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Bug bounty programs provide financial incentives for individuals who identify and report security vulnerabilities and exploits within organizations’ systems. The rewards can often reach into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, making these initiatives appealing not only for ethical hackers but also for companies looking to enhance their security posture by proactively addressing potential flaws.
In this guide, we present a curated selection of both free and paid online Bug Bounty courses tailored to help you kickstart your journey as a bug bounty hunter.
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Top Course Recommendations
What are Bug Bounties?
Bug bounty initiatives are designed by organizations to encourage individuals to report any security issues or bugs they encounter, effectively leveraging crowdsourced talent. Participants in these programs are compensated with monetary rewards or even job offers based on the severity of the vulnerabilities identified.
The practice of inviting outside individuals to assess security systems may seem unconventional, yet it proves effective. This strategy helps organizations avoid significant losses by identifying and fixing vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors. Essentially, these programs connect ethical hackers with companies in need of enhanced security, allowing both parties to benefit from collaborative efforts in cybersecurity.
Major corporations such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, and the Department of Defense have recognized the value in such programs, offering rewards that can vary from modest sums to upwards of $100,000, depending on the criticality of the discovered vulnerability. More than just monetary gain, bug bounty hunting offers a challenging and intellectually satisfying experience for participants.
Statistics Overview
The leading course in this guide has surpassed 2 million views. Among the featured courses, eight are free or available for free auditing, while two require payment. Additionally, three courses provide a certificate upon completion.
The “Web Application Ethical Hacking – Penetration Testing Course for Beginners” serves as an excellent starting point for those interested in web application penetration testing. This free course covers essential penetration testing methodologies, tools, and types of common attacks. By the conclusion of the course, learners will be equipped to use testing instruments such as Burp Suite, Nikto, Dirbuster, and more.
The Cyber Mentor, an experienced ethical hacker, presents this content on YouTube, simplifying complex concepts for newcomers.
Curriculum Insights:
- Foundational principles of web application penetration testing
- Utilization of pivotal pentesting tools
- Common vulnerabilities such as Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) and SQL Injection
- Overview of the OWASP Top 10 security risks
- Hands-on experience in vulnerability identification and exploitation
Provider: freeCodeCamp
Instructor: Heath Adams
Level: Beginner
Workload: 5 hours
Views: 333K
Likes: 8.7K
Certificate: None
The “Intro to Bug Bounty Hunting and Web Application Hacking” is a paid course providing foundational knowledge about ethical hacking principles. Led by Ben Sadeghipour, who has a solid background with HackerOne, this course is designed for beginners.
Benefits of the Course:
- Understanding various types of vulnerabilities
- Effective reconnaissance techniques
- Approaches to target identification
- How to create comprehensive bug reports
- Hands-on examples and labs
Provider: Udemy
Instructor: Ben Sadeghipour
Level: Beginner
Workload: 5 hours
Enrollments: 29K
Rating: 4.6 / 5.0
Certificate: Paid
Another valuable resource is the “Beginner to Advanced Bug Bounty Hunting Course” by Ryan John, a free course that quickly propels novices into the realm of bug hunting.
Course Focus:
- Installation and configuration of Kali Linux for penetration testing
- Finding vulnerabilities such as SQL and XML injection
- Basic Python scripting for automated requests
- Knowledge about various attack types including command injection and file uploads
Provider: YouTube
Instructor: Ryan John (Phd Security)
Level: Beginner
Workload: 11 hours
Views: 562K
Likes: 24K
Certificate: None
“Ethical Hacking 101: Web App Penetration Testing” is a brief yet comprehensive course focusing on web application security testing. Participants will gain practical skills and theoretical insights into ethical hacking.
Key Learning Areas:
- Setting up essential penetration testing tools
- Identifying and exploiting common web application vulnerabilities
- Practical experience with firewall detection, file discovery, and cookie management
Institution: freeCodeCamp
Provider: YouTube
Instructor: HackerSploit (Blog)
Level: Beginner
Workload: 2-3 hours
Views: 2M
Likes: 42K
Certificate: None
The free course from Defcon 2020 on reconnaissance focuses on the critical preparatory steps needed for effective bug hunting. The course includes live examples, enhancing the learning experience.
Learning Outcomes:
- Identifying crucial details such as domains and metadata through various enumeration techniques
- Streamlining tasks by leveraging automation tools
Provider: YouTube
Instructor: Jason Haddix
Level: Beginner
Workload: 1-2 hours
Views: 174K
Likes: 5.2K
Certificate: None
Intigriti Hackademy offers a variety of free online resources focusing on web security shaped by diverse vulnerabilities, complemented by practical challenges and tutorials. This platform serves as a guide for those interested in ethical hacking.
Key content includes over 11 prevalent web vulnerabilities, each explained with video examples and interactive challenges to foster hands-on learning.
Course Highlights:
- Understanding attack mechanisms of various vulnerabilities
- Practical exercises associated with vulnerability exploitation
Institution: Intigriti
Level: Beginner
Workload: N/A
Certificate: None
Additionally, Hacker101 provides a thorough overview of crucial topics necessary for bug bounty enthusiasts, covering everything from vulnerability identification to security practices.
Course Structure:
- Fundamentals of web requests, HTML parsing, and security implications
- Exploiting common vulnerabilities
- Utilization of tools like Burp Suite for testing
- Foundational knowledge in cryptography
- Professional report writing and threat modeling skills
Institution: HackerOne (Discord)
Provider: YouTube
Instructor: Cody Brocious
Level: Beginner
Workload: 4-5 hours
Views: 367K
Certificate: None
PortSwigger’s Web Security Academy offers guided labs and exercises tailored for beginners interested in web security testing.
Key Focus Areas:
- Server-side vulnerabilities including various injections
- Client-side issues such as XSS and CSRF
- Advanced security concepts for comprehensive understanding
Institution: PortSwigger
Level: Beginner
Workload: N/A
Certificate: Paid
BugBountyHunter.com hosts a course featuring hands-on challenges centered around real-world scenarios to enhance web security expertise.
Challenge Types:
- Newcomer Challenges for foundational practice
- Advanced Challenges for experienced hunters
- Interactive playground for practical experience across various vulnerabilities
Website: BugBountyHunter.com
Instructor: zseano
Level: Intermediate
Workload: N/A
Certificate: None
Lastly, Hack The Box offers a paid Bug Bounty Hunter course designed for those with minimal prior knowledge, focusing on effective bug reporting and application attack techniques.
Course Coverage:
- Foundational concepts and methodologies of web application security
- Hands-on exercises to solidify learning
- Structured learning paths for detailed exploration
Institution: Hack The Box
Level: Advanced
Workload: N/A
Certificate: Paid
Trustworthiness of Course Selection
Class Central, a platform known for aggregating online courses, has assisted millions in identifying their educational paths. Having meticulously curated a catalog of online courses, the Class Central team draws on years of experience and user reviews to ensure the quality of the featured courses in this guide.
Methodology for Course Selection
Creating this ranking involved a rigorous process informed by previous guides:
- Research: Utilizing Class Central’s database, I narrowed down the list based on ratings and user feedback.
- Evaluation: I assessed reviews from various platforms to gather insights on course quality and learner experiences.
- Selection: Courses were chosen based on their content value, pricing, release dates, ratings, and student enrollment numbers.
Fabio and Pat contributed to the refinement of this article’s later versions.
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