In many sports and activities, deliberate practice is the key to improvement. Chess masters break down their training into openings, middle games, and endgames, while swimmers focus on drills to refine their technique, build strength, and increase endurance. These athletes focus on specific aspects of their craft to elevate their performance. Hacking is no different—it requires deliberate practice to sharpen skills and improve efficiency.
But what kind of activities can hackers practice to get better? Let’s explore a few essential ways to hone your hacking skills.
Do Labs!
Labs are a crucial part of improving as a hacker. They not only teach new skills but also help you enhance two key areas:
- Speed: The faster you can test or exploit something, the more time you have to explore deeper, find additional vulnerabilities, or pivot your attack strategy.
- Accuracy: Often, bugs are missed due to small typos or errors. Consistent lab practice improves your ability to avoid these mistakes and, equally important, sharpens your skill at quickly recognizing and debugging them. A big part of hacking involves troubleshooting why a payload isn't working—labs give you the space to refine this process.
Want to get started? You can explore our labs here: PentesterLab exercises.
Play CTFs
Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions are another fantastic way to improve your hacking skills. Good CTF challenges often mirror real-world vulnerabilities, helping you learn new techniques and gain practical experience. Like labs, CTFs are a great way to improve your speed and accuracy. Focus on solving a few challenges deeply rather than bouncing between tasks without completing them. This will build persistence and critical thinking.
CVE Analysis
CVE analysis is an essential practice for anyone looking to improve their vulnerability research. By reviewing Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVEs), you gain insights into how vulnerabilities are discovered, reported, and patched. This kind of analysis can help you develop a more refined understanding of threat modeling and the kinds of mistakes developers make, improving your ability to spot similar issues in the future.
Read Code
One of the best ways to improve as a hacker is to read code—lots of it. Whether you’re hunting for vulnerabilities or simply trying to understand how different applications work, reading code gives you a deeper understanding of the logic and structure behind software. Even if you aren’t actively searching for bugs, this practice will help you uncover vulnerabilities that you wouldn’t otherwise think to look for.
Write Code
Writing code is just as valuable as reading it. When you write software, you begin to understand the types of mistakes developers often make and the shortcuts they take. You’ll also improve your ability to automate tasks, which will help you achieve more in less time. Plus, a well-written script doesn’t make typos, which adds a level of accuracy that’s invaluable in hacking.
Build Test Environments
To get better at breaking things, you need to build them first. Setting up test environments will give you insight into the security implications of different configurations and deployment strategies. By experimenting with your own setups, you’ll learn which shortcuts or mistakes can lead to vulnerabilities—knowledge that will make you a better hacker when assessing real-world systems.
Conclusion
Improving as a hacker, much like excelling in sports, requires consistent and deliberate practice. Whether you're working through labs, playing CTFs, analyzing CVEs, or writing and reading code, the key is to practice with intention. By refining your speed, accuracy, and understanding, you’ll not only improve your skills but also position yourself to uncover deeper, more critical vulnerabilities.
