🎯 STAGE 0: Mindset & Environment Setup (Week 1)
Before any tools, you need the right mindset and hacker playground.
🔥 Elliot Mindset:
Obsession with truth, systems, flaws, and control
Work alone. Think deep. Question everything.
Get comfortable with solitude and intense self-study
⚙️ Tools to Set Up:
Kali Linux (✅ already installed)
VirtualBox or VMware (✅ already running)
Create a lab environment (Kali + Metasploitable + DVWA)
Tor Browser, DuckDuckGo, Privacy tools
🧠 STAGE 1: Foundation — “See the Matrix” (1–2 Months)
You must understand computers and networks like the back of your hand.
💻 Learn:
Linux Basics: Commands, Bash, users, permissions
Networking: IP, TCP/IP, ports, OSI, DNS, DHCP
Windows Basics: CMD, PowerShell, file structure
Web Basics: HTTP, HTML, Cookies, Headers
🧪 Practice:
TryHackMe - Complete Beginner Path
OverTheWire: Bandit
Use nmap, netstat, ping, traceroute daily
🧪 STAGE 2: Scripting & Automation (1–2 Months)
Start automating everything like Elliot.
💬 Languages:
✅ Python (scripting tools, exploits, scanning)
✅ Bash (automate Linux tasks)
✅ JavaScript (web hacking, XSS)
Optional: C/C++ (for exploit dev)
🔧 Build:
Port scanner in Python
File encrypter/decrypter
Email or SMS spammer script (legal sandbox only)
Keylogger (in your own lab)
💥 STAGE 3: Hacking Fundamentals (3–6 Months)
Start learning how to break into systems — ethically.
🔐 Learn:
Phases: Recon, Scanning, Exploitation, Privilege Escalation, Covering Tracks
Web hacking: SQL Injection, XSS, CSRF, SSRF, IDOR, RCE
Password attacks: Brute-force, rainbow tables, cracking hashes
Networking attacks: ARP spoofing, packet sniffing
🔧 Tools to Master:
Nmap, Burp Suite, SQLMap, Hydra
John the Ripper, Nikto, Netcat
Metasploit, SET (Social Engineering Toolkit)
Wireshark, Proxychains, Tor
🔬 Practice Labs:
HackTheBox (Beginner > Intermediate)
TryHackMe (Pre-Security → Offensive Pentesting Path)
DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web App)
VulnHub (Offline vulnerable VMs)
🧠 STAGE 4: Mental Manipulation (Social Engineering)
Like Elliot, you must learn to hack people, not just machines.
🧠 Learn:
Psychology: fear, urgency, curiosity
Pretexting & Phishing
Creating fake login pages, phishing emails
OSINT (Open Source Intelligence)
🧪 Practice:
OSINT CTFs (Google Dorking, social footprint)
Maltego, theHarvester, Creepy, Sherlock
🧬 STAGE 5: Advanced Hacking & Reverse Engineering (6+ Months)
This is where Elliot reaches elite level.
Skills:
Privilege escalation (Linux & Windows)
Buffer overflows & memory corruption
Writing shellcode and payloads
Malware creation & detection evasion
Reverse engineering (binary analysis)
⚙️ Tools:
Ghidra / IDA Free / OllyDbg
Mimikatz
PEStudio
Cuckoo Sandbox
Aircrack-ng (Wi-Fi hacking)
🧪 Practice:
HackTheBox: Hard boxes
Exploit Development on custom vulnerable apps
CTF platforms like PicoCTF, HTB Pro Labs, RootMe
STAGE 6: OPSEC & Anonymity (Ongoing)
Elliot was always invisible.
🧱 Learn:
Tor + Proxychains + VPN routing
Tails OS / Qubes OS
Disk encryption (LUKS, VeraCrypt)
Log cleaning (shred, wipe, logrotate)
MAC address spoofing
Avoiding digital footprints
💸 STAGE 7: Real-World Application
Turn your skills into ethical hacking careers or side hustles.
💼 Opportunities:
Bug Bounties (HackerOne, Bugcrowd)
Freelance Penetration Testing
Red Team / Blue Team jobs
Build your own hacking tools
Start a hacking YouTube/Blog
📜 Optional Certifications (if you want to go pro)
Cert Purpose
CompTIA Security+ Intro to security
CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) Basics of ethical hacking
eJPT / PNPT Practical beginner certs
OSCP Elite cert for real pen testers
CBBH / CRTO Advanced Red Teaming
📆 Suggested Weekly Practice Plan
Day Task
Mon Learn theory (networking, Linux, web)
Tue Hands-on labs (TryHackMe/HTB)
Wed Python scripting or tool creation
Thu Reverse Engineering / Priv Esc practice
Fri CTF or Real-world exploit analysis
Sat Build portfolio, blog write-up
Sun Rest / Watch hacker movies / OSINT games
🎬 Watch While You Learn (Mr. Robot Style)
🎥 Mr. Robot (of course)
🎥 Hackers (1995)
🎥 Citizenfour (Snowden doc)
🎥 The Great Hack
🎥 Who Am I (German hacking film)
🔥 Final Words
“The world is a vulnerable place. But with the right skills, you can control it.”
— Elliot Alderson
