How to Start Learning White Hat Hacking: A Complete Guide

White Hat Hacking for Beginners

White hat hacking for beginners is best started by mastering the fundamentals of network technologies, operating systems, and basic programming, then gradually moving on to specialized tools and penetration testing methods. Current resources include modern online courses, official documentation, and practical cybersecurity guides that help overcome the difficulties of studying classic books due to outdated examples and configurations.

Contents

• White Hat Hacking Basics for Beginners
• Current Literature and Resources
• Understanding CPU Registers
• Solving gdb Problems
• Practical Learning Plan
• Online Platforms and Communities

White Hat Hacking Basics for Beginners

White hat hacking (ethical hacking) is the legal practice of testing security systems to identify vulnerabilities. For beginners, it’s important to understand that this is a systematic discipline requiring fundamental knowledge in several areas:

Required basic knowledge:

• Network protocols (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP/HTTPS)
• Operating system principles (Linux/Windows)
• Programming fundamentals (Python, C/C++)
• Understanding of processor and memory architecture
• Databases and web technologies

Important: White hat hacking requires a deep understanding of the systems you are testing. Without basic knowledge, advanced techniques will be incomprehensible and ineffective.

You should start by learning Linux, as most security testing tools are designed specifically for this operating system. Installing a Linux virtual machine (such as Kali Linux or Parrot Security OS) will allow you to practice safely in an isolated environment.

Current Literature and Resources

The classic book “Hacking: The Art of Exploitation” does contain outdated examples and configurations, which causes difficulties for modern beginners. Here are more current resources:

Modern Books:

1. “Black Hat Python: Python Programming for Hackers and Pentesters” - Justin Seitz

   • Modern approach to writing security tools in Python
   • Up-to-date examples for Python 3.x
   • Real-world practical cases

2. “Metasploit: The Penetration Tester’s Guide” - David Kennedy et al.

   • Official guide to the Metasploit Framework
   • Gradual learning from basic to advanced techniques
   • Current exploits and modules

3. “Web Application Hacker’s Handbook” - Dafydd Stuttard, Marcus Pinto

   • Comprehensive guide to web application testing
   • Modern vulnerabilities and exploitation techniques
   • Practical examples on real applications

Online Resources:

• TryHackMe - interactive platform for practical learning with labs of varying difficulty levels
• Hack The Box - platform for practical skills testing in real-world conditions
• PortSwigger Web Security Academy - free web security courses from the creators of Burp Suite
• OWASP (Open Web Application Security Project) - official documentation and web security standards

Tip: Start with TryHackMe as it provides a structured learning path and hints for solving challenges.

Understanding CPU Registers

CPU registers EAX, ECX, EDX, and EBX are indeed temporary CPU variables, but their purpose is more specific:

Main x86 registers:

In the context of exploits and debugging, these registers play a key role:

1. EAX often contains the result of function execution or a pointer to the return address
2. ECX is used in loops and when working with strings
3. EDX may contain the buffer address or data size
4. EBX is often used to store the address of GOT (Global Offset Table)

Example: When exploiting buffer overflow, EAX typically contains the return address that we want to modify to execute arbitrary code.

For better understanding, it’s recommended to use a debugger (gdb) to observe changes in register values during program execution.

Solving gdb Problems

The gdb error you encountered usually occurs due to a conflict in the .gdbinit file. Here’s a step-by-step solution:

Fix Steps:

1. Check the contents of .gdbinit:

   bash

   cat ~/.gdbinit
   

2. Delete or rename the problematic file:

   bash

   mv ~/.gdbinit ~/.gdbinit.backup
   

3. Restart gdb:

   bash

   gdb -q ~/a.out
   

Problem Causes:

• Conflict between settings in .gdbinit and the current version of gdb
• Outdated commands or syntax in the configuration file
• Character encoding issues (especially when working with Russian characters)

Basic gdb Commands:

break main          # Set breakpoint in main function
run                 # Run the program
info registers      # Show values of all registers
x/10x $esp          # Show 10 words from the stack
disassemble main    # Disassemble main function

Important: After fixing the configuration, gdb should work correctly. If the problem persists, try creating a new .gdbinit with minimal settings.

Practical Learning Plan

A structured approach to learning white hat hacking should include the following stages:

Stage 1: Fundamental Knowledge (1-2 months)

• Mastering Linux and command line
• Python basics for security
• Network technologies and protocols
• Databases and SQL

Stage 2: Tools and Methodologies (2-3 months)

• Metasploit Framework
• Wireshark and network traffic analysis
• Nmap and port scanning
• John the Ripper and password cracking

Stage 3: Web Application Testing (3-4 months)

• OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
• Tools: Burp Suite, ZAP
• XSS, CSRF, SQLi, SSRF
• Authentication and sessions

Stage 4: System Testing (2-3 months)

• Exploit development
• Code obfuscation
• Bypassing protection systems
• Malware analysis

Stage 5: Advanced Techniques (ongoing)

• Reverse engineering
• Cryptanalysis
• Network intrusion detection
• Social engineering

Recommendation: Each stage should include practical assignments on corresponding platforms (TryHackMe, Hack The Box).

Online Platforms and Communities

For effective white hat hacking learning, actively use the following resources:

Practical Platforms:

1. TryHackMe

   • Suitable for beginners
   • Structured rooms and paths
   • Hints and explanations

2. Hack The Box

   • More challenging machines
   • Competitive element
   • Community of experienced hackers

3. CTFtime

   • Information about CTF competitions
   • Post-event challenge writeups
   • Practice with real vulnerabilities

Communities and Forums:

• Reddit: r/netsec, r/AskNetsec
• Stack Overflow (infosec tag)
• Exploit-DB (exploit database)
• SecurityFocus

Certifications (for in-depth study):

• CompTIA Security+ - basic security knowledge
• CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) - official certification
• OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional) - hands-on certification

Tip: Start with TryHackMe to master the basics, then move to Hack The Box for more challenging tasks. Participate in CTF competitions to practice real-world skills.

Sources

1. TryHackMe - Interactive Cyber Security Learning Platform
2. Hack The Box - Cyber Security Challenges
3. OWASP - Open Web Application Security Project
4. Metasploit Documentation
5. PortSwigger Web Security Academy
6. Linux Foundation - Training Resources
7. Python for Security Documentation

Conclusion

White hat hacking is a fascinating and in-demand field that requires a systematic approach to learning. You should start by mastering fundamental knowledge in Linux, networking, and programming, then gradually move on to specialized tools and security testing methodologies. Classic literature is useful for understanding the basics, but modern online resources and practical platforms will provide up-to-date knowledge and skills. Don’t forget the importance of practical experience - regularly solving challenges on TryHackMe and Hack The Box will significantly accelerate your development in this field. Remember that ethical hacking requires not only technical skills but also a deep understanding of laws and ethical principles in information security.