Multiple Paths to the Top

Every activity on HackerDNA contributes to your score. Choose your path and start earning.

How HackerDNA Works

Learning cybersecurity through practice

HackerDNA is a hands-on cybersecurity platform where you develop real hacking skills through practical challenges. You'll work on vulnerable systems called labs, where your goal is to find hidden "flags" (text strings that prove you successfully exploited a vulnerability).

Practice with Real Systems

Each lab simulates a real-world scenario. You'll apply techniques like web exploitation, privilege escalation, network penetration, and more to find vulnerabilities and capture flags.

Track Your Progress with Points

Points measure your achievements. Every flag you capture, every challenge you solve, and every course you complete earns you points. Harder tasks give more points, reflecting the skill required.

Compete on the Leaderboard

Your total points determine your ranking among all users worldwide. The leaderboard creates healthy competition and gives you a clear benchmark of your progress in the cybersecurity field.

Build Real Skills

Points aren't just numbers. They represent skills you've mastered. Each point earned means a vulnerability exploited, a concept understood, or a technique applied successfully.

🎯 Bottom Line: Hack labs, capture flags, earn points, climb rankings, and build genuine cybersecurity expertise.

Hacking Labs & Challenges

Complete labs and find flags to earn points

Very Easy
5 pts per flag
Up to 10 pts
Easy
10 pts per flag
Up to 20 pts
Medium
20 pts per flag
Up to 40 pts
Hard
35 pts per flag
Up to 70 pts
Challenge
5 pts per flag
Up to 10 pts
Pro Tip: Labs may have user flags, root flags, or both. Each flag found earns points based on the difficulty level!

First Blood Bonus

Be the first to pwn new releases

Race against time! The first hacker to find each flag on a newly released lab earns a 40% bonus of the base flag value.

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Challenge
+2 pts per flag
Up to +4 pts both
🥉
Very Easy
+2 pts per flag
Up to +4 pts both
🥈
Easy
+4 pts per flag
Up to +8 pts both
🥇
Medium
+8 pts per flag
Up to +16 pts both
💎
Hard
+14 pts per flag
Up to +28 pts both
Race Against Time! Check Next Releases to know when new labs drop!

Hacking Courses

Deepen your knowledge, earn points

Complete course chapters to build comprehensive understanding of cybersecurity concepts. Each chapter completion adds to your score!

Per Chapter Completed
+1 pt
Learn & Earn: Every chapter completed earns 1 point. Complete all chapters in a course to maximize your learning!

Compete & Climb the Rankings

Your ranking is determined by your total points. Updated hourly to reflect real-time progress.

How Rankings Work

Your global ranking is determined by your total points compared to all other users. The more you hack, the higher you climb. Rankings update every hour to reflect the latest standings.

Rank Progression

As you accumulate points, you'll progress through skill ranks. Each rank uses a quadratic progression system, making higher ranks progressively harder and more prestigious to achieve.

User Rankings

Individual leaderboard - compete against hackers worldwide

View Leaderboard

Country Rankings

Represent your nation - collective points and achievements

View Countries

University Rankings

Battle for your school - academic cybersecurity competition

View Universities

Pro Tips to Accelerate Your Climb

Learn from top-ranked hackers and optimize your path to the leaderboard.

1

Stay Consistent

Build a daily practice routine. Regular engagement maintains your streak and keeps skills sharp. Even 30 minutes a day compounds over time.

2

Hunt First Bloods

Check Next Releases to know when new labs drop. Set reminders and be ready to race - first blood bonuses add up fast.

3

Write Writeups

Document your solutions after completing labs. Teaching others reinforces your learning, builds your reputation, and earns you points!

4

Balance Theory & Practice

Don't just hack labs - complete courses too. Understanding the theory behind attacks makes you a better hacker and earns steady points.

5

Progressively Harder

Master one difficulty level before moving up. Medium and Hard labs offer more points, but rushing them wastes time. Build systematically.

6

Quick Challenge Wins

Challenges are fast solves with instant gratification. Perfect for maintaining momentum when you're short on time.

Ready to Dominate the Leaderboard?

Every flag found, every challenge solved, every course completed brings you closer to the top. Start your journey today.