Hacking Forums & Communities
Online communities for security researchers, penetration testers, and ethical hackers to learn, share, and collaborate.
Legitimate Learning Communities
| Community | Type | Link | Access |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0x00sec | Forum | 0x00sec.org | Free |
| HackTheBox | Platform | hackthebox.com | Free/Paid |
| TryHackMe | Platform | tryhackme.com | Free/Paid |
| Reddit r/netsec | Forum | reddit.com/r/netsec | Free |
| Reddit r/HowToHack | Forum | reddit.com/r/HowToHack | Free |
| Discord Servers | Chat | Various | Free |
HackTheBox
- Vulnerable machines to pentest
- Active/Retired machines
- Writeups after solving
- Certification paths (CPTS, CBBH)
- Corporate training available
TryHackMe
- Beginner-friendly rooms
- Guided learning paths
- Free tier available
- Junior/Senior pentester paths
- Active community Discord
Security News & Research
| Outlet | Focus | Link |
|---|---|---|
| The Hacker News | General security | thehackernews.com |
| BleepingComputer | Malware/Breaches | bleepingcomputer.com |
| Krebs on Security | Deep investigations | krebsonsecurity.com |
| Schneier on Security | Analysis/Commentary | schneier.com |
| PortSwigger Research | Web security | portswigger.net/research |
| Google Project Zero | Zero-day research | googleprojectzero.blogspot.com |
Capture The Flag (CTF) Platforms
| Platform | Difficulty | Link |
|---|---|---|
| PicoCTF | Beginner | picoctf.org |
| OverTheWire | Beginner | overthewire.org |
| CTFtime | All levels (events) | ctftime.org |
| Root-Me | All levels | root-me.org |
| VulnHub | VM Downloads | vulnhub.com |
Discord Communities
Recommended Servers:
- The Many Hats Club
- HackTheBox Official
- TryHackMe Official
- NetSec Focus
- CyberSecurity Community
- InfoSec Community
Conferences & Events
| Event | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|
| DEF CON | Conference | Las Vegas, USA |
| Black Hat | Conference | Las Vegas, USA |
| BSides | Community Conference | Global |
| CCC Congress | Conference | Germany |
| Offensive Con | Offensive Security | Berlin |
YouTube Channels
| Channel | Focus |
|---|---|
| NetworkChuck | Beginner tutorials |
| John Hammond | CTF walkthroughs |
| IppSec | HackTheBox walkthroughs |
| The Cyber Mentor | Career/Training |
| LiveOverflow | Technical deep-dives |
| PwnFunction | Web security |
Podcasts
| Podcast | Focus |
|---|---|
| Darknet Diaries | Security stories |
| Risky Business | Security news |
| Security Now | Technical security |
| Smashing Security | Casual security talk |
⚠️ Questionable/Gray Areas
| Forum | Status | Warning |
|---|---|---|
| HackForums | Active | Mixed community |
| BreachForums | Volatile | Stolen data discussions |
| Dread | Tor-based | Darknet marketplace discussions |
| DemonForums | Variable | Crack/cheat focus |
Legal Warning: Many forums host illegal content. Accessing, participating in, or downloading from these sites may violate laws in your jurisdiction.
Community Etiquette
✅ Do:
Read rules before posting Search before asking questions Share writeups after solving Respect NDA agreements Credit others' work
❌ Don't:
Ask for illegal services Share active exploits publicly Dox or harass members Spam or self-promote excessively Request help with illegal activities