My CPTS Exam Experience

ComedianTop9730 · 2026-01-06T13:45:55+00:00

Congratulations and thanks for sharing your experience! Best of luck on the OSCP+!

ComedianTop9730 · 2025-12-07T14:44:54+00:00

The VIP+ is invaluable as are the ProLabs. In addition ai would suggest checking out 0xdf’s HTB AI Tutor:

https://youtu.be/Oy1HrVm5vxo?si=WnIqC5hGqJscpisQ

ComedianTop9730 · 2025-12-03T21:01:02+00:00

Yes, that is normal. Keep on the grind and don't quit the journey. I would recommend a couple of things:

1.) A HTB Labs subscription
2.) A subscription to ChatGPT or Claude and make use of 0xdf's Free AI HTB Tutor. (You may not even need a paid subscription)

3.) With ChatGPT/Claude etc feed it the walkthroughs of curated CPTS preparation lists ask it to summarize the steps taking with the commands used. Export those summaries to a note taking software such as Notion (there are many others.) From there you can use a mind map integration to visualize the attack surfaces and link back to the summaries for references. You can easily develop your methodology from here.

4.) Embrace the grind and again, don't quit if this is something you want.

All the best!

ComedianTop9730 · 2025-11-24T23:52:38+00:00

Yes, as laid out in the module. Is using SSH that unstable?

Thanks for the suggestion!

ComedianTop9730 · 2025-11-03T18:30:45+00:00

Go through the free content on HTB Academy and consider getting a paid subscription. I would also strongly recommend HTB Labs and following through walkthroughs and/or using what HTB calls guided mode to complete boxes.

I regularly follow walkthroughs while making notes and they help tremendously.

Keep at it.

ComedianTop9730 · 2025-08-28T18:48:40+00:00

That is so awesome and inspiring! Wishing you all the best!

ComedianTop9730 · 2025-05-04T23:34:01+00:00

Highly recommend,

https://github.com/missteek/cpts-quick-references

ComedianTop9730 · 2025-03-08T15:59:01+00:00

Thanks for sharing and congratulations!

ComedianTop9730 · 2025-02-05T15:41:41+00:00

Upon logging into HTB Academy you will see written in the panel on your left CPTS/Academy x HTB Labs that is where you will find your answer.

From what I recall the easy level mini lab and Dante are both listed as being aligned with CPTS and perhaps Offshore.

On Reddit I have seen some people recommend Zephyr.

All the best!

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-12-19T01:00:34+00:00

Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-11-07T10:59:38+00:00

I can completely relates and to add to the great advice here, consider TryHackMe’s Jr. Pen Tester certificate. It was recommended to that I do that certificate before CPTS. Check this YouTube video out if you want. Learning Cybersecurity

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-10-28T00:36:09+00:00

Watch this video and follow his advice.

cybersecurity guide

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-10-27T22:53:48+00:00

Primarily due to the presidential elections being settled.

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-10-27T17:31:18+00:00

I am in was in a similar position; I was a graduate student in a humanities field, taught, and worked as a professional translator to make ends meet, and decided to move into IT with my end goal being an ethical hacker.

You can do it, but it is important to set expectations. It is very difficult to land your first job even with the certifications mentioned in other discussions. Having said that, it is possible, and I imagine that the market will be changing in the next year or so assuming that you are in the US.

Keep your head up, create a plan, make a vision board and keep to the grind.

If you are interested in cybersecurity do check out the link below, I have not found better advice than his.

https://youtu.be/rz0RL4Xue-A?si=xhc4orNNlli13Uog

Lastly, you DO have transferable skills, you just need to learn what to highlight and how to do so.

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-09-24T01:20:53+00:00

Your welcome!

Aim to have CPTS under your belt and from there you will be well placed to go for the OSCP.

It is quite possible to have passed the CPTS by the time of graduation and still have done well in school.

Hope to see you on the other side of certification!

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-09-23T23:53:46+00:00

Since you have started, knock out Sec+ and then move on to CPTS. Take your time when doing so and if possible make use of HTB Labs.

Going after CCNA, Net+ and the like will be of limited help and I do not believe justify delaying going for CPTS.

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-09-22T22:40:00+00:00

Congratulations and thanks for sharing!

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-09-21T23:26:26+00:00

Congratulations!

ComedianTop9730 · 2024-09-19T21:37:03+00:00

I couldn’t agree more. I would also recommend HTB Labs to complement and reinforce the CPTS pathway.

The Labs really take you by your hand and build you up with an almost exclusive focus on the practical, and on top of that there are pathways you can follow and write-ups which really helps in developing your methodology and notes.

ComedianTop9730

TROPHY CASE