Best Websites to Practice Ethical Hacking
Ethical hacking is a crucial skill in the world of cybersecurity, but finding the right resources to practice can be a bit overwhelming.
With so many websites out there offering training, it’s hard to know which ones are worth your time.
In this blog, we’ll explore the best websites to practice ethical hacking, giving you a rundown of what each one offers.
10 Best Websites to Practice Ethical Hacking – Overview
Here’s an overview of the top 10 websites to practice ethical hacking:
| S.No. | Website Name | Pricing | Language Options | Website Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | TryHackMe | Freemium | English | Visit Now |
| 2 | Hack The Box | Freemium | English | Visit Now |
| 3 | VulnHub | Free | English | Visit Now |
| 4 | PentesterLab | Freemium | English | Visit Now |
| 5 | Security Shepherd | Free | English | Visit Now |
| 6 | Defend the Web | Free | English | Visit Now |
| 7 | CTFlearn | Free | English | Visit Now |
| 8 | Root Me | Freemium | Multiple Languages | Visit Now |
| 9 | Hack This Site | Free | English | Visit Now |
| 10 | OverTheWire | Free | English | Visit Now |
Top Websites to Practice Ethical Hacking
Below is the list of top 10 websites to practice ethical hacking:
1. TryHackMe
TryHackMe is a hands-on cybersecurity training platform offering a range of challenges and labs focused on ethical hacking and penetration testing.
It provides gamified challenges that cater to all skill levels, making it an engaging way to learn and practice ethical hacking techniques in a safe environment.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as Linux forensics, red teaming, OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities, and more.
Pricing: Free, with premium options available.
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
- Forum: A community forum for discussions and support.
- Blog and Glossary: Access to informative articles and a glossary for learning.
2. Hack The Box
Hack The Box is a platform that offers a wide array of virtual hacking labs and challenges designed to help users develop and hone their ethical hacking skills.
It provides a diverse range of scenarios and difficulty levels, from beginner to advanced, allowing users to practice real-world hacking techniques.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as web security, cryptography, reverse engineering, and forensics.
Pricing: Free, with VIP and VIP+ subscriptions available.
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
- Forum: A supportive community for discussions and help.
- Guided Mode: Official walkthroughs and guidance for selected challenges.
3. VulnHub
VulnHub provides a collection of intentionally vulnerable virtual machines (VMs) that users can download and use to practice their penetration testing and ethical hacking skills.
It offers a diverse range of VMs with various difficulty levels and scenarios, allowing users to practice real-world hacking techniques in a safe and legal environment.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as system enumeration, vulnerability exploitation, privilege escalation, and more.
Pricing: Free
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
- Discord Server: Hints and community support available through a Discord server.
4. PentesterLab
PentesterLab offers a comprehensive set of hands-on penetration testing and web application security exercises.
It provides real-world scenarios and comprehensive guides, allowing users to practice a wide range of vulnerabilities and security issues, from SQL injection to cross-site scripting and more.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as API security, code review, cross-site request forgery (CSRF), and server-side request forgery (SSRF).
Pricing: Free exercises are available, Pro subscription is also available.
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
- Blog and Resources: Access to additional learning materials and updates.
5. Security Shepherd
OWASP Security Shepherd is a web and mobile application security training platform designed to enhance security awareness and penetration testing skills.
It provides practical lessons and challenges based on the OWASP Top Ten security risks, allowing users to understand and exploit real-world vulnerabilities.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as cross-site scripting (XSS), SQL injection, and insecure deserialization.
Pricing: Free
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
- Open Source: The platform is free to use under the GNU General Public License and can be customized for different training setups.
6. Defend the Web
Defend the Web is an interactive cybersecurity platform that offers a variety of hacking challenges and educational resources.
It features over 60 hacking levels and a series of articles covering various security topics, offering both practical challenges and theoretical knowledge.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as web application security, cryptography, and network security.
Pricing: Free
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
- Discussion Boards: Engage with a community of hackers, developers, and security experts.
7. CTFlearn
CTFlearn is an educational platform offering a variety of Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges.
It provides a beginner-friendly environment with hundreds of challenges, allowing users to test their skills and learn new techniques across various cybersecurity domains.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as cryptography, steganography, web exploitation, and forensics.
Pricing: Free
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
Community Support: Active community participation through platforms like Discord, Twitter, and Reddit.
8. Root Me
Root Me is an open community and educational platform focused on hacking and information security.
It provides a comprehensive learning experience with over 580 challenges and 173 virtual environments, allowing users to explore realistic hacking scenarios.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as web security, cryptography, reverse engineering, and network security.
Pricing: Free, with premium access available.
Certifications and Rewards:
- Skills Badges: Showcase your expertise with skills badges.
Language Options: English, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Chinese
Community and Support:
- Open Community: Engage with other users and share solutions.
- Contributor Access: Contribute to the platform and potentially receive rewards.
9. Hack This Site
Hack This Site is a free, legal, and safe training ground for hackers to test and expand their ethical hacking skills through a variety of challenges and Capture The Flag (CTF) exercises.
It offers a comprehensive learning environment with challenges across different difficulty levels.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as web application security, programming, steganography, and forensic analysis.
Pricing: Free
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
- Forums: A space for users to discuss challenges and share knowledge.
- Discord and IRC: Real-time chat platforms for community interaction and support.
- Blog and Articles: Educational content and news updates.
10. OverTheWire
OverTheWire offers a series of wargames designed to teach and practice various security concepts through interactive, game-like challenges.
It provides a structured and engaging way to learn about different aspects of cybersecurity, from basic to advanced levels.
Questions Diversity: Students can practice topics such as SSH exploitation, web vulnerabilities, cryptography, and more.
Pricing: Free
Certifications and Rewards: NIL
Language Options: English
Community and Support:
- Chat: Users can join the OverTheWire chat for support and discussions with other players.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What are the best websites for practicing ethical hacking?
The best websites for practicing ethical hacking are:
- TryHackMe
- Hack The Box
- VulnHub
- Root Me
- Hack This Site
2. Why should I choose a website for practicing ethical hacking?
Websites for practicing ethical hacking offer interactive exercises, immediate feedback, and a structured learning path, making it easier to learn and apply ethical hacking concepts practically.
3. How do I choose the right website for practicing ethical hacking?
To choose the right website for practicing ethical hacking, consider factors like the range of difficulty levels, specific topics covered, the presence of step-by-step solutions, and community support.
4. Can a beginner practice ethical hacking effectively through websites?
Yes, a beginner can effectively practice ethical hacking through websites. These platforms often provide beginner-friendly tutorials, exercises graded by difficulty, and instant feedback.
5. Are there websites that offer content in multiple languages for practicing ethical hacking?
Yes, websites like Root Me provide ethical hacking practice content in multiple languages.
Final Words
There are plenty of great websites to help you practice ethical hacking, each with its unique strengths. Explore these options and find the best fit for your learning journey.
Keep checking this article as we will keep updating this space as more websites make space in the heart and study schedule of students preparing for placements and competitive exams.
Explore More Ethical Hacking Resources
- Ethical Hacking Websites
- Ethical Hacking YouTube Channels
- Ethical Hacking Project Ideas
- Ethical Hacking Programming Languages
- Ethical Hacking Apps
Explore More Practice Websites
Thirumoorthy serves as a teacher and coach. He obtained a 99 percentile on the CAT. He cleared numerous IT jobs and public sector job interviews, but he still decided to pursue a career in education. He desires to elevate the underprivileged sections of society through education
Thirumoorthy serves as a teacher and coach. He obtained a 99 percentile on the CAT. He cleared numerous IT jobs and public sector job interviews, but he still decided to pursue a career in education. He desires to elevate the underprivileged sections of society through education
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