My first month on TryHackMe taught me more about practical cybersecurity than any textbook. Here’s everything I learned and wish I knew from day one.
Why TryHackMe?
TryHackMe is one of the best platforms for getting hands-on with cybersecurity. Unlike reading about vulnerabilities in a textbook, TryHackMe lets you attack and defend real (virtualised) machines.
Getting Started
The first thing you’ll want to do is set up your environment. I recommend starting with:
- A Kali Linux VM or the TryHackMe AttackBox
- A stable internet connection
- A note-taking tool (I use Obsidian)
My First Room
The “Complete Beginner” path was my starting point. It covers everything from basic Linux commands to network exploitation.
Key Takeaways
- Hands-on learning beats passive reading — actually running Nmap against a target teaches you more than reading about it
- Take notes on everything — you’ll forget syntax, but notes save you
- Don’t rush — it’s tempting to look at hints immediately, but struggling builds real skills
What’s Next
I’m currently working through the “Jr Penetration Tester” path and documenting each room as I go. Stay tuned for detailed writeups!