Week 1: My Cybersecurity & Ethical Hacking Journey Begins 🔐🚀

I've always been fascinated by hacking—it's what first sparked my interest in tech. But as a beginner, navigating the vast sea of knowledge without a structured guide felt overwhelming. I thought I had to master web development first before even touching ethical hacking.

Then last year, a friend—also a beginner—tried to pull a fast one on me. Around the same time, I stumbled upon Network Chuck’s YouTube channel, and something clicked. Why wait? Why not just start?

🔹 First Steps & Achievements

With so much information out there, I searched for a structured path. That’s when I found IBM’s Getting Started with Cybersecurity course. I decided to dive in, still on the lookout for the perfect roadmap.

💡 Completing the course earned me my first cybersecurity badge on Credly! 🏅 It introduced me to key security concepts, different types of cyber threats, and the fundamentals of keeping systems secure—a solid first step into the field.

🔹 Challenges & Lessons Learned

🔍 Finding the right roadmap was a nightmare. I jumped from YouTube to Google to ChatGPT, from course to course, but most resources focused on blue team cybersecurity (defensive security), while I was more interested in ethical hacking (offensive security).

That changed last week when I discovered TCM Security’s "How to be an Ethical Hacker (2025)" roadmap—a structured, up-to-date guide with free and paid tools to elevate my skills. Finally, some direction! 🎯

🔹 What’s Next?

I’m now following TCM’s roadmap, starting with Practical Help Desk—building my foundational skills step by step. From here, I’ll keep pushing forward, gaining hands-on experience, and sharpening my skills.

💡 To my fellow cybersecurity learners—what were your biggest challenges when starting out? Any tips you wish you had known? Drop your insights below! 🔥

🔗 Follow my journey as I document everything I learn and apply each week. Let's grow together! 🚀

#CyberSecurity #EthicalHacking #TCMSecurity #NetworkChuck #CyberSecJourney #LearningAndGrowing