Ethical hacking courses can help you learn penetration testing, vulnerability assessment, and risk management techniques. You can build skills in network security, incident response, and ethical guidelines for cybersecurity practices. Many courses introduce tools like Metasploit, Wireshark, and Nmap, that support identifying security weaknesses and testing defenses in real-time scenarios. By engaging with these tools, you’ll gain practical experience in protecting systems and understanding the mindset of potential attackers.

Skills you'll gain: Threat Detection, Penetration Testing, Exploit development, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Threat Management, Linux Administration, Incident Response, Vulnerability Scanning, Cyber Security Assessment, Vulnerability Assessments, Vulnerability Management, Cybersecurity, Network Security, Network Monitoring, Bash (Scripting Language), Network Troubleshooting, Anomaly Detection, Information Systems Security, Cyber Security Policies, Network Analysis
Intermediate · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

EC-Council
Skills you'll gain: Penetration Testing, Threat Modeling, Cloud Security, Vulnerability Assessments, Network Security, Threat Detection, Security Awareness, Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Cyber Attacks, Application Security, Web Applications, Mobile Security, Internet Of Things, Authentications, Encryption, Wireless Networks
Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Cybersecurity, Security Controls, Cyber Attacks, Security Management, Cyber Security Strategy, Incident Response, Cyber Risk, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), Information Assurance, Data Ethics, Network Analysis, Ethical Standards And Conduct
Build toward a degree
Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

LearnKartS
Skills you'll gain: Mobile Security, Cybersecurity, Penetration Testing, Cloud Security, Malware Protection, Cyber Attacks, Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS) Attacks, Network Security, Security Testing, Cyber Security Assessment, Information Systems Security, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Cyber Security Strategy, Threat Detection, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Cyber Threat Hunting, Security Controls, Security Awareness, Cyber Risk, Security Strategy
Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Linux Administration, Bash (Scripting Language), Network Monitoring, Cyber Security Assessment, Exploit development, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, System Configuration, Virtual Machines
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Linux Commands, Metasploit, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Linux, Penetration Testing, Vulnerability Scanning, Command-Line Interface, Exploitation techniques, Scripting, Vulnerability Assessments, General Networking, Scripting Languages, Cyber Security Assessment, Python Programming, Web Applications, Cybersecurity, Data Ethics, Firewall, Network Security, Computer Networking
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS) Attacks, Metasploit, Penetration Testing, Malware Protection, Exploitation techniques, Database Management, Security Testing, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Vulnerability Assessments, Cyber Security Assessment, Cryptography, Cybersecurity, Vulnerability Scanning, Hardening, Threat Detection, Data Import/Export, Public Key Infrastructure, MySQL, Linux, Linux Administration
Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Skills you'll gain: Cyber Threat Hunting, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Threat Modeling, Penetration Testing, Threat Detection, MITRE ATT&CK Framework, Cryptography, Security Testing, Application Security, Encryption, Cybersecurity, Vulnerability Scanning, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Vulnerability Assessments, Exploitation techniques, Test Planning
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months

Skills you'll gain: Exploit development, OSI Models, Network Security, Exploitation techniques, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), TCP/IP, Cybersecurity, Vulnerability Scanning, Metasploit, Malware Protection, Network Protocols, Cyber Attacks, Wireless Networks, Application Security, Network Monitoring, Linux, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Vulnerability Assessments, Cyber Security Assessment, Intrusion Detection and Prevention
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

Johns Hopkins University
Skills you'll gain: Penetration Testing, MITRE ATT&CK Framework, Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP), Cyber Security Assessment, Metasploit, Public Key Infrastructure, Exploit development, Exploitation techniques, Threat Modeling, Cybersecurity, Distributed Denial-Of-Service (DDoS) Attacks, Cryptography, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Mobile Security, Cyber Operations, Security Testing, Vulnerability Scanning, Network Security, Operating Systems, Encryption
Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

LearnKartS
Skills you'll gain: Penetration Testing, Cybersecurity, Cyber Security Assessment, Network Security, Cyber Threat Intelligence, Threat Detection, Exploitation techniques, Vulnerability Assessments, Application Security, Intrusion Detection and Prevention, Security Awareness, Web Servers
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

University of Colorado Boulder
Skills you'll gain: Penetration Testing, Network Security, Network Monitoring, Exploitation techniques, Virtual Private Networks (VPN), Cryptographic Protocols, Network Protocols, General Networking, Computer Networking, Command-Line Interface, Network Analysis, Proxy Servers
Build toward a degree
Intermediate · Course · 1 - 3 Months
Browse the ethical hacking courses below—popular starting points on Coursera.
These courses are well-suited for learners new to cybersecurity or ethical hacking—no prior experience required:
The IBM Ethical Hacking with Open Source Tools Professional Certificate spans 4 weeks and focuses on:
It uses tools like Linux and Bash.
The Complete Ethical Hacking Bootcamp by Packt, also 4 weeks, emphasizes:
It includes tools like SQL and Python.
Both courses cover fundamentals of penetration testing and network security but differ in specific tools and additional areas of focus. Choose based on whether you prefer:
Start by clarifying your goal—whether you're exploring cybersecurity for the first time, preparing for certification (like CEH), or building practical skills in penetration testing.
Whether for cybersecurity, penetration testing, or personal interest, having a clear goal when learning ethical hacking is essential. Regular practice in network scanning, vulnerability assessment, and exploiting systems is necessary. Join communities like Reddit’s r/netsec or ethical hacking forums for tips and knowledge sharing. Work on real projects by participating in Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges. Introduction to Ethical Hacking Specialization by John Hopkins University provides a good starting point for beginners new to ethical hacking.‎
Yes. You can start learning ethical hacking on Coursera for free in two ways:
If you want to keep learning, earn a certificate in ethical hacking, or unlock full course access after the preview or trial, you can upgrade or apply for financial aid.‎
You’ll learn how to identify and exploit system vulnerabilities, perform penetration testing, and use tools like Nmap, Wireshark, and Metasploit. Courses also cover legal and ethical considerations and how to build secure systems to prevent attacks.‎
Some courses are beginner-friendly and introduce security concepts step by step. However, familiarity with computer networks, operating systems, and basic programming can help you understand advanced techniques and tools.‎
Yes. Ethical hacking skills are in high demand for roles like penetration tester, security analyst, and cybersecurity engineer. Coursera courses can help you build a foundational knowledge base, prepare for certifications like CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker), and earn certificates to showcase your skills to employers.‎
The Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) certification validates your skills in identifying and fixing security vulnerabilities using the same tools as malicious hackers. It covers topics like penetration testing, network security, and threat analysis. Courses like Introduction to Cyber Security Specialization from NYU on Coursera offer foundational knowledge to help you prepare for CEH training.‎