Top 10 Vulnerable Websites To Test Your Hacking Skills Legally

10 Vulnerable Websites To Test Your Hacking Skills Legally - bWAPP2, DVWA, Hack The Box, Google Gruyere, WebGoat, Mutillidae, Juice Shop and more.
Top 10 Vulnerable Websites To Test Your Hacking Skills Legally -
1. bWAPP (Buggy Web Application)
2. DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web Application)
3. Hack The Box
4. Google Gruyere
5. WebGoat
6. Mutillidae
7. Juice Shop
8. Hack This Site
9. OverTheWire
10. PentesterLab

Ethical hacking is a valuable skill in today’s digital world. Practicing these skills legally is crucial to avoid any legal trouble. Here are ten websites designed to help you test your hacking skills in a safe and legal environment.
Vulnerable Websites To Test Your Hacking Skills Legally

1. bWAPP (Buggy Web Application)

bWAPP is a free and open-source web application designed to help security enthusiasts and professionals learn about web vulnerabilities. It includes over 100 different vulnerabilities, covering a wide range of security issues. Built using PHP and MySQL, bWAPP is an excellent resource for those looking to understand and practice exploiting common web application vulnerabilities.

Features -
  • Covers OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
  • Includes SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and more
  • Suitable for beginners and advanced users
How to Use - Download bWAPP and set it up on your local server. It provides a safe environment to practice and improve your skills.

2. DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web Application)

DVWA is a PHP/MySQL web application that is intentionally vulnerable. It aims to help security professionals and ethical hackers test their skills and tools in a legal environment. DVWA includes various vulnerabilities such as SQL injection, cross-site scripting (XSS), and command execution, making it a comprehensive tool for learning about web security.

Features -
  • Includes vulnerabilities like brute force, command execution, and CSRF
  • Requires a web server, PHP, and MySQL to run
  • Offers different security levels to adjust the difficulty
How to Use - Install DVWA using XAMPP or any other web server setup. It provides a controlled environment to practice various attacks.

3. Hack The Box

Hack The Box is an online platform that provides a wide range of challenges and vulnerable machines for users to hack. It is a community-driven site where users can learn, practice, and share their knowledge. Hack The Box offers challenges that range from beginner to expert level, making it suitable for all skill levels.

Features -
  • Wide variety of challenges, from beginner to expert level
  • Active community and forums for support
  • Regularly updated with new challenges
How to Use - Sign up on the Hack The Box website and start solving challenges. It is an excellent platform for continuous learning and improvement.

4. Google Gruyere

Google Gruyere is a web application created by Google to teach security concepts. It is intentionally full of vulnerabilities, providing a safe environment for users to learn about web security. The application includes step-by-step tutorials that guide users through various security issues, making it an excellent resource for beginners.

Features -
  • Covers vulnerabilities like XSS, CSRF, and information disclosure
  • Step-by-step tutorials to guide users
  • Suitable for beginners
How to Use - Access Google Gruyere online and follow the tutorials. It provides a structured approach to learning web security.

5. WebGoat

WebGoat is a deliberately insecure web application maintained by OWASP. It is designed to teach web application security lessons through interactive exercises. WebGoat covers a wide range of vulnerabilities, including those listed in the OWASP Top 10, and provides a hands-on approach to learning about web security.

Features -
  • Interactive lessons on various security topics
  • Covers OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
  • Suitable for both beginners and advanced users
How to Use - Download and install WebGoat on your local machine. Follow the lessons to learn about different security issues and how to exploit them.

6. Mutillidae

Mutillidae is a free, open-source web application with numerous vulnerabilities. It is designed to help users learn about web security in a controlled environment. Mutillidae includes tutorials and hints for each vulnerability, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and advanced users.

Features -
  • Covers a wide range of vulnerabilities
  • Includes tutorials and hints for each vulnerability
  • Regularly updated with new challenges
How to Use - Download Mutillidae and set it up on your local server. It provides a safe environment to practice ethical hacking.

7. Juice Shop

Juice Shop is an intentionally insecure web application developed by OWASP. It is designed to teach web security through practical challenges. Juice Shop covers a wide range of vulnerabilities, including those in the OWASP Top 10, and provides a fun and interactive way to learn about web security.

Features -
  • Covers OWASP Top 10 vulnerabilities
  • Includes a wide range of challenges
  • Suitable for all skill levels
How to Use - Access Juice Shop online or set it up locally. It provides a fun and interactive way to learn about web security.

8. Hack This Site

Hack This Site is a free, community-driven website that offers various challenges to test your hacking skills. It is designed for educational purposes and provides a wide range of challenges, from basic to advanced. Hack This Site also has an active community and forums for support.

Features -
  • Wide range of challenges, from basic to advanced
  • Active community and forums for support
  • Regularly updated with new challenges
How to Use - Sign up on the Hack This Site website and start solving challenges. It is a great platform for continuous learning and improvement.

9. OverTheWire

OverTheWire offers a series of war games designed to teach security concepts. These games cover various types of vulnerabilities and provide a structured approach to learning about security. OverTheWire is suitable for users of all skill levels and has an active community for support.

Features -
  • Wide range of challenges, from beginner to expert level
  • Covers various security topics
  • Active community for support
How to Use - Access OverTheWire online and start solving challenges. It provides a structured approach to learning security concepts.

10. PentesterLab

PentesterLab offers a series of exercises and challenges designed to teach web security. It covers a wide range of security topics and provides a hands-on approach to learning. PentesterLab is regularly updated with new content and is suitable for both beginners and advanced users.

Features -
  • Wide range of exercises and challenges
  • Covers various security topics
  • Regularly updated with new content
How to Use - Sign up on the PentesterLab website and start solving exercises. It is an excellent platform for continuous learning and improvement.

Final Thoughts

Practicing ethical hacking skills legally is essential for anyone interested in cybersecurity. These ten websites provide a safe environment to learn and improve your skills. Whether you are a beginner or an advanced user, these resources will help you become a better ethical hacker.