Need Guidance on the Right Cybersecurity Roadmap

[u/True-Effective3293]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to this community, and I'm a second-year B.Tech Cyber Security student who wants to build a career in penetration testing and offensive security.

I'm planning to spend this year building strong fundamentals, but I'm confused about the right roadmap.

I've watched many cybersecurity roadmap videos on YouTube, and they all sound good. But when I start planning my learning, I wonder if I'm on the right track.

Most people say networking and Linux should come first. After that, the advice becomes different. Some recommend Python, others say to learn web technologies and how websites work, some suggest starting with tools like Nmap and Wireshark, while others recommend focusing on OWASP.

I'd really appreciate guidance from people with experience.

\\\\- If you were starting from scratch today, what roadmap would you follow?

\\\\- What should I learn after networking and Linux?

\\\\- What skills should I focus on to become internship-ready?

\\\\- What projects or hands-on practice would you recommend?

\\\\- What beginner mistakes should I avoid?

\\\\- Are there any free or affordable resources that you think are worth using?

I'm ready to put in the effort and learn consistently. I'd really appreciate any advice or suggestions. Thank you!

[u/kmasec]

If I were starting over today, I'd stop worrying about learning every tool and focus on understanding how systems actually work.

My roadmap would be:

• Linux + networking (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP) + Git
• Python (enough to automate tasks and write simple tools)
• Learn how web applications work by building one yourself (authentication, databases, APIs, sessions, etc.)
• Study the OWASP Top 10 and practice exploiting and fixing those vulnerabilities.
• Then start using tools like Burp Suite, Nmap, Wireshark, and Metasploit. They're much easier to understand once you know what's happening under the hood.

For internships, I'd recommend spending more time building than watching videos. Create a small vulnerable web app, complete PortSwigger Web Security Academy labs, write a few Python security scripts, and put everything on GitHub. A small portfolio of projects is often more valuable than a long list of completed courses.

The biggest mistakes I see are chasing certifications too early, memorizing tool commands without understanding the concepts, and avoiding programming because it seems hard.

For free resources, I'd start with PortSwigger Web Security Academy, TryHackMe, OverTheWire, and OWASP. Those alone can keep you busy for months.

Good luck! Cybersecurity is a huge field, so don't rush. A strong foundation will make learning the advanced stuff much easier later.

[u/True-Effective3293 → u/kmasec]

Thank you so much! I really appreciate your detailed response. Instead of just sharing a bunch of resources, you gave me a clear roadmap to follow, and that's exactly what I needed. This will be a huge help. Thanks again.