One of the most controversial topics in Tech world is whether or not you need to know how to code to enter into cyber security. By the end of this article, I hope to give you a better understanding of how to answer that question. If you do end up wanting to learn how to code, I’ll also suggest which programming languages to use.
Of course, I’ll give you my hot take on it at the end. But before we do that, drop me a comment and let me know:
Do you currently know how to code? If you are in cyber security, does that help you with your day-to-day tasks?
Understanding the Difference Between Programming and Scripting:
Before answering the main question, it’s important to understand the difference between programming and scripting, as they are very different and that makes a huge difference in what you want to do in cyber security.
Programming:
Programming languages like C, C++, and Rust take a lot more thought and time to develop things. People often learn programming to do things like binary exploitation or work with the Linux kernel. It helps communicate better with computers.
Scripting:
Meanwhile Scripting involves learning how to manipulate tasks or automate them so you don’t have to do them repeatedly. For example, writing a script to automate a task can save you from manually performing the same command a thousand times.
Opinions from Cyber Security Professionals:
Lets hear some insights from cybersecurity’s experts on view Does Cybersecurity Require Programming
EpSec doesn’t think coding is required to get into hacking but believes coding should be required for life, as many professions can benefit from it. He differentiates between programming and scripting, considering scripting to be more about automating tasks and programming as more complex work with languages like C++ and Rust.
Oday agrees that you don’t need to be a programmer to get into hacking. He recommends learning the basics, like using the request library, writing loops, and understanding functions in a couple of languages. Knowing how to Google what you’re looking at is also crucial.
Here’s what i would do if i wanted to start cybersecurity from start:
Learn Bash or PowerShell
Understand how Bash or PowerShell works. Learn functions, loops, data manipulation, and how to pass data between tools.
Pick Up a Good Scripting Language
Python is highly recommended due to its extensive libraries and versatility. It’s useful for making HTTP requests, data manipulation, and even web development.
Learn JavaScript
JavaScript is particularly useful for web hacking and pen testing (penetration test) . It helps you understand how websites work and communicate.
Consider Higher-Level Programming
For more advanced roles like binary exploitation or security research, learning languages like C, Rust, or even PHP can be beneficial.
In the End ,the short answer is that you don’t need to write code at a deep level to get into cyber security, but it helps to understand how things work. Being able to make sense of things, especially in hacking, can prevent you from hitting dead ends and relying too much on others.
Leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Should I make a more in-depth article on different programming languages for cyber security? Also, let me know if this was helpful and whether or not you’re going to pick up a programming language, and which one it is.
And I will see you all in the next Article. Peace.
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