At this point, I'm sure you already have a tiny detail about what Cybersecurity is all about. If you don't then just its definition should help.
Cyber-security to the practice of protecting electronic devices, networks, and sensitive information from unauthorized access, theft, or other malicious attacks.
It's important to note that cybersecurity isn't just hacking. Of course, you can learn to hack as a cybersecurity expert or "engineer". There's more to the game than just punching keyboards and drinking soda cans in a dark room filled with dark-themed monitors and a Guy Fawkes mask sitting somewhere in the background.
Cybersecurity involves the use of various technologies, processes, and best practices to safeguard digital assets and prevent cyber threats.
Recommended read: 6 things to know before getting started in cyber-security
So hopefully, you know what Cybersecurity is all about, on the surface at least. Now how do you get started? Where do you begin learning about Cybersecurity?
The real answer is, there are tons of places that teach cybersecurity (most of which offer certifications) but let's say you are just like me (broke college student - before I made millions of dollars doing stuff obviously) - you probably don't have a lot of money to put down on a course you're not entirely certain about or just can't afford.
So here are ten (10) free resources that I'll recommend to help you get started in learning about cybersecurity for free!
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Pluralsight offers you up-to-date training on technologies and frameworks used within the cybersecurity industry. What's great about it is their extensive brochure of courses. You might need a bit of looking around, but you absolutely will find something that interests you.
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Cybrary is one of the best I will always recommend because they offer a clear learning path. When I started, I jumped around a lot. As soon as I found Cybrary I was able to add some structure to my learning. Although some of their learning paths and courses will require you to pay for them, you can still get a lot from their free resources.
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This is a combined project delivered by OpenCourseWare and KhanAcademy dedicated to sharing training material for computer security classes. Consider it a place to read stuff and you can find quite interesting stuff on there. If you would like a more interactive platform then have a look at Reddit discussion groups. Those are quite interesting and educative.
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Looking to get started with online data security and not take the traditional hacker route then this is perfect. Khan Academy offers a detailed course outline from fundamental to advanced concepts.
Hack-The-Box
I like this one - well, my friend does and he is a complete beginner. HTB (as we like to call it) goes right at it with penetration testing and ethical hacking. All you really need is a computer and internet access to get on with the courses and labs. Oh yes, you'll get to hack for real.Try Hack Me
It's a disservice to just say Try Hack Me is substituted for HTB because it is more. Yes, they carry similar models and gamified learning approaches but if you want to test? You can bet yourself Try-Hack-Me has about everything you can try to hack.SANS Cyber-Aces
If you want to take the corporate approach SANS are respected within the Cybersecurity industry, so a course from there makes enough sense to make it to this list. Of course, they offer the most dynamic certifications (which of course isn't free) but with getting started? You have that covered.Microsoft Learn
Everyone knows Microsoft, but not a lot recognize Microsoft Learn which is one elaborate virtual school created by Mircosoft. It's particularly useful because it offers in-depth knowledge of general cybersecurity concepts. But you also get to learn security concepts around many Mircosoft products which is a huge plus.Cisco Networking Academy
Student, educators and professionals all make use of the Cisco Networking Academy resources. And you can join right in, especially if you're in college or fresh out of college (this is just my recommendation).Udemy
Yes, I know. I said it's a free list but Udemy possibly has one of the best resources with tons of courses made by thousands of educators for a really small amount. Udemy offers big discounts on courses and you can be lucky to even pick up one for free! (I have gotten a few courses for free on Udemy).
Conclusion
A ton of resources on this list are free for the most part but nothing is free. No I'm not referring to upsells you'll encounter with some of them, but overall you'll need to pay attention and time (in hours, weeks and months) to get the most out of these resources.
As another recommendation, free resources such as YouTube and e-books (pdfdrive.com) are worth their weight in the skills they teach and help you understand. Don't forget to use Google lol.