Starting your journey in hacking can be overwhelming, but there are several excellent online labs and platforms that can help you build foundational skills. Here are some of the best beginner hacking labs online, as recommended by Redditors:

TryHackMe

• Comprehensive Learning Paths: TryHackMe offers a variety of learning paths, including the "Jr Penetration Tester" path, which covers essential topics for beginners. "I would recommend starting at TryHackMe! It is the site where I began cybersecurity as a complete beginner!"

• Hands-On Labs: The platform provides practical, hands-on labs that allow you to apply what you learn in real-world scenarios. "TryHackMe is a must"

• Certifications: TryHackMe also offers certifications, which can be a great way to validate your skills. "Tryhackme (THM) is the best onboarding to my opinion, delivering a certification afterward."

Hack The Box

• Challenging Labs: Hack The Box provides a more challenging environment compared to TryHackMe, making it suitable for those who have some basic experience. "Hackthebox is good and maybe get some comptia Certs?"

• Academy: Hack The Box Academy offers structured courses and certifications, which can be beneficial for advanced learners. "HTB Academy is solid but pretty expensive even with student discount."

• Real-World Practice: The platform allows you to practice on real machines, which can help you develop practical skills. "I personally have used Hack the Box and it has helped me a lot plus reading and learning from others experiences and being up-to-date with the latest trends and tools used in Ethical hacking."

PortSwigger Web Security Academy

• Web Hacking Focus: PortSwigger Academy specializes in web hacking, offering detailed explanations and practical labs. "Nice. This just relates to web app hacking though but its a good start. But if you want to start learning about that I actually suggest to follow the Portswigger Academy."

• Free Resources: The academy is completely free and provides comprehensive learning materials. "Start with portswigger labs it's free"

Hack Smarter

• Private Instances: Hack Smarter offers fully private instances for each lab, ensuring a realistic hacking experience. "This is a new platform, but we release 4 - 6 labs every month (some with multiple machines). Every lab is a fully private instance."

• Regular Updates: The platform releases new labs regularly, keeping the content fresh and relevant. "We release 4 - 6 labs every month (some with multiple machines)."

Security Blue Team (BTL1)

• Blue Team Focus: BTL1 is ideal for those interested in defensive security, offering in-depth training and certifications. "BTL1 and THM SAL1 are entry level certifications."

• Practical Learning: The platform provides practical labs and real-world scenarios to help you develop your skills. "If you are interested, CyberDefenders has their CCD Level1 beta, its $250 on sale for the beta period. It is dedicated blue team training, I currently completed all modules and man it is in depth."

Additional Tips

• Start with Basics: Before diving into advanced topics, make sure to understand the basics of networking, Linux, and programming. "The essential thing first is to have a minimum knowledge of Linux."

• Practice Regularly: Consistent practice is key to improving your skills. "Practice newly acquired knowledge to solidify and understand the concept."

• Join Communities: Engaging with other enthusiasts can provide additional support and resources. "Join Discord servers related to hacking like OwlSec discord server with a lot of experts like Ryan Montgomery (0day) and many more free resources"

Subreddits to Explore

• r/Hacking_Tutorials

• r/Pentesting

• r/HowToHack

• r/cybersecurity

These communities are great places to ask questions, get advice, and find additional resources as you continue your hacking journey.