50+ beginner-friendly cybersecurity project ideas

Basic Networking & Security Projects:

1. Packet Sniffing with Wireshark – Analyze network traffic.
2. Set Up a Basic Firewall – Use tools like pfSense or UFW.
3. Network Scanning with Nmap – Scan local networks for vulnerabilities.
4. Create a Secure FTP Server – Implement FTP with TLS.
5. Port Scanning – Understand open ports using tools like Angry IP Scanner.
6. SSH Server Setup & Secure Configuration – Implement key-based SSH authentication.
7. DNS Spoofing – Simulate DNS spoofing in a test environment.
8. Network Intrusion Detection System (IDS) – Use Snort or Suricata.

Web Security Projects:

9. Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) Testing – Identify XSS vulnerabilities in a mock website.
10. SQL Injection – Explore SQL injection techniques in a sandbox.
11. Create a Secure Login System – Implement security features like bcrypt for password hashing.
12. Man-in-the-Middle Attack Simulation – Use tools like Ettercap in a lab setup.
13. Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF) Attack – Simulate CSRF attacks and implement protections.
14. Vulnerable Web Application Setup – Build a test application using DVWA (Damn Vulnerable Web App).

Password & Authentication:

15. Password Cracking – Test password strength using John the Ripper or Hashcat.
16. Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) – Implement 2FA for a web application.
17. Password Policy Enforcement – Develop a system to enforce password policies.
18. Brute Force Attack Simulation – Create a system that detects and prevents brute force attacks.

Malware Analysis:

19. Analyze a Simple Malware Sample – Use a virtual machine to reverse-engineer basic malware.
20. Keylogger Development – Create and study keyloggers in a sandbox.
21. Create a Simple Ransomware Simulator – Learn about encryption techniques in a controlled environment.

Ethical Hacking:

22. Penetration Testing of a Virtual Machine – Use tools like Metasploit to test vulnerabilities.
23. Develop a Vulnerability Scanner – Build a simple scanner using Python or Bash.
24. Phishing Simulation – Simulate a phishing attack in a safe test environment.
25. Wireless Network Penetration Testing – Explore WEP/WPA2 vulnerabilities using tools like Aircrack-ng.

Forensics Projects:

26. Disk Imaging and Analysis – Use tools like FTK Imager for disk forensics.
27. Memory Forensics – Analyze memory dumps using Volatility.
28. Log File Analysis – Detect security incidents through log analysis.

Cryptography:

29. Encryption/Decryption App – Build a basic encryption app using AES/RSA.
30. Data Integrity with Hashing – Implement file integrity checking using SHA-256.
31. Steganography – Develop an image steganography tool.

Operating System Security:

32. Secure Linux Server Configuration – Harden a Linux server against attacks.
33. SELinux/AppArmor Implementation – Implement and test SELinux or AppArmor on a Linux machine.
34. Windows Active Directory Hardening – Learn about securing AD environments.
35. Linux File Permission Simulation – Develop and analyze secure file permissions on Linux.

Social Engineering:

36. Social Engineering Attack Simulation – Explore social engineering tactics in a safe lab setup.
37. Password Policy Awareness Campaign – Develop a campaign to raise awareness of strong password usage.
38. Simulated Spear Phishing Attack – Study the impact of spear-phishing on a target group.

Cybersecurity Awareness Projects:

39. Security Awareness Training Program – Create a basic awareness program for non-tech users.
40. Incident Response Simulation – Simulate an incident and create a step-by-step response plan.
41. Design a Phishing Awareness Tool – Build a tool to educate users on phishing attacks.

Cloud Security:

42. Secure AWS S3 Buckets – Configure AWS S3 for secure data storage.
43. Cloud Penetration Testing – Use cloud-based tools to test for vulnerabilities in cloud services.
44. Azure Active Directory Security – Harden Azure AD against common threats.

Mobile Security:

45. Android App Vulnerability Testing – Analyze Android apps for vulnerabilities using tools like Drozer.
46. Mobile Malware Analysis – Test mobile malware in a virtual environment.
47. Develop an Anti-Malware App for Android – Create a simple app to detect threats on Android.

IoT Security:

48. Smart Home Security Simulation – Test the security of smart home devices.
49. IoT Botnet Simulation – Build and study a mock IoT botnet in a controlled environment.
50. Firmware Analysis – Reverse engineer the firmware of an IoT device to identify vulnerabilities.

Bonus Projects:

51. Automated Backup System with Encryption – Develop a backup system that automatically encrypts files.
52. Implement Zero Trust Architecture – Simulate a Zero Trust network model.
53. Security Auditing Tool for Linux – Build a script that checks a Linux system for security misconfigurations.

These projects will help you develop a deeper understanding of key cybersecurity concepts while giving you hands-on experience.