00. PRE-REQUISITES

LEVEL 0: ESTABLISHING THE OPERATIONAL FOUNDATION

Essential Linux Commands (Top 30)

Master these terminal commands. They are the primary tools of any security researcher.

// System Basics

pwd Print working directory (Where am I?)
ls -la List all files, including hidden ones with details.
cd [path] Change directory to specified path.
clear Clear the terminal screen.
man [command] Open manual/help page for a command.
whoami Display the current logged-in user.
id Show user and group IDs.
uptime Check how long the system has been running.

// File Mastery

mkdir [name] Create a new directory.
touch [name] Create an empty file.
cp [src] [dest] Copy files or directories.
mv [src] [dest] Move or rename files/directories.
rm [file] Remove a file. Use -r for directories.
cat [file] Display contents of a file.
grep [pattern] [file] Search for text patterns within files.
head/tail [file] View first/last 10 lines of a file.
chmod [perms] [file] Change file permissions (e.g., chmod +x).
chown [user] [file] Change file owner.

// Networking & Privilege

sudo [command] Execute command with root/admin privileges.
sudo su Switch to root user permanently (Be careful!).
ifconfig or ip a Check network interfaces and IP addresses.
ping [host] Test connectivity to a host.
netstat -antp List active network connections and ports.
ssh [user]@[ip] Connect to a remote machine securely.
apt update Refresh package list from repositories.
apt install [pkg] Download and install a software package.

// Process & Logs

ps aux View all running processes.
top Real-time system resource and process monitoring.
kill [PID] Terminate a process by its ID.
history View command history.

Basic Setup & Virtualization

Never practice on your host machine. Build a safe, isolated hacking environment.

1. Install a Hypervisor

Download and install Oracle VirtualBox (Free) or VMware Workstation. This software lets you run "virtual" computers inside your main OS.

2. Download Kali Linux

Go to kali.org and download the Kali Linux VirtualBox Image (OVA file). This pre-configured version is easiest to setup.

3. Import and Configure

Double-click the OVA file to import it into VirtualBox. In settings, ensure Network is set to "Bridged Adapter" or "NAT" to get internet access within Kali.

4. First Launch & Update

Start the VM (Default login is usually kali/kali). Immediately open a terminal and run:
sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade -y

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