Guide · Open source
How to use h4cker: navigate the cybersecurity resource repo
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
h4cker is a large GitHub repository of cybersecurity references, scripts, tools, labs and training material maintained by Omar Santos. It is a collection rather than a single program, so using it means finding the folder that matches your goal and following its links. This guide shows you how to get a local copy, how the directory is organized, and how to pick the right starting point.
h4ckerThe-Art-of-Hacking/h4cker · ★ 30k · MIT Install options & downloads Quick start
- 1Clone the repository. Run git clone https://github.com/The-Art-of-Hacking/h4cker in a terminal to create a local copy.
- 2Pick your goal. Decide whether you want domain study, AI security, certification prep, lab building or training references.
- 3Open the matching folder. Go to cybersecurity-domains, ai, certifications, build-your-own-lab or training-reference.
- 4Read the domain landing page. Start with the landing page for your topic, since it links to tools, labs, scripts and references.
- 5Follow the links. Open the linked tools, labs and references that fit your level and verify them independently before relying on them.
- 6Check the license and contributing guide. Review the MIT LICENSE file and CONTRIBUTING.md if you plan to reuse or contribute material.
What h4cker is and who it is for
h4cker is a collection of cybersecurity resources rather than installable software. The README describes it as a comprehensive set of references, scripts, tools, code, labs and training resources. It serves as supplemental material for books, video courses and live training created by Omar Santos.
It is a good fit for students who want a structured starting point, learners who want to find resources by topic, certification candidates looking for study references, and instructors who want curated material to point students to. It is not a good fit if you need one tool to install and run, or if you need every linked resource verified and up to date, since the README does not describe a verification process for each item.
Get a local copy of the repository
The README lists a clone-and-build install method and does not list any prerequisites. To download the repository, run the clone command below in a terminal. This creates a local folder you can browse, search and edit.
git clone https://github.com/The-Art-of-Hacking/h4ckerUnderstand the directory layout
The repository is organized into top-level folders. Start with the folder that matches your goal rather than browsing everything at once.
- cybersecurity-domains: the main domain taxonomy, covering fundamentals, offensive and defensive security, application security, cloud and container security, infrastructure and network security, cryptography and PKI, hardware and embedded security, governance/risk/compliance, and labs/practice.
- ai: AI security, LLM engineering, AI-assisted incident response and automation, and AI ethics, privacy and governance resources.
- certifications: certification roadmaps, Cisco SCOR, cloud certifications, Kubernetes/CNCF certifications, CompTIA, ISC2, offensive security certification references, and supplemental exam topics.
- build-your-own-lab: lab-building and cyber range resources.
- training-reference: cheat sheets, O'Reilly resources, curated people and projects to follow, and organized tool indexes.
Find resources by topic
Open the domain landing page that matches your goal, then follow its links to tools, labs, scripts and references. Certification material is kept in its own folder, so exam preparation resources are easy to find without mixing into the broader domain material.
The README also names topics such as bug bounties, digital forensics and incident response (DFIR), vulnerability research, exploit development and reverse engineering. Use these terms to guide your search within the folders.
Use it as a study plan for certifications
If you are preparing for an exam, begin in the certifications folder. It groups roadmaps and exam topic references by provider, including Cisco, CompTIA, ISC2 and Kubernetes/CNCF. Pair these with the domain folders to study the underlying material.
Contribute or get in touch
To contribute, read the CONTRIBUTING.md file in the repository. The project is released under the MIT License, described in the LICENSE file. For questions or feedback, the README points to Omar Santos's LinkedIn profile.
What people use it for
- A student building a structured cybersecurity learning path across domains.
- A certification candidate collecting roadmaps and exam topic references.
- An instructor selecting curated material to assign to a class.
- A security learner exploring AI security or cloud and container security resources.
- A lab builder looking for cyber range and lab-building references.
Frequently asked questions
Is h4cker free to use?
h4cker is released under the MIT License, as stated in its README. The LICENSE file in the repository contains the full terms. Check that file before reusing material in your own project.
How do I install h4cker?
The README gives a clone-and-build method and lists one command: git clone https://github.com/The-Art-of-Hacking/h4cker. No prerequisites are listed. Because it is a collection of resources, there is no installer to run.
Is h4cker a tool I can run?
No. The README describes it as a collection of references, scripts, tools, code, labs and training resources. Use it to find and study material rather than as a single program.
What is h4cker good for as a beginner?
It offers a structured starting point through its domain folders, which cover fundamentals and many other topics. Begin with the cybersecurity-domains folder and follow the landing page that matches your goal.
Is h4cker up to date?
The README does not describe a verification process for each linked resource. Check the date and relevance of any tool or reference yourself before relying on it.
How does h4cker compare to Awesome-Security, awesome-hacking or SecLists?
These comparable projects are also curated lists of security resources. h4cker is distinguished by being maintained by Omar Santos and organized into domain, AI, certification and lab folders tied to his books and courses.
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Our verdict
h4cker suits students, certification candidates and instructors who want a large, topic-organized set of cybersecurity references from one maintainer. It is a poor choice if you need a single installable tool or want every linked resource vetted and current, in which case a dedicated tool or a more actively verified list is a better fit.
Install options & downloads