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Ethical Hacker Roadmap by ChatGPT

The document outlines a comprehensive roadmap for becoming a professional ethical hacker, detailing prerequisites, essential skills in networking and operating systems, programming languages, and penetration testing phases. It includes timelines for each learning phase, recommended resources, practice labs, and advanced topics such as wireless hacking and bug bounty hunting. Additionally, it highlights certifications for career growth and suggests roles in the cybersecurity field.

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katdah1
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194 views4 pages

Ethical Hacker Roadmap by ChatGPT

The document outlines a comprehensive roadmap for becoming a professional ethical hacker, detailing prerequisites, essential skills in networking and operating systems, programming languages, and penetration testing phases. It includes timelines for each learning phase, recommended resources, practice labs, and advanced topics such as wireless hacking and bug bounty hunting. Additionally, it highlights certifications for career growth and suggests roles in the cybersecurity field.

Uploaded by

katdah1
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ethical Hacking Roadmap (Beginner to Advanced)

This roadmap will take you from a beginner to a professional ethical hacker, covering
networking, operating systems, security tools, and real-world penetration testing.

1. Prerequisites (1 Month)
Before diving into hacking, master the foundational concepts:

A. Computer Networking Basics

●​ OSI & TCP/IP Models (Layers, Protocols)


●​ IP Addressing & Subnetting
●​ DNS, HTTP/S, FTP, SSH
●​ Firewall & VPN Basics
●​ Tools: Wireshark, Nmap

📌 Resources:
●​ Cisco’s Networking Basics Course
●​ Wireshark for Network Analysis

2. Learn Operating Systems (2 Months)


A. Linux (Main OS for Hackers)

●​ Learn Kali Linux / Parrot OS


●​ Terminal Commands (ls, cd, cat, grep, chmod, chown)
●​ Bash Scripting for automation
●​ User Privileges, File Permissions

📌 Resources:
●​ Linux Command Line Basics (Udemy, YouTube)
●​ TryHackMe: Linux Fundamentals

B. Windows Security & Exploitation


●​ Windows File System & Registry
●​ PowerShell Scripting
●​ Windows Active Directory & Privilege Escalation

📌 Practice:
●​ Play with Metasploitable (Intentionally Vulnerable OS)

3. Programming for Hackers (2-3 Months)


Programming helps automate exploits and understand vulnerabilities.

A. Recommended Languages

1.​ Python - Writing hacking scripts


2.​ Bash - Automating Linux tasks
3.​ JavaScript - Web-based attacks
4.​ C/C++ - Exploit development
5.​ Assembly (Optional) - Reverse engineering

📌 Projects:
●​ Write a simple keylogger in Python
●​ Automate Nmap scanning with Bash

4. Ethical Hacking Basics (2-3 Months)


A. Penetration Testing Phases

1.​ Reconnaissance (Gathering information)


○​ OSINT Tools: Shodan, Maltego, Google Dorking
○​ Whois Lookup, DNS Enumeration
2.​ Scanning & Enumeration
○​ Nmap, Netcat, Nikto, Gobuster
○​ Identifying open ports, services, and vulnerabilities
3.​ Gaining Access
○​ Exploiting known vulnerabilities (SQL Injection, XSS)
○​ Using Metasploit
4.​ Maintaining Access
○​ Reverse Shells, Persistence Techniques
5.​ Covering Tracks
○​ Log Clearing, Anti-Forensics

📌 Practice Labs:
●​ TryHackMe & Hack The Box
●​ DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web App)

5. Web Hacking & Exploitation (1-2 Months)


●​ Common Web Attacks:
○​ SQL Injection
○​ Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)
○​ Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)
○​ File Upload Vulnerabilities

📌 Tools:
●​ Burp Suite (Web App Testing)
●​ SQLmap (Automated SQL Injection)

📌 Practice:
●​ PortSwigger Web Security Academy

6. Advanced Topics (3-6 Months)


A. Wireless Hacking

●​ Wi-Fi Cracking (Aircrack-ng, Reaver)


●​ Man-in-the-Middle Attacks

B. Reverse Engineering & Malware Analysis

●​ Disassemblers: IDA Pro, Ghidra


●​ Debugging: OllyDbg
●​ Writing Custom Exploits

C. Bug Bounty Hunting

●​ Platforms: HackerOne, Bugcrowd


●​ Vulnerability Disclosure Programs (VDPs)

📌 Practice:
●​ Join a Bug Bounty Program and hunt real-world vulnerabilities

7. Certifications & Career Growth


A. Beginner Certifications

1.​ CompTIA Security+ (Basic Cybersecurity)


2.​ CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker)

B. Advanced Certifications

3.​ OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional)


4.​ PNPT (Practical Network Penetration Tester)

C. Start Ethical Hacking as a Career

●​ Apply for penetration tester, security analyst, or SOC analyst roles


●​ Join Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions
●​ Write reports on vulnerabilities you find

Estimated Timeline
●​ 6-12 Months for a strong foundation
●​ 1-2 Years to become an advanced penetration tester

Would you like guidance on specific courses or platforms to practice? 🚀

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