Free Penetration Testing Labs

TL;DR

Yes! There are several free online labs where you can practice your cyber security skills safely and legally. This guide lists some of the best options, covering different skill levels and focuses.

Free Penetration Testing Labs: A Step-by-Step Guide

1. Understand the Risks (and Rules)

• Before you start *any* penetration testing – even in a lab environment – understand that unauthorised hacking is illegal. These labs are specifically designed for learning, but it’s your responsibility to stay within their rules.
• Read the Terms of Service (TOS) and Rules carefully before using any platform. They will outline what you can and cannot do.

TryHackMe

• What it is: A very popular, beginner-friendly platform with guided ‘rooms’ covering a wide range of topics (web exploitation, network attacks, forensics etc.). It provides virtual machines and walk-throughs.
• Cost: Free tier offers plenty of content; paid subscriptions unlock more rooms.
• How to get started:
  1. Create an account at https://tryhackme.com
  2. Connect to their virtual network using OpenVPN (instructions provided on the site). You’ll likely need to install a VPN client like OpenVPN Connect.
  3. Choose a room and follow the instructions!
• Example Connection Command:

  openvpn --config connect.ovpn

  (This is just an example; the actual command will be provided by TryHackMe.)

Hack The Box

• What it is: More challenging than TryHackMe, Hack The Box focuses on realistic penetration testing scenarios. It’s great for intermediate to advanced learners.
• Cost: Free tier offers a limited number of machines; paid subscriptions unlock more content and features.
• How to get started:
  1. Create an account at https://www.hackthebox.com
  2. You’ll need to solve a simple challenge (usually involving basic cyber security knowledge) to gain access to the free machines.
  3. Connect to their VPN using OpenVPN.

OverTheWire

• What it is: A series of wargames (challenges) focusing on different aspects of Linux and network security. It’s text-based, so you don’t need a fancy GUI.
• Cost: Completely free!
• How to get started:
  1. Visit https://overthewire.org/wargames/
  2. Choose a wargame (Bandit is good for beginners).
  3. Connect to the server using SSH:

     ssh bandit@bandit.labs.overthewire.org -p 2220

     (Replace ‘bandit’ and the port number with the correct details for your chosen wargame.)

PortSwigger Web Security Academy

• What it is: Excellent resource specifically focused on web application security. It includes interactive labs and detailed explanations of common vulnerabilities (SQL injection, XSS etc.).
• Cost: Completely free!
• How to get started:
  1. Visit https://portswigger.net/web-security
  2. Create an account.
  3. Work through the learning paths and labs. Labs are often browser-based, so you don’t need to set up a VM.

VulnHub

• What it is: A collection of vulnerable virtual machines that you can download and run locally (using VirtualBox or VMware). This requires more setup but gives you full control.
• Cost: Completely free!
• How to get started:
  1. Download a VM from https://www.vulnhub.com (start with something easy like ‘bWAPP’).
  2. Import the VM into VirtualBox or VMware.
  3. Start the VM and attempt to exploit it! You’ll need to find its IP address (usually using a network scanning tool like nmap).

     nmap -sV 192.168.1.100

     (Replace with the actual IP address.)

Important Safety Tips

• Never attempt to hack systems you don’t have permission to access.
• Keep your own system secure. Use a separate virtual machine for penetration testing, and keep it isolated from your main network.
• Be aware of the lab’s rules. Some labs may prohibit certain techniques or tools.