If you’ve ever been curious about cybersecurity and ethical hacking but weren’t sure where to begin, OverTheWire’s Bandit is one of the best places to start. You can use it to learn Linux commands the fun way.

What is Bandit?

Bandit is part of OverTheWire’s suite of wargames—online hacking challenges designed to teach and test your skills. Specifically, Bandit focuses on the basics of Linux and command-line operations. It’s crafted for absolute beginners, so even if you’ve never used the terminal before, you’ll find the early levels accessible and instructive. As you progress, the tasks gradually become more challenging, pushing you to think critically and apply what you’ve learned in creative ways.

What You’ll Need to Get Started

One of Bandit’s best features is its simplicity. You don’t need to install complicated tools or set up a local environment. All you need is:

• A computer with internet access
• A terminal emulator (macOS and GNU/Linux have one built-in; Windows users can use something like PuTTY or the Windows Subsystem for Linux)

Once you’ve connected, you’re ready to dive into your first real hacking experience.

What You’ll Learn

Bandit covers a range of essential skills, including:

• Connecting to remote servers via SSH
• Navigating directories and manipulating files
• Reading files in tricky formats
• Working with permissions and processes

Even though the tasks may seem simple at first, they teach concepts that are fundamental in cybersecurity. You’ll quickly discover that problem-solving and attention to detail are just as important as knowing the commands themselves.

Why Bandit is Worth Your Time

What I love most about Bandit is that it builds your confidence step by step. Instead of overwhelming you with theory, it gives you practical, real-world challenges right from the start. By the time you finish, you’ll have a solid grasp of the Linux environment and be ready to tackle more advanced wargames—or even start exploring Capture The Flag (CTF) competitions.

I had a fun time playing with it. Really helps if you want to learn more about Linux commands.