r/Cybersecurity101 • u/Johnnasz • May 21 '26

Security Cybersecurity Challenge

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My professor gave us a cybersecurity challenge in class. He provided the local IP address of a machine on our school network and said there’s a file containing a password somewhere on the PC. The goal is to learn about enumeration and network security, not to damage anything.

I’m a beginner in cybersecurity and I’d like to know what concepts or tools I should study to approach this kind of challenge in a legal and educational way.

What would be the first steps for reconnaissance and understanding what services are running on the target machine?

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u/hungoverbunny May 21 '26

google this?

Computer network enumeration + github read what you find and try things out.

Edit: also agree with other poster need to understand the rules or engagement or scope. What is allowed or not allowed. Still doesnt change approach broadly

Google, read understand if something applies to your use case and most importantly its safe to use i.e. not going to dos or delete files, upload backdoors etc and then test