Even though most of TryHackMe isn’t free, with just 10$ a month it is very affordable compared to other resources out there. And it is worth it.
TryHackMe is an online learning platform for cybersecurity. They offer a wide range of topics related to cybersecurity and ethical hacking. Which are all presented in a practical way. There are rooms suited for complete beginners, as well as more experienced people. Yes, as I already said, it is subscription-based, but if you are curious, there is a lot of free content too. Like their Advent of Cyber 3 Room which offers fun and engaging lessons on a lot of different cyber security topics for free. If you are not subscribed, you will need your own hacking machine from which you connect via VPN though.
These are the benefits you get from subscribing.
- way more great content.
- a Kali Linux Machine accessible through your browser (has pros and cons)
- and more …
As mentioned, the content on TryHackMe is organized in rooms. These come in two kinds. Walkthroughs, teaching you a specific skill, which you then have to use to solve some tasks. Or CTFs (Capture-The-Flag) which provide less to no explanation for the tasks.
Some of the tasks in walkthrough rooms might be just theoretical, but for most of them, you have to find a practical solution. This is a great and fun way to learn. I practiced a lot on TryHackMe before finishing my eJPT and it was a big help, getting more hands-on experience.
If you choose to subscribe, you can also enroll in “Learning Paths”, which offer a structured way of learning towards a specific goal. Great if you are a beginner and don’t know where to start. After finishing a path you even get a certificate for doing so, which never hurts to have.
As an example, these are the rooms in the Pre Security Path – they will teach you all the basics to get further into hacking, or even IT in general. Those rooms cover a lot of the software related material in the CompTIA ITF+ or A+ certification, but not in that detail of course. I still enjoyed the way it was presented and finished these rooms not that long ago, just for fun.
In conclusion, I can’t recommend TryHackMe enough. It offers a ton of material for an affordable price. So if you are interested in cybersecurity, check it out.
I will also post write-ups of the rooms I finish in the future, to share what I have learned.