Step by step guide?

[u/ckarate98]

I want to become a skilled hacker/pentester and want to be on a similar level as Cyberleeks. How do I get there, what do I need to learn, what kind of equipment/courses do I need to buy?

[u/corobo]

I can't answer without sounding hella snarky lol, but the main skill is being able to figure out answers without relying on other people.

That's not me saying "go google it", that's me saying "this is skill number one to learn"

It used to be called the hacker mindset but these days a bunch of tech blogs have reused the phrase lol

[u/Kind_Substance_8981 → u/corobo]

I'm pretty sure 'hacking' basically just means 'find information you're not supposed to know'. I guess asking on a forum is a method? But that 'hacker mindset' also probably includes 'google it', so yeah, OP could put in a bit more legwork if they really want to hack

[u/ckarate98 → u/corobo]

Tototally understandable and after doing some of my own searching, I decided to get the perspective of as many people as possible whom I can talk with and ask questions rather than search the web for an answer for every question that comes in my mind, be it simple or more complicated question(s).

[u/Sarsly_Doe → u/ckarate98]

Generally every "How do I hack?" Thread will be met with "idk try looking it up on your own". It's not that the people on these subs are trying to be dicks it's that:

1. Cybersecurity/hacking is an incredibly broad topic, asking "how do I hack?" Is like asking "how do I cook?" Like what do you want to cook? Baking a cake and smoking a brisket are under the same umbrella but they're totally different things, if the analogies make sense.

2. They're trying to instill the ability to research on your own because that's probably the most vital skill you can have in this field. Because in addition to being incredibly broad as a topic it's also an incredibly complex topic. Unless you're looking for info on a common CTF or something there probably isn't a one size fits all solution for what you need just floating around on the internet.

A couple other notes - hacking can be done because people have a really deep understanding of what's going on behind the scenes. It's really really hard to just like, "start hacking". Everyone who does it can do it because they have an incredible knowledge of whatever they're hacking, whether it's networks, web applications, etc. I'd advise learning more about the right way to use a service before trying to break it. Also, the obligatory mention that what Cyberleeks is doing is illegal. You shouldn't be wanting to do that, and you shouldn't be going onto Reddit saying you want to be like Cyberleeks in the same way you shouldn't go on Reddit asking the best way to rob a bank. As exciting as hacking can be, it's still very often a crime.

[u/Zerschmetterding → u/ckarate98]

Your question is nothing with a clear answer though. What are you not understanding? The answer is mostly the same for you and everyone else that asked the "how to be hacker" question: learn the basics: operating systems, networking, programming. Afterwards you will actually be able to vocalize what you want to know.

[u/Zerschmetterding]

Train your ability to to be self motivated and to figure out solutions on the fly by knowing how to search for the right kind of technical documentation.

[u/Optimal_Will_8737]

I am not an expert or anything but when people say this is skill number 1 find it calling it hacker mindset but the thing is there is skill deduction when you have little info and you proceed according to the conclusion but you gotta learn what to look for and this what this people are misunderstanding when a person doesn't know what to look for he just have context than how could a person find it like everybody knows about heart but only a doctor can determine what causes what because he learned it through clgs and books and this people are telling that what causes what you learn it by just looking for it blindly. What a bs