Ethical Hacking · Cohort 1 finalist
Hamza Hashim
Built Break The Root
Technical highlights
- Built on a custom infrastructure, it currently features 15 live, interactive labs.
- The platform uses a two-phase learning workflow: 1.
- Exploitation: Users launch private lab targets, connect via VPN, and hack the system to retrieve required flags. 2.
In the finalist's own words, from their project submission.
Ethical Hacking project
Break The Root
Most cybersecurity platforms focus exclusively on offensive skills, teaching users how to hack into systems without showing them how to fix the vulnerabilities that enabled the attack. Aspiring cybersecurity professionals, ethical hackers, and system administrators benefit from complete, end-to-end training in both breaking systems and fixing them. Break The Root is a hands-on cybersecurity platform with a simple, distraction-free interface. Built on a custom infrastructure, it currently features 15 live, interactive labs. More labs will be added in the future. The platform uses a two-phase learning workflow: 1. Exploitation: Users launch private lab targets, connect via VPN, and hack the system to retrieve required flags. 2. Remediation: After compromising the target, administrative credentials are revealed. Users log into the machine, apply security patches, and trigger automatic verification checks ("Extra Mile") that confirm the fix works. Break The Root transforms security training from simple hacking into full-cycle remediation, ensuring learners master real-world defensive skills alongside offensive techniques.
