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How difficult is it to learn javascript and get into cybersecurity?
How hard is it to pursue Cybersecurity as a profession if you really want to do it as a career for the rest of your working life?
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6 answers
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Jarrel’s Answer
Cybersecurity is a rewarding but difficult field to get into. I would suggest looking at what technologies interest you and you are good with (cloud, machine language, web technologies, etc.) and honing your skills in that. Cybersecurity is due broad a field to try and cover everything, it's better to get specialized in something.
Then I would look at where you would like to use your skills Blue Team (Defense and Harding systems) or Red Team (Attack to prevent attacks) or maybe a combo.
Then I would build up your skills and networks by joining and participating in hacking events such as capture the flags. Here's a few you can take a look at to get started:
https://nationalcyberleague.org/
https://cp.tc/
https://www.cyberchallenge.net/capture-the-flag/
Then I would look at where you would like to use your skills Blue Team (Defense and Harding systems) or Red Team (Attack to prevent attacks) or maybe a combo.
Then I would build up your skills and networks by joining and participating in hacking events such as capture the flags. Here's a few you can take a look at to get started:
https://nationalcyberleague.org/
https://cp.tc/
https://www.cyberchallenge.net/capture-the-flag/
Edmond Momartin ☁️
Public Cloud Security & Compliance AT&T | MBA InfoSec | OWASP-LA Board
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Edmond’s Answer
If you have technical aptitude, are good in figuring things out and are good in troubleshooting, this is a great career. As Atul pointed out, there's never a dull moment.
If you haven't decided which specific branch of cybersecurity is the best fit for you, I would strongly recommend to start there. Learning any one language, i.e. JavaScript, would not necessarily land you in a cybersecurity job and is not required either. If you have a basic idea of what cybersecurity is, pursue that - YouTube videos are a good start.
If you haven't decided which specific branch of cybersecurity is the best fit for you, I would strongly recommend to start there. Learning any one language, i.e. JavaScript, would not necessarily land you in a cybersecurity job and is not required either. If you have a basic idea of what cybersecurity is, pursue that - YouTube videos are a good start.
Updated
Dinesh’s Answer
legacy javascript is easy because it was structural programming but the latest javascript programming needs knowledge around object-oriented concepts. Now If you get object-oriented concepts then there are many other programming languages like java, c++ etc will become easy for you to learn and use in cybersecurity.
Updated
Atul’s Answer
I spent 10 years in the cybersecurity industry and it is keeps evolving and there is no one dull moment during my last 10 years in this industry before retiring.
If you want challenge and want to make a difference in the world, you can join this industry and keep hackers/crooks or govt hindering/harming innocent citizens.
There is no one language used, you need to be proficient in several languages based on the company and where they specialized.
I suggest learn following not in a priority order.
1) C or C++
2) Python
3) Java
4) HTML
5) GO
6) Assembly (intel)
7) SQL
You do not have to all of them right away but based on where you want to work and what language they use - develop the expertise in that language.
Overall, you cannot go wrong with first 3 languages.
If you want challenge and want to make a difference in the world, you can join this industry and keep hackers/crooks or govt hindering/harming innocent citizens.
There is no one language used, you need to be proficient in several languages based on the company and where they specialized.
I suggest learn following not in a priority order.
1) C or C++
2) Python
3) Java
4) HTML
5) GO
6) Assembly (intel)
7) SQL
You do not have to all of them right away but based on where you want to work and what language they use - develop the expertise in that language.
Overall, you cannot go wrong with first 3 languages.
Updated
Ana’s Answer
I want to point out that Cybersecurity has many facets and, as a student, I didn't realize that until I got into the market/started working in the field. The list below is some of the things that I found out as a professional and some stuff for your to think about it:
- Cybersecurity is way more than its technical side. The general population thinks that its all about hacking/scripting/coding. It is not, there's more to it and I'll leave a link with some of jobs within the field that do not require tons of technical experience/knowledge.
- Instead of asking if javascript is hard, why not just jump into it and try to learn? You will be able to tell for yourself if it is hard or not. Every single person has their own aptitude for things. If it works out and you like it, boom, that's your thing. If it does not, go to the next thing. If I say that javascript is easy to learn, it means nothing to you because your brain is different than mine so your learning process will also be different.
- Is cybersecurity hard to get into? yes, it requires time to study and practice like anything else in life. Companies also want to ensure they are hiring someone they can trust with very sensitive information / systems - this is where soft skills comes in handy and if it does not comes naturally to you it's ok, practice with a friend/family member until you feel confident.
- Do not think that just because you got a degree in a field, you will have to stay in the field until you retire. Many stories out there on people that graduated in one field and is heavily successful in something completely different. I used to work for a company that the CISO had a degree in biochemistry and found out her love/skills in tech/IT when the lab she used to work for needed a database for an experiment and she volunteered to work on that.
- Be open and prepared to fail more than you succeed. It's part of the learning process and some of my manager's favorite things to say is that we need to learn to "fail faster"(as in try as soon as we can so we fail and learn from it).
Good luck choosing a career, but don't think things are set in stone, you can always change your paths!
https://techbootcamps.utexas.edu/blog/cybersecurity-with-non-technical-background/
https://www.javascript.com/
- Cybersecurity is way more than its technical side. The general population thinks that its all about hacking/scripting/coding. It is not, there's more to it and I'll leave a link with some of jobs within the field that do not require tons of technical experience/knowledge.
- Instead of asking if javascript is hard, why not just jump into it and try to learn? You will be able to tell for yourself if it is hard or not. Every single person has their own aptitude for things. If it works out and you like it, boom, that's your thing. If it does not, go to the next thing. If I say that javascript is easy to learn, it means nothing to you because your brain is different than mine so your learning process will also be different.
- Is cybersecurity hard to get into? yes, it requires time to study and practice like anything else in life. Companies also want to ensure they are hiring someone they can trust with very sensitive information / systems - this is where soft skills comes in handy and if it does not comes naturally to you it's ok, practice with a friend/family member until you feel confident.
- Do not think that just because you got a degree in a field, you will have to stay in the field until you retire. Many stories out there on people that graduated in one field and is heavily successful in something completely different. I used to work for a company that the CISO had a degree in biochemistry and found out her love/skills in tech/IT when the lab she used to work for needed a database for an experiment and she volunteered to work on that.
- Be open and prepared to fail more than you succeed. It's part of the learning process and some of my manager's favorite things to say is that we need to learn to "fail faster"(as in try as soon as we can so we fail and learn from it).
Good luck choosing a career, but don't think things are set in stone, you can always change your paths!
Ana recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Nathan’s Answer
Personally. I’ve had an easy time with Java script. Even tough things keep changing snd getting better it gradually changes. But everyone is different.