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Looking for advice on where to start.

In my 30's and been Mac person since like 2010.

I looked up some courses to learn Linux and downloaded Ubuntu to my Virtual Box VM.

Looking at free beginner and intro level cybersecurity programs to familiarize myself with the foundational stuff.

Downloaded Tor and have Express VPN on my phone (yes, an iPhone) and have yet to really explore Tor until I am better acclimated with the risks.

My questions are mostly around how to best and most efficiently get up to speed on what I would need to best secure my own systems as well as learn blackhat and whitehat "hacking" techniques -- both for my own defense and also for a possible career change.

Any advice from people with experience would be greatly appreciated:

Course recommended and to avoid Tools recommend and to avoid Any other tips and tricks I should know starting out.

Looking for advice on where to start. In my 30's and been Mac person since like 2010. I looked up some courses to learn Linux and downloaded Ubuntu to my Virtual Box VM. Looking at free beginner and intro level cybersecurity programs to familiarize myself with the foundational stuff. Downloaded Tor and have Express VPN on my phone (yes, an iPhone) and have yet to really explore Tor until I am better acclimated with the risks. My questions are mostly around how to best and most efficiently get up to speed on what I would need to best secure my own systems as well as learn blackhat and whitehat "hacking" techniques -- both for my own defense and also for a possible career change. Any advice from people with experience would be greatly appreciated: Course recommended and to avoid Tools recommend and to avoid Any other tips and tricks I should know starting out.

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[–] • 0 pt

It depends on what your goals are tbh. Are you just trying to secure your systems or do you actually want to change careers?

[–] • 0 pt

Not really change careers per se. Although it may grow into that.

Right now it’s about securing my own systems, learning how malicious hackers operate, and things like that.

[–] • 0 pt

You don’t really need to learn how to hack to be a safe computer user, you just need to learn a few rules of thumb and just use common sense.

Because I am assuming you are just using a desktop, and not running servers and other devices?

[–] • 0 pt

Ya just using a laptop actually. No other devices yet.

The hacking thing is more of a skill I’d just like to Keene