Cybersecurity Resources – XploitCore

🔹 Welcome to XploitCore Resources!

This page is your ultimate hub for cybersecurity knowledge, including learning paths, tools, certifications, YouTube channels, books, career guides, and practice platforms. Whether you’re a beginner exploring ethical hacking or an experienced professional aiming for advanced skills, you’ll find everything you need here.

📌 Cybersecurity Roadmap (Step-by-Step Guide)

This roadmap helps you become a cybersecurity professional based on different career paths.

🔹 1. Understanding the Basics

Before diving deep into security, you need a strong foundation in IT:
✅ Learn Networking: (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP, VPNs, Firewalls) → CompTIA Network+
✅ Learn Operating Systems: (Linux & Windows Command Line) → TryHackMe Linux Fundamentals
✅ Learn Programming Basics: Python, Bash, or JavaScript (for automation & scripting)

🔹 2. Choose Your Cybersecurity Path

There are multiple career paths in cybersecurity. Choose one that aligns with your goals:

🛡️ Blue Team (Defensive Security)

Focuses on defending systems from cyber threats:

  • 🔹 SOC Analyst (Security Operations Center)

  • 🔹 Incident Response & Digital Forensics

  • 🔹 Threat Intelligence & SIEM (Splunk, ELK)

  • 🔹 Malware Analysis & Reverse Engineering

💀 Red Team (Offensive Security)

Focuses on hacking and penetration testing:

  • 🔹 Ethical Hacker / Penetration Tester

  • 🔹 Red Teamer / Adversary Simulation

  • 🔹 Web & Application Security Testing

  • 🔹 Exploit Development

☁️ Cloud Security & DevSecOps

  • 🔹 AWS, Azure, GCP Security

  • 🔹 Container Security (Docker, Kubernetes)

  • 🔹 Infrastructure as Code (Terraform, Ansible)

🛠️ Reverse Engineering & Exploit Development

  • 🔹 Binary Exploitation & Assembly Language

  • 🔹 Malware Analysis & Threat Research

  • 🔹 Fuzzing & Bug Hunting

🎓 Best Cybersecurity Learning Platforms

These platforms offer courses, certifications, and hands-on labs.

🆓 Free Learning Resources

  • TryHackMe – Beginner-friendly cybersecurity challenges.

  • OverTheWire – Linux security CTF challenges.

  • PicoCTF – Gamified learning for cybersecurity.

  • MIT OpenCourseWare – Free university-level cybersecurity lectures.

📚 Paid & Advanced Courses

  • Hack The Box Academy – Hands-on ethical hacking training.

  • Pentester Academy – Advanced red teaming & exploit development.

  • Offensive Security – OSCP, OSEP, and OSWE certifications.

🔧 Essential Cybersecurity Tools

✅ For Ethical Hacking & Pentesting:

  • Kali Linux – Pre-installed security tools.

  • Parrot Security OS – Lightweight hacking OS.

  • Burp Suite – Web vulnerability scanner.

  • Nmap – Network scanning and reconnaissance.

  • Wireshark – Packet analysis and traffic inspection.

  • Metasploit – Exploitation framework.

  • Empire – Post-exploitation tool.

  • John the Ripper & Hashcat – Password cracking tools.

🛡️ For Blue Team & Defensive Security:

  • Splunk – SIEM & log analysis.

  • OSSEC – Open-source host intrusion detection.

  • Velociraptor – Threat hunting & digital forensics.

  • Snort – Network intrusion detection.

  • AlienVault OSSIM – Open-source SIEM solution.

🔥 Best Cybersecurity YouTube Channels

📺 Top YouTube channels to learn hacking & security for FREE:

🎓 Beginner-Friendly:

✅ NetworkChuck – Covers networking, Linux, hacking basics.
✅ John Hammond – Great TryHackMe and CTF tutorials.
✅ David Bombal – Ethical hacking and networking.
✅ LiveOverflow – Hacking, CTFs, and exploit development.

🔍 Advanced & Professional:

✅ IppSec – Walkthroughs of Hack The Box challenges.
✅ HackerSploit – Hands-on penetration testing tutorials.
✅ The Cyber Mentor – Ethical hacking and OSCP preparation.
✅ DarkSec – Red teaming and advanced hacking techniques.

💼 Career Paths & Cybersecurity Certifications

Cybersecurity certifications can help you get hired.

📌 Beginner Certifications:

✅ CompTIA Security+ – Covers basic security concepts.
✅ Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) – Entry-level ethical hacking.

🚀 Advanced Certifications:

✅ Offensive Security OSCP – Real-world penetration testing certification.
✅ GIAC GPEN – Professional penetration testing.
✅ CISSP – Industry-standard for security management.

☁️ Cloud Security Certifications:

✅ AWS Certified Security – Specialty
✅ Azure Security Engineer Associate
✅ Google Professional Cloud Security Engineer

🛠️ Capture The Flag (CTF) & Bug Bounty Platforms

🔹 Hack The Box – Advanced hacking challenges.
🔹 Bugcrowd – Real-world bug bounty programs.
🔹 HackerOne – Ethical hacking for companies.
🔹 Root Me – Wide range of security challenges.

📖 Best Cybersecurity Books

📚 Essential reading for security professionals:

🔹 Ethical Hacking & Pentesting:

  • The Web Application Hacker’s Handbook – Dafydd Stuttard & Marcus Pinto

  • Penetration Testing: A Hands-On Introduction to Hacking – Georgia Weidman

🔹 Reverse Engineering & Malware Analysis:

  • Practical Malware Analysis – Michael Sikorski & Andrew Honig

  • The Shellcoder’s Handbook – Chris Anley et al.

🔹 Cybersecurity & Defensive Strategies:

  • The Tangled Web – Michal Zalewski

  • SOC Analyst Training Guide – Tyler Wrightson

🌍 Cybersecurity Communities & Forums

Connect with cybersecurity experts worldwide:

  • Reddit: r/netsec, r/hacking, r/cybersecurity

  • Discord: TryHackMe, Hack The Box, CyberSecNet

  • Twitter: Follow top cybersecurity researchers