How I Made My Own Cybersecurity Lab at Home
Setting up a cybersecurity lab at home transformed my learning from theory to practice. Using free tools and VirtualBox, I created an isolated environment to safely practice penetration testing without risking real systems.
Tools Required (All Free)
- VirtualBox – Free virtualization platform
- Kali Linux – Pentesting distribution with pre-installed tools
- VulnHub machines – Intentionally vulnerable VMs for practice
- 8GB+ RAM – Comfortable for running 2-3 VMs simultaneously
Setup Steps
1. Install VirtualBox
Download from virtualbox.org, install on Windows/Mac/Linux.
2. Download Kali Linux VM
Get pre-built VirtualBox image from kali.org/get-kali. Import OVA file into VirtualBox.
3. Download Vulnerable Machines
VulnHub.com provides free vulnerable VMs. Started with Mr. Robot VM – based on TV show, great for beginners.
4. Configure Internal Network
Critical for safety—isolate lab from home network:
- VirtualBox → Settings → Network → Internal Network
- Name: "PentestLab"
- Both Kali and vulnerable VM on same internal network
- NO internet access from vulnerable machines
5. Setup DHCP (Kali)
Kali acts as network infrastructure:
sudo systemctl start isc-dhcp-serverPractice Workflow
Reconnaissance
Discover target's IP:
netdiscover -r 192.168.56.0/24
nmap -sV -sC [target-ip]Scanning with Nikto
Web vulnerability scanner:
nikto -h http://[target-ip]Directory Enumeration with Gobuster
Find hidden directories:
gobuster dir -u http://[target-ip] -w /usr/share/wordlists/dirb/common.txtBurp Suite for Web Analysis
Intercept and modify HTTP requests, find injection points, test parameters.
Safety Benefits
- Isolated network – Can't accidentally attack real systems
- Snapshots – Revert VM to clean state anytime
- Legal – VulnHub VMs are meant to be attacked
- Learning – Make mistakes without consequences
Learning Resources
- VulnHub.com – Free vulnerable VMs
- HackTheBox.com – Online pentesting practice
- OWASP WebGoat – Web security training
- TryHackMe – Guided learning paths
Building a home cybersecurity lab is the best way to transition from reading about security to actually doing security. Start today—the skills you develop are invaluable.