Updated in May 2025.

This course now features Coursera Coach! A smarter way to learn with interactive, real-time conversations that help you test your knowledge, challenge assumptions, and deepen your understanding as you progress through the course. In this comprehensive course, you'll embark on a journey through the world of ethical hacking. The initial modules guide you through setting up a secure pentesting lab environment, including installing VirtualBox and Kali Linux. These foundational steps ensure you're equipped with the necessary tools and knowledge to begin your hacking journey. The course then delves into Linux essentials, offering a thorough introduction to basic commands critical for navigating the Kali Linux environment, a favorite among cybersecurity professionals. As you progress, you'll explore networking tools and essential terminology, providing a solid grounding in concepts like IP management and wireless adapter setup. This foundational knowledge is crucial for understanding how networks function and how vulnerabilities can be exploited. The course then transitions into more advanced topics, focusing on passive information gathering and footprinting techniques. You'll learn to leverage tools like 'whois,' 'harvester,' and 'Shodan' to gather valuable information ethically. Each lesson is designed to build your skills systematically, ensuring you have a well-rounded understanding of both the technical and ethical aspects of hacking. By the end of this course, you'll have a solid foundation in ethical hacking principles and practices. You'll understand how to use various tools and techniques to gather information and identify vulnerabilities. More importantly, you'll appreciate the ethical considerations and responsibilities that come with this knowledge, preparing you for further exploration in the cybersecurity field. This course is designed for beginners interested in cybersecurity and ethical hacking. A basic understanding of computers and the internet is recommended, but no prior knowledge of hacking or cybersecurity is required.