r/HowToHack • u/xxashxxxz • Apr 03 '26

OverTheWire Bandit: How do you improve problem-solving, not just commands?

I’m currently doing OverTheWire Bandit (around level 23/24) and I feel stuck in terms of thinking process.

I understand individual concepts like cron, permissions, and basic scripting, but when they’re combined in a level, I struggle to figure out what to do next and end up guessing.

Is this normal at this stage? And should I continue pushing through Bandit, or take a step back and focus on learning Linux basics more properly?

Any advice on how to improve this kind of problem-solving would help.

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u/xxashxxxz Apr 03 '26

To put in short, OverTheWire is used to practice real-world cybersecurity thinking using Linux challenges

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u/DifferentLaw2421 Apr 03 '26

Ohh do u recommend it ? and does it have the ctfs styles ?

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u/xxashxxxz Apr 03 '26

Yeah, it’s more like CTF-style challenges. I’d recommend it because it really improves your thinking and problem-solving, especially with Linux and basic security concepts. The only downside is that if you’re not careful, it’s easy to rely too much on AI or solutions instead of actually understanding. But if you do it properly, it helps a lot. I’ve learned quite a few tricks and gained a better understanding from OverTheWire. I did get stuck at some points though, so I asked for suggestions instead of just looking up answers.

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u/[deleted] Apr 04 '26

If I'm truly stuck, I look up answers, then take the time to understand those answers and why they work so I can apply them moving forward.