Discover HackTricks: A Goldmine for Ethical Hackers and Red Teamers
HackTricks is not your average security tool-it’s a living, community-driven encyclopedia packed with practical offensive security techniques, tricks, and tips. Hosted on GitHub and continuously updated by contributors from all over the world, HackTricks is designed to help penetration testers, bug bounty hunters, red teamers, and security enthusiasts navigate the complex landscape of cybersecurity with confidence and clarity.
What Makes HackTricks Special?
HackTricks is structured as a knowledge base with clear navigation and deep content coverage. Its real power lies in its comprehensive treatment of topics relevant to both beginners and seasoned professionals, including:
- Privilege escalation on Windows and Linux
- Web application attack vectors and bypasses
- Cloud security (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Active Directory and Kerberos attacks
- Post-exploitation techniques
- CTF tips, payloads, and enumeration tricks
This isn’t just a cheat sheet-it’s an actionable playbook for real-world security assessments.
Getting Started with HackTricks
You don’t need to install anything to use HackTricks. The entire knowledge base is hosted online and freely accessible at book.hacktricks.xyz. However, if you prefer to have it offline, or want to contribute to the project, you can clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/HackTricks-wiki/hacktricks.git
Then browse the content locally or modify it to fit your workflow.
Core Features
- Web-Based Book: Clean, searchable format using GitBook for easy reading
- Constant Updates: Maintained by contributors and regularly improved
- Platform Agnostic: Covers techniques for Windows, Linux, web, and cloud environments
- CTF & Red Team Ready: Ideal for preparing for competitions or professional engagements
- Contribution Friendly: Fork the repo and submit pull requests to share your own knowledge
Real-World Use Cases
HackTricks is used by:
- Penetration Testers looking to sharpen their skills and keep up with the latest TTPs (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures)
- Bug Bounty Hunters who need quick access to bypass techniques or edge-case tricks
- Red Teams planning engagements and post-exploitation workflows
- Security Learners diving deep into practical, hands-on hacking knowledge
Security Considerations
HackTricks is an educational resource. While it explains techniques that can be used for exploitation, its purpose is strictly educational and ethical. Always ensure you have authorization before applying any technique from HackTricks in the real world.
Final Thoughts
HackTricks is the kind of resource you bookmark and return to constantly. It’s fast, detailed, and incredibly practical. Whether you’re on an engagement, solving a CTF, or just exploring new attack surfaces, HackTricks will make your job easier and more effective.
If you’re passionate about hacking and want a curated, expert-level knowledge base at your fingertips, HackTricks is a must-use resource. Check it out today and level up your offensive security skills!