Learning Linux

Previously, I’ve talked about the power of Linux. The most widely used open source operating system.

Within Cybersecurity, where the “function over form” principle takes precedence there are many ways Linux is utilized for better working systems and more secure environments.

When using Linux for any use case in compute or security, it will usually be via the command line. You can think of operating out of the GUI as driving automatic, and out of the command line as driving stick shift 🚗⚙️. Any car person can tell you the difference.

Here are just some of the powerful use cases for Linux

• Increase Productivity

• Parsing Large Quantities of Data

• Automate Tasks

• Schedule Services using Cron

• SSH to Securely Connect To Systems

• Hosting Services

• System Backups

• Compute (Where all the rage is now)

  

Resources

There are many out there, but here are some concrete resources that can aid in building Linux skills.

• CyberDefenders

• Google Cybersecurity Professional Cert

• OverTheWire

CyberDefenders

A hands on platform with Capture the Flags. It has various challenges in security topics and sets of questions to go through. It is focused on the Blue team side of things, and can be good practice for hands on learning.

Google Cybersecurity Professional Cert

This is through Coursera. It’s affordable, self-paced, and gives hands-on experience with tools like Linux, Python, and other tools that are imperative to the job. You can also opt to audit the course for free, just with no certificate at the end.

For those that can use the structure this could be a better choice.

OverTheWire

A CTF style wargames platform. You can start from basically zero and it levels you up by the end, with challenges increasing in difficulty as you go. This option will definitely be less structured than the Google cert.

I recommend starting at Bandit, based all on the command line.

My Course

A while back I created a free course, an Intro to Linux. It’s an introductory course into the command line and its fundamentals. It will always remain free

Linux Command Line Fundamentals - Free Course

If you’re going to be working with servers, chances are they will be running Linux. If you find yourself in a Cloud environment, chances are this is going to be in Linux. In fact, approximately 90% of the public cloud workload operates on Linux.

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What I Read This week

• How Palantir Secures Source Control

  • The next edition in Palantir’s software supply chain security series

• Hacker pleads guilty to SIM swap attack on US SEC X account

  • This after the 25-year old previously plead not guilty

• DeepSeek App Transmits Sensitive User and Device Data Without Encryption

  • See this Tweet Thread for an example

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Wrapping Up

The TLDR, is that learning this skill will be a difference maker for you in many ways.

I really hope the community will find value in the course and get the most out of it. There are a lot of resources out there to get hands on practice on this learning journey.

See you in the next one.

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