Hack The Box

What is Hack The Box?

Hack The Box (HTB) is the most respected hands-on cybersecurity practice platform in the industry. It’s not a course — it’s a live, competitive environment where you prove your skills by breaking into vulnerable machines called ‘boxes’ in a safe, legal environment. Founded in 2017, HTB has grown into a complete ecosystem: hundreds of machines, professional Pro Labs simulating enterprise networks, an academy with structured modules, CTF competitions, and a community of over 2 million security professionals. If OSCP is the certification the industry respects most, HTB is the practice environment the community trains in most.

Is This Right for You?

This is for you if...

You want hands-on offensive security practice, not just theory
You’re preparing for OSCP, CEH, CPENT, or PenTest+ certifications
You want to rank yourself against a global community of security professionals
You’re comfortable with basic Linux, networking, and have some security fundamentals
You want enterprise-level network simulation through Pro Labs

This is NOT for you if...

You’re completely new to security — TryHackMe is more appropriate as a starting point
You want guided step-by-step tutorials — HTB expects you to figure things out
You only want blue team training — try Blue Team Labs Online or LetsDefend instead

Platform Overview

Feature	What You Get	Access Level
Active Machines	20+ rotating machines — points and global ranking	Free + VIP+
Retired Machines	500+ machines with official write-ups	VIP
Starting Point	Guided beginner machines with structured tutorials	Free
HTB Academy	Structured learning modules and skill paths	Free (limited) / Paid
Pro Labs	Corporate network simulations: Offshore, RastaLabs, APTLabs	VIP+
Challenges	Crypto, reversing, forensics, web, pwn, OSINT, hardware	Free + VIP
CTF Events	Regular competitive events with prizes and rankings	Free + VIP

Pricing

Tier	Price	What's Included
Free	$0	Starting Point, some retired machines, limited challenges
VIP	€14/month	All 500+ retired machines, official write-ups, VIP challenges
VIP+	€20/month	Active machines, Pro Labs, all content, priority support
HTB Academy — Student	$8/month	All modules, learning paths, certificates
HTB Academy — Professional	$14/month	All modules + enterprise features

Pro Labs — Enterprise Network Simulation

Pro Lab	Difficulty	Machines	Focus
Offshore	Advanced	21 machines	Realistic corporate AD environment — OSCP+ level
RastaLabs	Advanced	15 machines	Red team operations, evasion, APT simulation
APTLabs	Expert	21 machines	Nation-state APT simulation, advanced AD attacks
Cybernetics	Expert	28 machines	Full corporate network — most complex HTB environment

Certification Prep — What HTB Helps With

Certification	How HTB Helps	Recommended HTB Content
OSCP	Closest available practice to OSCP exam format — TJ Null’s list is the community standard	Retired machines on TJ Null list + Pro Labs
PenTest+	Builds practical skills behind theoretical exam content	Starting Point + HTB Academy Pentest path
CEH Practical	Real exploitation practice for the 6-hour practical exam	Easy-Medium retired machines
CRTO (Red Team)	Active Directory attacks, evasion, C2 concepts	Pro Labs: RastaLabs, APTLabs

Recommended Resources

HackTheBox — create your account here
TJ Null’s OSCP prep list — curated HTB machines that mirror OSCP exam style
IppSec (YouTube) — most respected HTB walkthrough channel with deep methodology explanation
0xdf hacks stuff — detailed written HTB walkthroughs
HackTricks — the definitive HTB methodology reference

── SecVerse Marketplace — Resources ──

Which Platform is Right for You?

Hack The Box is the right choice when you are past the guided learning stage and ready for unguided, competitive practice. Here is how it compares to similar platforms:

If you want...	Best Choice
You want guided, beginner-friendly rooms	TryHackMe — structured paths, in-browser machines, no setup
You want official OSCP practice with write-ups	OffSec Proving Grounds — same team as OSCP exam
You want free offline machines, no internet needed	VulnHub — 800+ downloadable VMs, completely free
You want defensive SOC practice	Blue Team Labs Online — SIEM, forensics, threat hunting
You want the largest machine library + Pro Labs	Hack The Box — this is the right choice

How to Get Started

Create a free account and do Starting Point Tier 0 first. Don’t skip it. Even with experience, Starting Point teaches HTB’s format and methodology structure. Complete all three tiers before touching active machines.
Set a goal: root 10 retired Easy machines. Work them one at a time — enumerate fully, research, exploit, escalate, root. Take notes on every machine. Notes become your methodology.
Watch IppSec after you try each machine, not before. Watch walkthroughs after you’ve tried the machine yourself — even if you failed. The difference between watching and trying first is enormous.

📌 Note: The information on this page — including certification details, exam codes, pricing, and salary ranges — is regularly reviewed and updated to reflect the latest data from official sources. Always verify current details directly with the relevant certification body or platform before making any decisions.

Community & Support

── HTB Communities ──

The 6 Learning Paths Every Cybersecurity Beginner Should Know

May 8, 2026 No Comments

**In our first guide**, we covered how to start learning cybersecurity without feeling overwhelmed. If you haven’t read it yet, start there.

Now, let’s talk about which path to take once you’re ready. When I decided to get into cybersecurity 20 years ago after I graduated from school of engineering as computer engineer, I had no idea which path to take.

I bought a CEH course first. Then I bought a Security+ book. Then I tried to learn networking. I was all over the place. Don’t be me.

How to Start Learning Cybersecurity Without Feeling Overwhelmed

May 1, 2026 No Comments

Let’s be honest with ourselves to avoid the shock and be realistic. Cyber security is huge, branching, and massive field.

When I decided to get and start in this field 20 years ago. I made every mistake imaginable:

Bought expensive courses I never finished.
Tried to learn everything at once – pentesting, malware analysis, cloud security, forensics. All in short time.
Got trapped in “tutorial”- watching videos for hours but never actually doing anything because of not practicing them and being confused.
Got lots and different opinions from people who are in advanced levels.
Here’s the truth I wish someone told me earlier: