Basics - The Stuff You Actually Need to Know¶

Before you start hacking NASA or whatever delusional fantasy you have , you need to understand the fundamentals

No shortcuts , no skipping , no "I already know this bro" attitude that'll get you exposed as a fraud

What's in Here¶

These aren't optional suggestions from some corporate training program , they're requirements if you want to not embarrass yourself

Operating Systems¶

Linux Basics - The OS that runs the internet , every security tool worth a damn , and probably your router
Windows Basics - The most attacked OS on the planet because everyone uses it and most admins are clueless
Android Basics - Mobile security matters when billions of people store their entire life on a phone

Core Concepts¶

Networking Basics - How data actually moves around , spoiler: it's not magic just packets and protocols
Cryptography - Encryption , hashing , and why your "password123!" with an exclamation mark is still garbage
DFIR - Digital Forensics and Incident Response , aka what you do when shit inevitably hits the fan

Practical Skills¶

Scripting Essentials - Automate repetitive tasks or waste your life clicking buttons like a monkey
Virtualization - Build your lab environment , seriously don't hack production systems you absolute psychopath
Reverse Engineering - Taking software apart to understand how it works , malware won't analyze itself

Why This Actually Matters¶

I've seen way too many people jump straight into "advanced hacking techniques" without knowing jack shit about the basics

They're like someone trying to perform brain surgery after watching a 10-minute YouTube video

What happens when you skip basics:

You run tools without understanding the output , basically a human button-pusher
You can't troubleshoot when things inevitably break , then cry on Discord asking for help
You copy-paste commands from GitHub like a script kiddie , zero understanding
You have no clue why attacks work , just that "the tutorial said to do this"
You get absolutely wrecked in job interviews , exposed as a fraud immediately
You can't adapt when techniques change , stuck running outdated exploits

What happens when you actually master basics:

You understand WHY attacks succeed , not just how to run someone else's exploit
You troubleshoot problems in seconds while others are still Googling error messages
You create your own tools and exploits instead of begging for scripts
You adapt to new tech instantly because you understand the underlying concepts
You actually know what the fuck you're doing
People stop calling you a script kiddie behind your back

How to Use This Section¶

Don't skip anything

Yeah I know you think you already know Linux because you installed Kali once , read it anyway , you'll learn something

Build the damn lab

The virtualization section isn't a suggestion , you NEED a safe environment to break things without going to prison

Take actual notes

You'll reference this material constantly , make it easy to find stuff later instead of re-reading everything

Practice everything

Reading about commands doesn't teach you shit , you need muscle memory from actually typing them hundreds of times

Ask questions when stuck

If something doesn't make sense , figure it out before moving on , don't just pretend you get it

Real-World Application¶

Everything here connects directly to actual security work , not theoretical bullshit from textbooks

Linux knowledge → Server security , forensics , tool usage , exploit development , basically everything

Windows knowledge → Enterprise security , incident response , Active Directory attacks , the stuff that pays

Networking → Traffic analysis , attack detection , protocol exploitation , understanding how you got owned

Cryptography → Understanding secure communications , breaking weak crypto , not storing passwords in plaintext

DFIR → Investigating breaches , finding evidence , incident response , cleaning up after disasters

Scripting → Automating recon , building custom tools , processing massive amounts of data

Reverse Engineering → Malware analysis , vulnerability research , exploit development , the fun stuff

Learning Path (and you probably are):¶

Linux Basics - Most security tools run on Linux , deal with it
Networking Basics - Understand how data moves or stay clueless forever
Scripting Essentials - Automate your work or enjoy being a human robot

Then move to:

Windows Basics - Enterprise environments where the money is
Cryptography - Secure communications and why MD5 is dead
DFIR - Incident response for when you inevitably get breached

Advanced topics (don't rush here):

Android Basics - Mobile security because phones have everything now
Reverse Engineering - Binary analysis and malware dissection
Virtualization - Lab setup so you don't destroy your actual system

Common Mistakes (That Make You Look Stupid)¶

Mistake 1: "I already know Linux bro"

No you don't , you know how to use ls and cd and maybe grep if you're feeling fancy , that's not enough

Knowing how to navigate directories doesn't mean you understand permissions , processes , networking , or any of the actual important stuff

Mistake 2: Not practicing (just reading)

Reading about commands is completely useless , you need muscle memory from actually typing them thousands of times

Watching someone else hack doesn't make you a hacker , just like watching cooking shows doesn't make you a chef

Mistake 3: Rushing through everything

Taking 2 days to "learn" all basics means you learned absolutely nothing , you just skimmed and pretended

Security takes time to understand , anyone promising shortcuts is selling you bullshit

Mistake 4: Not building a lab

You can't learn security without breaking things , and you definitely can't break production systems without going to prison

Build a damn lab , it's not optional , it's the difference between learning and larping

Mistake 5: Memorizing instead of understanding

Knowing a command exists is worthless if you don't understand when , why , and how to use it

Understanding concepts lets you adapt , memorizing commands makes you a human script

Mistake 6: Skipping the "boring" stuff

The boring foundational stuff is what separates people who actually know security from script kiddies who run Metasploit

Everyone wants to jump to the cool exploits , nobody wants to learn how TCP works , and that's why most people suck

Mistake 7: Not asking questions

Pretending you understand something when you don't is how you stay ignorant forever

Ask questions , look stupid for 5 minutes , or be stupid for the rest of your career

What Makes These Guides Different¶

No corporate bullshit

We don't pretend everything is perfect , security is messy and attackers are creative

No sanitized examples that never happen in real life

Real commands that actually work

Every command shown has been tested on real systems , not theoretical examples from textbooks

Copy-paste and it'll work , assuming you're not completely incompetent

Practical focus over theory

Theory is great for academics , you need to know how to actually do things

We show you the commands , the output , the common errors , and how to fix them

CTF-ready content

Content is organized to help you solve challenges , pass certifications , and not embarrass yourself

Real scenarios you'll encounter , not made-up examples

Cross-referenced properly

Topics link to related content in other sections because everything connects

No isolated knowledge that doesn't apply anywhere else

Actually maintained

Security changes fast , these guides get updated when techniques change

Not some abandoned tutorial from 2015 that doesn't work anymore

Prerequisites (What You Actually Need)¶

You need:

A computer with at least 8GB RAM (16GB better)
Internet connection that's not dial-up
Ability to read and follow instructions without hand-holding
Willingness to actually practice instead of just reading
Patience to learn properly instead of rushing
Basic English comprehension
Brain (optional)

You don't need:

Prior hacking experience (that's why you're here)
Computer science degree (helpful but not required)
Expensive certifications (waste of money at this stage)
"Elite" hardware (your laptop is fine even potato can do the job)
Permission to learn (just don't hack real systems without authorization)
To be a "genius" (persistence beats intelligence)

Time Investment (The Honest Truth)¶

Realistic timeline for someone who actually practices:

Linux Basics: 2-3 weeks of daily practice (trust me this will take more if you fell in love with any linux distro)
Windows Basics: 2-3 weeks (more if you've never used Windows)
Networking: 1-2 weeks (foundational concepts , i prefere you extend your learning cuz networking if the core of everything nowdays)
Cryptography: 1 week (understanding not implementing , and dont think one week enough for even a taste)
DFIR: 2-3 weeks (lots of tools to learn)
Scripting: 2-4 weeks (depends on programming background)
Reverse Engineering: 3-4 weeks (hardest topic here , every start is new start)

Total: 3-4 months of consistent daily study

Anyone promising you'll "learn hacking in 30 days" or "become a pentester in 2 weeks" is lying to take your money

Security takes time , there are no shortcuts , accept it and start learning

Getting Help (Without Looking Like an Idiot)¶

When you're stuck:

Read the actual error message (seriously , read it , don't just panic)
Google the exact error message (someone else had this problem , reddit / stack overflow will help)
Check official documentation (RTFM is real advice)
Search Stack Overflow (probably already answered)
Ask in Discord/Reddit with details (not just "help it's broken")
Don't give up after 5 minutes (persistence matters)
Don't expect to be a pro in a week (it takes time)
Don't expect to be a pro in a month (it takes time)
Take a cold shower and drink coffe to boost your energy

How to ask good questions (so people actually help you):

What you're trying to accomplish (the goal)
What you've already tried (show effort)
Exact error messages (copy-paste , don't paraphrase and dont even be a smartass)
Your environment details (OS , versions , setup)
Relevant code/commands (what you actually ran)

Bad question (you'll get ignored):

"Linux doesn't work help"

Good question (you'll get help):

"Running 'sudo apt update' on Ubuntu 22.04 gives 'E: Could not get lock /var/lib/apt/lists/lock' - I've tried rebooting and checking for other apt processes with 'ps aux | grep apt' but nothing is running , what am I missing?"

"Guys , i'm cooked ! i've been using pip install to the global system env and made conflicts with system packages , how do i fix this ?"

Questions that make you look stupid:

"How do I hack Facebook?" (no , fuckin no)
"Can you hack my girlfriend's Instagram?" (illegal and pathetic and make you dumpass af)
"What's the best hacking tool?" (there isn't one , unless you count brain as one)
"How long to become a hacker?" (depends on you not the timeline , and bro come on wtf you expect? mr.robot or what?)
"What's the best Linux distro?" (depends on your use case , personally i use ParrotOS cuz i lived with it most of my journy so it's basicly a second home to me)

Final Thoughts (Real Talk)¶

Security is a marathon not a sprint , not be in rush at any point of your journey

You won't master everything overnight and that's completely fine , nobody does

Focus on understanding concepts deeply rather than memorizing commands that'll be outdated next year

Build things , break things , fix things , repeat until it clicks

The people who succeed aren't the smartest , they're the most persistent and willing to learn

Stop reading motivational bullshit and start actually learning

Stop watching "hacking tutorials" and start practicing on real systems

Stop asking "is this enough to get a job" and start building skills that make you valuable

Most importantly: Don't be a script kiddie who runs tools without understanding them

Understand the fundamentals , master the basics , then move to big cookies

Now stop procrastinating on this intro page and start learning

Let's go: Linux Basics

You got this , now prove it