What learning resources does Hacker101 offer?
Updated
Hacker101 offers four main learning resources: free video lessons, written guides and resources, Capture the Flag (CTF) practice levels, and free classes. All of them live on hacker101.com and are described on the site as a free class for web security, aimed at both programmers interested in bug bounties and experienced security professionals. If you want structured instruction, start with the video lessons and classes; if you want hands-on practice, go straight to the CTF levels.
Video Lessons
The site's "Video Lessons" section is the core instructional track. According to the homepage, it contains "free video lessons, guides, and resources" that teach you how to hack. This is the best entry point if you are new to web security or bug bounties, because the material is organized as a class rather than a loose collection of clips.
Guides and Resources
Alongside the videos, Hacker101 groups written guides and other resources into the same learning path. These are useful when you want to review a concept at your own pace, look something up while working through a challenge, or revisit material without rewatching a video.
Capture the Flag (CTF)
The CTF section is where you apply what you have learned. The homepage describes these as "CTF levels inspired by the real world," and the call to action is simply "Start hacking!" This is the practice layer of Hacker101: instead of only watching or reading, you work through challenges that mirror real-world web security scenarios.
Free Classes
The "Explore free classes" entry point ties the instruction together. It is the navigation route to the class content, so if you are unsure where to begin, this is the link to follow first.
Which resource should you start with?
| Your goal | Start here |
|---|---|
| Learn concepts from scratch | Video Lessons |
| Look something up or review | Guides and resources |
| Practice hands-on skills | Capture the Flag |
| Follow the class as a whole | Free classes |
A practical sequence is to begin with the video lessons, use the guides as reference while working, and then move to the CTF levels to test yourself. The site presents all of this as free, and it is designed to be useful whether you are a programmer exploring bug bounties or already working in security.