Linux for Hackers
The practical Linux course designed specifically for security professionals, ethical hackers, and penetration testers — focused on command line, networking, automation, and real attack workflows.
Overview
Most hacking and security tools assume you are already comfortable in Linux. This course closes that gap. Instead of teaching Linux like a “normal user course”, we focus on how hackers, red teamers, and defenders actually use it in day-to-day work: fast navigation, automation, networking, log analysis, and working with multiple machines at once.
Who is this for?
- Beginners who want to move from Windows-only to Linux-first security work.
- Students preparing for OSCP / practical pentest exams who feel weak in Linux.
- Network / system admins who want to use Linux as a daily security toolbox.
- Bug bounty hunters who want to build their own recon and automation scripts.
What you’ll be able to do
- Move confidently inside any Linux shell (local, VM, cloud, VPS, containers).
- Use tmux, SSH, and port forwarding to manage complex attack setups.
- Understand processes, services, and permissions from an attacker’s and defender’s view.
- Automate repetitive tasks with Bash and small Python one-liners.
- Collect, filter, and analyze logs and network captures for investigations.
How we teach
Every topic is built around a real security problem:
- Scenario: “You just got a shell on a Linux box. What now?”
- Short theory: 10–15 minutes explaining exactly what you need (no 2-hour lectures).
- Guided demo: we solve the problem together, step by step.
- Hands-on lab: you repeat and extend it on your own machine.
- Review: we discuss alternative ways and what a real attacker would do.
Throughout the course, you gradually build your own “Linux for Hackers” cheatsheet and toolkit that you can carry into any future exam, lab, or real-world engagement.
Curriculum
The curriculum is arranged so that each module feels like a building block in a real attack or investigation workflow. You don’t just learn commands — you learn when, why, and in what order to use them.
Module 1
Linux Basics with a Hacker’s Mindset
Installation options (VM, dual-boot, cloud VPS), desktop vs headless servers,
package managers (apt / yum), directory structure (/etc, /var, /home),
and working with multiple terminals. First command toolkit: ls, cd,
cat, less, grep, find, history.
Module 2
Filesystem, Permissions & Users
How Linux thinks about files, ownership, and permissions. chmod, chown,
SUID/SGID bits, sticky bit, and common misconfigurations that attackers love.
Creating users and groups, understanding /etc/passwd and /etc/shadow,
and mapping users after you land a shell on a compromised machine.
Module 3
Processes, Services & systemd
Process tree basics with ps, top, htop, and pstree.
Managing services with systemctl, reading unit files, and hunting for
privilege escalation opportunities in misconfigured service scripts. Understanding
background jobs, daemons, and how malware or defensive agents may hide.
Module 4
Networking Essentials for Hackers
IP addresses, routes, interfaces, and ports — but from a pentester’s view.
Using ip, ss, netstat, tcpdump, and
nmap to understand what’s listening, who you’re talking to, and how
to tunnel traffic through jump boxes or pivot hosts.
Module 5
Shell Power: Bash, Pipes & Automation
Writing one-liners that save hours of manual work. Pipes, redirection,
grep, awk, sed, sort, uniq,
and basic Bash scripting. Building small utilities for wordlist manipulation,
log parsing, and recon data cleanup. Using cron and at for scheduled tasks
(and what to watch out for in privilege escalation).
Module 6
SSH, Tmux & Remote Workflows
Secure shell basics, keys vs passwords, agent forwarding, and common mistakes.
Port forwarding and SOCKS proxies for pivoting. Working with tmux to manage
long-running scans, multiple shells, and post-exploitation tasks without losing state
when your VPN drops.
Module 7
Logs, Monitoring & Forensics Basics
Where Linux stores logs (/var/log), how to read system, auth, and web logs,
and how attackers typically try to hide. Using journalctl, grep,
and basic parsing tricks to reconstruct incidents. Discussing what a blue team will
see when you run noisy tools — and how to be more careful.
Module 8
Putting It Together: From Login to Loot
A complete walkthrough of a Linux-heavy engagement: landing a shell, identifying the system, mapping services and files, escalating privileges, collecting evidence, setting up tunnels, and then cleaning up safely. You’ll practice writing your own step-by-step notes as if you were preparing an exam report.
| Week | Focus | Key outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Basics, filesystem, navigation | You can move and search confidently inside any Linux system. |
| 2 | Users, permissions, processes | You can read and reason about privilege issues and misconfigs. |
| 3 | Networking & automation | You build small one-liners and scripts around your tools. |
| 4 | Remote workflows, logs & capstone | You run a mini-engagement and document it end-to-end. |
Labs & Projects
Every module includes guided labs plus “stretch” tasks. The goal is that you finish the course with muscle memory — not just notes.
Lab series: “From fresh VM to attack-ready”
Start with a blank Linux VM. By the end of the series you’ll have a tuned shell, custom aliases, your favorite tools installed, and a tmux layout ready for recon, exploit testing, and log watching.
Mini-project: log & incident reconstruction
Given fake but realistic logs, you’ll reconstruct what happened: how an attacker
entered, moved, and what they touched. You’ll use grep, awk,
and simple scripts to build a timeline.
Capstone: “You got a shell. Now prove impact.”
On a controlled target box, you’ll identify users and services, escalate privileges, grab specific evidence, set up a port forward, and then clean up. You’ll document everything as if submitting to a senior pentester or exam reviewer.
Prerequisites
Technical basics
- Comfort using a computer: installing software, managing files, browsing.
- No previous Linux experience required — we start from zero.
- Very basic networking knowledge helps, but we re-explain key parts.
Mindset & hardware
- A laptop with at least 8 GB RAM (16 GB is more comfortable) and ~40 GB free disk.
- Willingness to type commands, make mistakes, and debug them.
- Respect for ethical boundaries — we only test on allowed targets and lab machines.
Unsure whether your laptop is enough? Reach out via the contact form and we’ll suggest the best setup (local VM vs cloud lab) for your situation.
Outcomes
After this course, Linux stops being “that scary black screen” and becomes your main weapon — whether you are attacking, defending, or just automating boring tasks.
Confident shell usage
You can move, search, and modify files on any Linux machine without guessing, and you understand what your tools are doing under the hood.
Attack-ready workflows
You have a repeatable layout for recon, exploitation, and post-ex work using tmux, SSH, and your own scripts — ready to plug into OSCP labs or real engagements.
Better exam & job readiness
You’re no longer slowed down by basic Linux questions in interviews, CTFs, or hands-on technical rounds focused on infrastructure and scripting.
Schedule & Duration
Different delivery modes are available so you can fit learning around work, college, or other commitments.
| Mode | Duration | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend cohort | 4–5 weeks | Sat–Sun live sessions with labs and weekly assignments. |
| Weekday evenings | 3–4 weeks | Short, focused evening classes plus daily practice tasks. |
| Self-paced | Flexible | Recorded content and labs with optional doubt-clearing slots (where available). |
Pricing / Engagement
Pricing depends on mode (cohort vs self-paced), support level, and whether you enroll as an individual or a team. EMI / installment options may be available.
Starter
Core modules, full lab access, and capstone challenge — ideal if you already have a roadmap and just need focused Linux training.
Get quote →Plus
Everything in Starter, plus extended lab time, extra practice sets, and more detailed feedback on your capstone notes and scripts.
Get quote →Mentored
Includes 1:1 mentorship sessions, help designing your home lab, and a mock interview focused on Linux + security fundamentals.
Get quote →FAQs
Do I need to know Linux already?
No. We start from the absolute basics (navigation, files, simple commands) and gradually move to more advanced security use-cases. If you already know some Linux, you’ll simply move faster through the early modules.
Do I have to install Kali Linux specifically?
Not required. You can use Kali, Parrot, or a standard distribution like Ubuntu. We focus on command line skills and tools that exist everywhere, not one specific theme.
Is this enough before OSCP or similar exams?
This course is not an OSCP prep by itself, but it gives you the Linux layer that OSCP and other practical exams assume you already have. Many learners prefer to finish this first so that the exam labs feel smoother.
Will I get recordings and materials?
For cohort modes, sessions are usually recorded so you can revise. You also keep access to cheatsheets, example scripts, and lab instructions. Exact details may vary per batch and will be shared when you enroll.
Want to make Linux your main hacking platform?
Email info@SmartFind.com or use the contact form — we’ll send batch dates, detailed syllabus, and help you choose the right mode.
Talk to us