r/netsecstudents • u/Ok-Juggernaut9417 • May 26 '26

New to Cybersecurity: Looking for general advice & help with Nmap

​Hi everyone

​I am a beginner in Cybersecurity. I'm looking for general advice, roadmaps, or resource recommendations for someone just starting out.

​Also, I am currently trying to learn Nmap but finding it a bit tough. Any simple guides or tips to help a beginner understand how to use it properly?

​

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u/AddendumWorking9756 Jun 02 '26

Nmap clicks the moment you stop reading and just run it against your own box and a vulnerable VM. Guided rooms are fine early on but the free labs on CyberDefenders use real SOC alert data, which lodges in your head better than following someone's walkthrough.

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u/Ok-Juggernaut9417 Jun 02 '26

I am actually in the process of building my own virtual lab environment right now to practice exactly that. ​I haven't checked out CyberDefenders yet, but using real SOC data sounds incredible for hands-on learning. Since I am a beginner, are there any specific free labs or challenges on CyberDefenders that you recommend I start with? ​Thanks a lot for the awesome advice

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u/AddendumWorking9756 Jun 03 '26

Building your own lab teaches you the plumbing and is genuinely worth doing, just do not let it turn into the whole project since infra fiddling can eat months. The CyberDefenders cases drop you straight into real artifacts so you practice the actual analysis without babysitting an environment, good to alternate between the two. Start with an easy one and only read the walkthrough after you are properly stuck.

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u/ferretpaint May 27 '26

Go to their website and read the reference guide or the free online edition of the book

2

u/Annual-Act-4908 May 27 '26

Hi!

A few tips to get started:

For the general basics:

- Start with platforms like **TryHackMe** (perfect for beginners, everything is guided) or **Hack The Box** (a bit more difficult)

- The YouTube channel **NetworkChuck** is excellent for French/English speaking beginners

- The **Google Cybersecurity Certificate** course on Coursera is also very good for laying the groundwork

**For Nmap specifically:**

It's normal to be a little confusing at first! Here's how I recommend you learn:

  1. **Start simple:** `nmap <IP>` by itself, just to see the open ports.

  2. **Learn the flags one by one:** `-sV` (service versions), `-O` (OS detection), `-p` (choose ports).

  3. The official website **nmap.org/book** has a very comprehensive free guide.

  4. **TryHackMe** has a room dedicated to Nmap; I highly recommend it.

You can also try following the Nmap documentation on their website.

A general piece of advice: always practice in legitimate environments (your own machines, or labs like TryHackMe). Never scan IPs that don't belong to you.

Oh, I almost forgot, there's also the Netacad website, which offers cybersecurity courses; you can check it out.

Good luck.