First Look: HackTheBox.com vs TryHackMe.com
George 
This is My HP EliteBook X360 G3 Laptop.
At this point, I have completed the first couple of “rooms” or paths on both HackTheBox.com and TryHackme.com. This was a brand new experience for me, I have never learned in a gamified setting prior to this. Over the years I have learned “hacking” either on the job, in school, in books, on youtube (Hak5), or in a home lab. On both sites, I ended up paying the monthly subscriptions.
In recent years, I have found more youtube channels and training opportunities. The Newest setting was my current employee provides LinkedIn learning – linkedin.com/learning – I am currently using this to go over the Comptia Security+ as the first cert to go after. The truth is that Security+ seems like the low-hanging fruit to me. I had the Comptia A+ and Network+ a few years ago. I will probably end up getting them again just to complete the Comptia CYSA+ or PenTest+ path as Comptia Stackable cert. I am not suggesting this is right or wrong, I just think might be the quickest cert path into Cyber.
Try Hack Me – THM – TryHackMe.com – PreSecurity
TryHackMe.com was the first site I tried. The site setup is very user-friendly, and the starting path for PreSecurity – CyberSecurity Introduction and Learning CyberSecurity was right there front and center! This starting point was focused on Linux Fundations. I found it very informative, I have been using Linux for years, Ubuntu, and Kali mostly, Bash On Windows and Mac OS. Throughout the years, I learned on the job how to navigate around and learned the basics. I found Try Hack Me (THM) very informative and very easy to use for the absolute beginner to use and start their journey!
Hack The Box – HTB – HackTheBox.com – Starting Point
I found the path around HackTheBox.com, a bit harder to navigate. The HTB, challenges were a bit more involved, and even with my many years in IT. I had to lean on Youtube and write-ups before, I found the “walkthrough” link at the top of the room’s Menu Bar, just to get started with the rooms. HTB appears to be more geared toward someone who has a working knowledge of CTF or other sites.
My Thoughts, and reactions to both.
I found both HTB and THM fun. HTB engaged my brain more at the starting level, I was able to get through all of the free rooms to HTB. I ended up buying the monthly subscription to HTB to complete the entry-level learning path “Tier 0” – The Key to a strong foundation. I found the experience very enjoyable on my own Virtual Machine (Kali) I completed the first few boxes on Tier 1, before I had to hit google for help with the rooms.
With THM, I was able to blast through the first few rooms without an issue. Like I said the path was each to find and well explained. However, I hit the paywall very very quickly. I burned through my free time in no time flat. I had to wait for 24hours for the clock to reset and it was at that point that I went to HTB.
When I started with HTB I opted for my own OS (Kali in a VM on Kali) using OpenVPN, and with THM I used the in-browser “Attackbox” based on Unbuntu.
Both had pros and cons. In the coming days, I want to connect to the Attack Box with RDP -VNC and OpenVPN, as I don’t like the split screen in-browser version, for longer “Hacks”. This is where I like HTB better at this time as I can use Kali on the VM and just OpenVPN into that network to start with over their attack box.
HOME LAB – A thing of the past! One Does not need a CyberSecurity lab to start!
I really wished that I had seen this video about a month ago. When I decided to explore CyberSecurity, I purchased everything I needed for a home lab. Live and Learn what not to do at my Blog! @davidbombal TY!! Do you need a Cybersecurity home lab? https://youtu.be/fffSbCbafts via @YouTube
CyberHound on Twitter: “I really wish I had seen this video about a month ago. When I decided to explore CyberSecurity, I purchased everything I needed for a home lab. Live and Learn what not to do at my Blog! @davidbombal TY!! Do you need a Cybersecurity home lab? https://t.co/ILKjZ3SCIk via @YouTube” / Twitter
While I do enjoy the multiple OS experience of using Kali, Parrot. and Ubuntu for hacking. Currently, I have different physical machines with Win 10, Win11, Kali, Ubuntu, and Mac OS, this is not a requirement in any way! I have been in IT for almost 30 years. I am used to having different machines and using virtual machines for everything else. I could have gotten away with just 2 (Gaming & Hacking) Laptops for this, and the 2 (Win 10 and MacOs) I have for work! Maybe a third personal Windows laptop for testing my Hak5 bash bunny other toys on a Win machine that I can blow away and reinstall as needed.
Closing Thoughts,
Honestly, I liked both Hack The Box and Try Hack Me, I play to devote more time alternating on both platforms. I have to get some more time with both sites and others before I give a true opinion.
If you are just learning CyberSecurity with zero or little IT experience. Haven’t used Linux before, or haven’t spent time in The Command-Line or CLI. Then I would start with Try Hack Me. I found their way of introduction to Linux, a winner for the true beginner. But personally, I leaned more toward the learning curve of Hack The Box for myself, I found it challenging, and engaging. While I learned in both, HTB has a more of a challenge for me.
Best – Be Healthy and Safe – I am fighting the illness from hell right now.
#TrustYouTechnoLust Trust Your Technolust!
