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Beginner Friendly Cybersecurity Resources (Free / Mostly Free)

RD Labs
January 6, 2026
Here is an insightful breakdown of free beginner cybersecurity resources and a roadmap

🔰 Beginner-Friendly Cybersecurity Resources (Free / Mostly Free)

🧭 Roadmaps (what to learn & in what order)

  • roadmap.sh (Cyber Security roadmap)
     Best starting point to understand what topics exist and how they connect.

  • CyberSeek
     Good for seeing career paths, roles, and required skills.


🧪 Hands-On Learning (Very Important)

  • TryHackMe ⭐ (most recommended for beginners)

    • Guided, beginner-friendly labs

    • Has a free learning path

  • Hack The Box

    • Excellent, but better after basics

    • Start with “Academy” if you use it

  • OverTheWire

    • Classic Linux + security challenges (great for fundamentals)


🌐 Web Security

  • PortSwigger Web Security Academy ⭐

    • Free, professional-grade web hacking lessons

    • Covers OWASP Top 10 very well


📚 Reference & Reading

  • HackTricks (book.hacktricks.wiki)

    • Encyclopedic reference on vulnerabilities & exploitation

    • Better once you know basics

  • Hacking-notes.com

    • Structured notes for red team / blue team concepts


🎥 Video Learning

  • YouTube
     Search for:

    • “TryHackMe walkthrough beginner”

    • “Burp Suite tutorial”

    • “Linux for cybersecurity beginners”


🛣️ Simple Beginner Cybersecurity Roadmap

1️⃣ Foundations (Must-Know)

  • Basic computer concepts

  • Linux fundamentals

  • Networking basics (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP)

  • How the internet works

👉 Use: roadmap.sh + YouTube + OverTheWire


2️⃣ Core Security Concepts

  • What is malware, phishing, ransomware

  • Password security & authentication

  • Firewalls, antivirus, VPNs

  • OWASP Top 10

👉 Use: PortSwigger Academy + TryHackMe


3️⃣ Choose a Direction

  • 🔴 Red Team / Ethical Hacking

  • 🔵 Blue Team / Defense

  • 🌐 Web Security

  • ☁️ Cloud Security

👉 Use: TryHackMe paths + Hack The Box Academy


4️⃣ Practice Consistently

  • Do labs weekly

  • Take notes

  • Break things legally in labs only


⚠️ Beginner Safety Tips (Important)

  • Never test hacking tools on real websites

  • Use virtual machines (VirtualBox / VMware)

  • Practice only on legal platforms

  • Focus on learning, not “hacking fast”


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