being cyber security fundamentals, a well-structured course that can get you on your way to learning hacking and security basics from the ground up.
Alongside all their great and updating course catalog, LEAP also offers certifications, meaning if you complete a course and want to be certified, you can pay a small fee upfront and take the test.
LEAP is a great introduction resource on your road towards learning cyber-security.
6. Udemy
Typically, courses on Udemy cost money, but we’ve found a few worth checking out that won’t put a dent in your bank account. There’s a Cybersecurity Law primer, for example, that we think could be beneficial to anyone wanting to know the ins and outs of cybersecurity ethics.
The Cyber Security Course for Beginners – Level 01 could also be advantageous to take, not only for cybersecurity enthusiasts but for anyone who wants to learn more about the subject.
However, Udemy’s real selling point is that not only does it offer some very in-depth courses, but many of these courses can also be bought on offer for less than $20, making them extremely cost-effective.
7. Coursera
Coursera offers a range of short courses for distance learning, including a number of cybersecurity ones such as Cybersecurity Specialization which was created by the University of Maryland to bring the underlying concepts of the construction of secure systems directly to your web browser.
It consists of five courses in total, each of which can take several weeks to complete. These range from Usable Security to a Cybersecurity Capstone Project, so it’s safe to say that they’ll require you to already have some intermediate cybersecurity know-how under your belt.
There are additional cybersecurity courses available, though, covering everything from the basics to more advanced specializations.
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