Introduction
Whether you’re just getting started in cybersecurity or looking to sharpen your web security skills, Hacker101 is a free, community-driven training platform designed to help you learn ethical hacking and bug bounty techniques from the ground up. Developed by the team at HackerOne, Hacker101 provides a solid foundation for anyone serious about web application security.
Purpose and Real-World Use Cases
Hacker101 is perfect for:
- Aspiring bug bounty hunters looking to land their first report or improve their skills.
- Web developers who want to secure their applications and understand how attackers think.
- Security professionals seeking structured, self-paced training material to stay sharp.
The platform includes video lessons, writeups, CTF-style challenges, and labs that simulate real-world vulnerabilities found in web applications.
Installation and Setup
If you’d like to run the Hacker101 site locally or contribute to its content, follow these steps:
Prerequisites:
- Ruby – recommended to install via rbenv
- Bundler – install with:
gem install bundler
Steps:
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/Hacker0x01/hacker101.git - Navigate to the project directory and install dependencies:
bundle install - Start the local server:
bundle exec jekyll serve - Visit http://localhost:4000 in your browser.
Core Features and Structure
Hacker101 offers:
- Video lessons that cover topics like XSS, SQLi, authentication bypasses, and more.
- Capture the Flag (CTF) challenges to test and apply your knowledge.
- Writeups from the community and HackerOne staff to deepen your understanding of real-world bugs.
- Open-source access so you can contribute new lessons or fix existing ones.
It’s a complete package whether you’re preparing for bug bounty programs or just learning to secure your apps.
Security Considerations
Since the platform is educational and does not involve exploiting live systems, it’s perfectly safe to use in any environment. If you’re running the site locally, make sure:
- You don’t expose it to the internet unintentionally.
- You keep Ruby and dependencies up-to-date to avoid local vulnerabilities.
Why Hacker101?
Hacker101 stands out by being:
- Beginner-friendly with clear, step-by-step lessons.
- Accessible through its free and open-source content.
- Practical with exercises that reflect real bug bounty scenarios.
Backed by HackerOne, it also gives you the opportunity to practice with CTFs and potentially earn invites to private programs.
Get Involved
You can contribute to Hacker101 by submitting pull requests, fixing issues, or even creating new lessons. Community collaboration is encouraged and welcomed through GitHub.
Conclusion
Hacker101 is more than a course-it’s a stepping stone into the professional world of ethical hacking and web security. If you’re ready to learn how the internet can be broken (and how to fix it), this is your invitation to dive in.
Start learning at https://www.hacker101.com.
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