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You have to understand everything deeply in order to be good in the field.
Key Ideas
🎮 Muhammad's cybersecurity journey started with game hacking, evolving into programming, penetration testing, and offensive security over 10 years.
🇪🇬 Despite doubts about its viability in Egypt, Muhammad pursued cybersecurity as a career due to his passion.
📜 OffSec certifications became a major challenge, pushing Muhammad to improve his penetration testing skills.
🧠 The Exploit Development course was the hardest, requiring deep knowledge of reverse engineering, system internals, and vulnerability discovery.
💻 Developing exploits requires a mindset shift from using them, demanding mastery of system internals like assembly language and Windows API.
🏋️♂️ Persistence and structured learning are essential to overcome frustration during the certification process.
⏳ Muhammad balanced leading a pentesting team, freelancing, and studying over 30 hours weekly for certifications.
🔑 Certifications like OCP and OA are highly practical and transferable for real-world penetration testing.
🛠️ OffSec courses emphasize hands-on practice and iterative problem-solving, unlike traditional learning methods.
🔧 Continuous practice and deep understanding of tools are crucial for mastering cybersecurity skills and exam preparation.
🌱 Burnout can be avoided by taking breaks, learning new topics, and accepting personal limitations.
🔍 Adaptability and research skills are key to overcoming challenges in fields with limited resources.
💡 Providing value in pentesting means offering actionable insights, even when no vulnerabilities are found.
🤝 Building relationships is crucial in pentesting, whether as an external contractor or internal team member.
🔓 API vulnerabilities are a significant focus in application penetration testing.
🤖 AI/machine learning pentesting is an emerging field with potential future importance.
📚 Continuous learning is vital in cybersecurity, as even experienced professionals face new challenges regularly.
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TL;DR
💨 Muhammad, with over 10 years in cybersecurity, started with game hacking and moved into penetration testing. He pursued OffSec certifications, scheduling his first exam the same day he subscribed. His toughest challenge was the Exploit Development course, requiring deep system knowledge.
Balancing a full-time job, freelancing, and 30+ hours of study weekly, he emphasizes persistence, structured learning, and accepting failure. He highlights the importance of understanding tools, not just using them, and stresses adaptability in both exams and real-world pentesting. Burnout is managed by taking breaks and focusing on personal interests.
From Game Hacking to Cybersecurity Mastery
🎮 Muhammad's cybersecurity journey began over 10 years ago with game hacking, which led him to learn programming and eventually delve into penetration testing. His passion for offensive security grew as he explored various domains, including networks, web applications, and even specialized areas like telecom security.
Turning Passion into a Career
🇪🇬 Initially, Muhammad didn’t see cybersecurity as a viable career, especially in Egypt. However, after discovering job opportunities in the field, he decided to pursue it professionally. His passion for the work made him realize that "working on something you love will make you better at it."
OffSec Certifications: A Challenge Worth Taking
📜 Muhammad saw OffSec certifications as a way to push himself further. He was drawn to the challenge they presented, knowing that they would test his skills and force him to improve. He described OffSec as the go-to for anyone seeking a "hard challenge" in penetration testing.
The Beast: Exploit Development
🧠 The Exploit Development (EXP-301) course was by far the hardest for Muhammad. Despite having experience in reverse engineering, the course required an intense focus on system internals and vulnerability discovery. It took him two and a half months of study and practice to complete.
"I reached some points where I felt that I would not be able to do it, but I gained my strength and tried again."
From Using Exploits to Developing Them
💻 Muhammad explained that developing exploits requires a completely different mindset than just using them. It demands a deep understanding of system internals, including assembly language and the Windows API. This shift in perspective was challenging but rewarding.
Overcoming Frustration with Structure and Persistence
🏋️♂️ Frustration was inevitable during the certification process, but Muhammad relied on structured learning and persistence. He scheduled all his exams in advance and refused to change the dates, forcing himself to stay on track. When stuck, he would switch up his study methods—using diagrams, videos, or even changing his study environment.
Balancing Work, Freelancing, and Study
⏳ Muhammad managed to balance leading a pentesting team, freelancing, and studying for certifications by dedicating over 30 hours per week to his studies. His schedule was intense: working from 9 AM to 5 PM, freelancing from 9 PM to 11 PM, and studying from 11:30 PM to 4 AM.
Practical Certifications for Real-World Application
🔑 Certifications like OCP and OA were particularly valuable for Muhammad’s day-to-day work as a pentester. These certifications focus on practical skills that are directly transferable to real-world penetration testing scenarios.
Hands-On Learning: The OffSec Difference
🛠️ OffSec courses emphasize hands-on practice and iterative problem-solving. Unlike traditional learning methods, these courses require students to actively engage with challenges rather than passively absorb information.
Mastery Through Practice and Understanding
🔧 Continuous practice is key to mastering cybersecurity skills. Muhammad stressed the importance of not just using tools but deeply understanding how they work. This approach is crucial for both exam preparation and real-world application.
"You have to understand everything deeply in order to be good in the field."
Avoiding Burnout by Accepting Limits
🌱 To avoid burnout, Muhammad took breaks when needed and accepted his personal limitations. He emphasized the importance of learning new topics to keep things fresh and maintaining a balance between pushing hard and knowing when to step back.
Adaptability and Research: Keys to Success
🔍 In fields with limited resources, like Telecom pentesting, adaptability and research skills are essential. Muhammad often had to rely on research papers and protocol analysis when there were no readily available tools or courses.
Adding Value Beyond Vulnerabilities
💡 Even when no vulnerabilities are found during a pentest, Muhammad believes in providing value by offering actionable insights. This could include recommendations for best practices or further areas of investigation.
Building Relationships in Pentesting
🤝 Whether working as an external contractor or an internal team member, building relationships is crucial in pentesting. Collaboration with clients or internal teams helps ensure that everyone is aligned on security goals.
API Vulnerabilities: A Core Focus
🔓 API vulnerabilities are a significant part of application penetration testing. Many web, mobile, and desktop applications rely on APIs, making them a critical area for pentesters to focus on.
AI and Machine Learning: The Next Frontier?
🤖 While still emerging, AI/machine learning pentesting is expected to become more important in the future. Muhammad sees potential in this field but notes that it’s still in its early stages compared to more established areas like API testing.
Continuous Learning: The Only Constant
📚 Even after earning multiple certifications, Muhammad continues to learn every day. He believes that continuous learning is vital in cybersecurity because the field is always evolving, and even experienced professionals face new challenges regularly.
"No one is perfect in this field; everyone is still learning."
Conclusion
🌚 Muhammad’s journey shows that mastering cybersecurity requires (1) persistence through frustration, (2) deep system knowledge for exploit development, and (3) balancing work-life-study to avoid burnout. He stresses that success in pentesting isn’t just about finding vulnerabilities but providing value to clients. Continuous learning is key, as even seasoned professionals are always evolving.