Think Like a Hacker Bootcamp: An Introduction to Ethical Hacking & Cybersecurity

Start your journey to prepare for a lucrative career in cybersecurity while learning to protect yourself from modern threats.

In the United States, there are currently 600,000 unfilled cybersecurity positions; and the average salary for an entry-level role in cybersecurity hovers around $70,049. This is a field full of opportunity.

In this bootcamp, students will learn essential cybersecurity concepts, the most common cyber threats, the threat actors involved, and strategies to protect themselves online. Learning to protect yourself online is an essential life skill.

We will go much deeper than how to spot a phishing email and basic Internet safety tips. Students will learn about the exciting field of ethical hacking, some fun online tools to assess their security posture, and how to adopt an adversarial mindset to protect themselves online. We'll also learn how easy it is to be compromised online by taking them through what a real-life hack can look like. We round out the course with a fun hands-on demo teaching learners the practical skill of setting traps for potential cyber attackers who may be snooping in their accounts. This class is a great companion to learners who are immersed in coding and tech, although a tech background is not required.

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Here's an overview of key concepts that will be covered:

SESSION 1 - Welcome to the wonderful world of ethical hacking

Defining cybersecurity and other security concepts;
What is a hacker;
Types of hackers;
Offensive vs. defensive security;
Ethical hacking as a profession; and
Watch a simulated hack of a fake bank.

SESSION 2 - Staying a step ahead of malicious actors

Threats, scams & threat actors;
Social engineering;
Social media;
Passwords and email security;
Privacy; and
A hands-on demo on how to set a trap for a cyber attacker.

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Here’s an overview of how various online resources will be used in class:

Youtube - two short videos will be used to introduce learners to the world of cybersecurity and demonstrate social engineering tactics

Password Strength Checker by Security.org - learners will use an online password strength checker to learn how strong passwords are built

Have I Been Pwned, a Troy Hunt Project - students will be introduced to a site to check if their email address has been leaked onto the dark web. Learners will be encouraged to complete this activity with a parent or guardian on their own time. Strategies to protect accounts will be given if found that an email address has been compromised.

Wayback Machine Internet Archive - this site is an online web archive that will be used to demonstrate that once content or data is posted, it can always be found online.

canarytokens.com - students will learn how to set alerts to let them know if someone is accessing their data or accounts.

tinyurl.com - a link shortener tool students will leverage to make their alerts less detectable.

Fire Eye Threat Map - learners will view cyber attacks occurring around the world.

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No accounts are required to use these resources. Students can follow along via screen share or visit the sites on their own devices.