Master Cybersecurity with Essential Tools and Certifications offers a hands-on dive into core concepts, tools, and frameworks. Learn fundamentals like the CIA Triad, threat modeling, and encryption, while exploring real-world tactics in recon, pentesting, and incident response. Ideal for those preparing for certs like CEH or OSCP.

Cybersecurity Fundamentals

landscape, security domains, compliance basicsCIA Triad

CIA Triad & Cyber Kill Chain

MITRE ATT&CK, TTPs, attacker lifecycle

Security Controls & Defense in Depth

Firewalls, EDR, layered security

Passive Reconnaissance & Foot printing

OSINT, Google Dorks, Shodan, DNS recon

Subdomain Enumeration

Tools like Sublist3r, Amass, crt.sh

Wireless Security

WPA2/3, Evil Twin, KRACK (concepts only)

Risk Management & BIA

Threat modeling, risk treatment, impact analysis

Threats & Vulnerabilities

XSS, SQLi, malware types, insider threats

Social Engineering

Phishing, USB drops, SEToolkit tactics

Cryptography Basics

Encryption, hashing, TLS/SSL

Incident Response & Blue Teaming

IR lifecycle, SIEM intro, response strategies

Penetration Testing

Scanning, exploitation, post-exploitation

Security Frameworks

NIST, ISO 27001, CIS, GDPR

Career Prep

CTF, certifications (CEH, OSCP), interview prep

Week	Theory Topics	Hands-On Labs
Module 1: Cybersecurity Foundations
Week 1	Introduction to Cybersecurity Threat Landscape, Attack Types Domains: Network, AppSec, Cloud, IoT GRC: Governance, Risk Management, Compliance (ISO 27001, NIST, GDPR)	Breach Analysis Case Study Cybersecurity Domains Brainstorm
Week 2	Cyber Kill Chain Model (Recon to Exploit) MITRE ATT&CK Framework Introduction TTPs: Real-World Mapping	Cyber Kill Chain Mapping Exercise ◆ MITRE ATT&CK Simulation Lab (Manual TTPs)
Module 2: Reconnaissance & Weaponization
Tools Focus: whois, nslookup, theHarvester, Google Dorks, dnsrecon, Sublist3r, Shodan, Maltego
Week 3	Passive Recon: OSINT, Domain Footprinting, DNS Enumeration Subdomain Discovery, Shodan, Leaked Cameras	Recon Tools: the Harvester, dnsenum, Sublist3r ◆ Google Dorking for Sensitive Info
Week 4	Active Recon: Live Host Discovery, Banner Grabbing Fingerprinting (OS, Ports, Services)	Banner grabbing with nc & nmap -sV
Module 3: Delivery, Exploitation & Installation
Tools Focus: SEToolkit, msfvenom, Metasploit, phishing, USB HID payloads
Week 5	Social Engineering: Phishing, Pretexting, USB Drops	SEToolkit & Payload Crafting Email Phishing & Web Cloning with SET msfvenom for Payload Generation
Week 6	Malware Delivery: Executables, Macros, USB Drives Reverse Shells & RATs	Reverse Shell Delivery via Social Engineering ◆ Backdoor Injection & Listener Setup
Module 4: Post Exploitation & Privilege Escalation
Tools Focus: Metasploit, enum4linux, linpeas, netcat, mimikatz
Week 7	Gaining Access & Maintaining Persistence Privilege Escalation Techniques	Metasploit Sessions & Token Stealing Local Privilege Escalation with linpeas
Week 8	Credential Dumping & Lateral Movement Covering Tracks	mimikatz, pwdump, hashdump Lateral Movement Simulation in Lab Setup
Module 5: Targeted Environments
Week 9	Server-Side Pentesting (Linux/Windows) Service Exploits, SMB, RDP, SSH	Exploit Services (e.g., Samba, vsFTP) exploitdb, searchsploit, msfconsole
Week 10	Web App Pentesting (OWASP Top 10) XSS, SQLi, LFI/RFI, Auth Bypass	DVWA/bWAPP: SQLi, XSS, Command Injection Burp Suite Manual Testing
Week 11	Wi-Fi Pentesting (Theory + Demo) WPA2/WPA3, Evil Twin, Deauth	airmon-ng, airodump-ng, aireplay-ng Capturing Handshake + Dictionary Attack
Week 12	Mobile Security & IoT (Intro only) Common Vulnerabilities (Rooting, exposed APIs, default creds)	Recon IoT on Local Network Android APK Analysis (Basic via MobSF if feasible offline)
Module 6: Hardening & Incident Response
Week 13	Hardening Servers (Linux Best Practices) Syslog, Auditd, UFW, Fail2ban	Linux Hardening Checklist System Log Review for Attack Traces
Week 14	Incident Response Plan, Detection & Containment SIEM Concepts (Theory only)	Basic Manual IR Flow Recovery Simulation Lab
Week 15	Capture The Flag (CTF) Final Challenge Documentation & Reporting	Interview Prep & Career Guidance Practical Assessment: Apply Recon to Exploitation Write Report like a Pentest Engagement Resume + Mock Interview Rounds

Toolset Map to Cyber Kill Chain

Phase	Tools
Reconnaissance	whois, nslookup, theHarvester, Sublist3r, Google Dorks
Weaponization	msfvenom, Python scripts
Delivery	SEToolkit, USB payloads, Email phishing
Exploitation	Metasploit, browser exploits, SQLi
Installation	Reverse shell, RATs, backdoors
Command & Control	netcat, Meterpreter, ncat
Actions on Objectives	Privilege escalation (linpeas, mimikatz), data exfiltration