Hey everyone,

I’ve got a bit of a situation and wanted some honest opinions.

I have an opportunity to get the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification done for free through someone I know. So cost isn’t a factor at all here.

My question is — is it actually worth doing in 2026?

I’ve seen mixed opinions online. Some people say CEH is outdated and mostly theory-based, while others say it still helps for HR filtering and getting interviews. I’m mainly interested in cybersecurity (still building skills/projects), and I’m trying to figure out if this will genuinely help or if it’s just a “checkbox” cert.

So I’d love to hear from people in the field:

• Does CEH still have value in terms of job opportunities or internships?

• Is it respected by recruiters or just something nice to have on a resume?

• If it’s free, is there any downside to doing it?

• Would you prioritize something else instead (like OSCP, eJPT, or hands-on labs)?

Basically: If you could get CEH for free, would you do it? Why or why not?

Appreciate any insights 🙏

So I just got offered a chance to take the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) exam for free, and I’m wondering what to expect.

For context, I currently hold Security+ and eJPT, I’ve gone through Network+ materials, and I have a Computer Science degree. I’m mostly familiar with basic networking, pentesting fundamentals, and general cybersecurity concepts.

I’ve seen mixed reviews about CEH, some people say it’s super easy and outdated, others say it was surprisingly tough. I’m only planning to take the MCQ (multiple-choice) version, not the practical one.

So, for anyone who’s taken it recently:

• How hard is it compared to Sec+ or eJPT?

• Are the questions more about tools and theory, or actual technical understanding?

• Any recommended prep resources (if I don’t want to overstudy)?

Appreciate any insights from folks who’ve taken it lately. Just trying to gauge whether it’s worth putting serious time into, or if I can just brush up on key topics and go for it.

Hey everyone,

I’ve got a bit of a situation and wanted some honest opinions.

I have an opportunity to get the CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) certification done for free through someone I know. So cost isn’t a factor at all here.

My question is — is it actually worth doing in 2026?

I’ve seen mixed opinions online. Some people say CEH is outdated and mostly theory-based, while others say it still helps for HR filtering and getting interviews. I’m mainly interested in cybersecurity (still building skills/projects), and I’m trying to figure out if this will genuinely help or if it’s just a “checkbox” cert.

So I’d love to hear from people in the field:

• Does CEH still have value in terms of job opportunities or internships?

• Is it respected by recruiters or just something nice to have on a resume?

• If it’s free, is there any downside to doing it?

• Would you prioritize something else instead (like OSCP, eJPT, or hands-on labs)?

Basically: If you could get CEH for free, would you do it? Why or why not?

Appreciate any insights 🙏

The title basically says it all. Is there any good free ethical hacking course?

Hey guys,

I’ve been looking for a cybersecurity/ethical hacking course, I’m currently doing Fortinet NSE but want to do ethical hacking.

What’s the best course? There’s so many so I’m not sure, I saw E-Council could be best but idk? Can anyone give me some information on witch course and certificate/institute could land me an actual job??

I am 16 years old and am looking into going to college and majoring in Computer Science and minoring in cybersecurity. Do you think learning and getting my certification now would be a good option? If so where should I learn? Online, in person? etc.

Would appreciate your responses regarding a good CEH course.

Thanks in advance.....

Hello, I am 16 and I'm writing here because I want to start learning hacking. I have a little experience with IT, but I will do my best to improve and learn new things. My question is: if I get the right skills to become an hacker, then which exams I have to take to improve my curriculum as a worker? I know certificates don't determine if you are good or bad, but i think they are essential to get hired. If you don't have certifications, what do you write on your curriculum?

Sorry for the bad grammar, I'm not that good at english. Thanks to anyone who will answer :)

Pretty much explained in the title. I need to get CEH by October of this year. Could it be done? Are there any learning resources you would recommend?

Hi guys, I'm 24 and I am a software engineering student. unfortunately I'm in the sixth year of a course that would have to end in three years. I'm locked up and can not get up, I'm getting Cisco CCNA certification but what I really am passionate about is Ethical Hacking. so I thought maybe following a course and getting a good certification in this field that could even allow me to work could give a shock to my life. so I ask you, what is the best course with consequent certification? I'm looking for a course that gives me training starting from the basics but then deepens the arguments. I look for a recognized certification (especially in Europe). I hope you can give me a hand, for me it's not just a course, it should be a turning point. Also, it should not be too overpriced! I hope you can help me, not just sponsoring your product. I know I'll get mixed responses and I'll be even more confused :(

Hey everyone, I’ve recently become really interested in ethical hacking and want to make good use of my free time to dive into it. I’m currently a student and don’t have a lot of experience in cybersecurity, but the idea of learning how to ethically hack and secure systems fascinates me. I’m looking for a roadmap to get started — which free online courses (with or without certificates) should I begin with? Also, what programming languages would be the most useful to learn for this field?

I don’t have a lot of guidance, so any advice on where to start or free resources would be super helpful. I’d love to hear from those of you who’ve been through this journey or know the best way to break into this world.

Hi guys,

Any other free certs apart from the ISC2 CC exam?

I have recently passed this exam and now looking to complete another. Anyone know of any other free certs floating about?

Many thanks

Im currently following a degree in cybersecurity. We have a subject called ethical hacking. When i searched about the CEH in my university it is a 5 day training program but its costly. The exam contains 125 mcqs. Will it really help me become a hacker?

I’ve been going deeper into ethical hacking over the past year, mostly in my own lab environments and through CTFs, and while the hands-on part is exciting, I keep seeing debates around certifications in the infosec world.

CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker) from EC-Council seems to get mixed reviews. Some people say it’s outdated and overpriced, while others claim it’s still useful for getting past HR filters or landing an initial role. I’m not aiming to become a clipboard-certified "pen tester" only, I actually want to build real skills that translate to practical work.

So I’m curious to hear from others here:

• If you've taken CEH, OSCP, or any other cert, did you find it practically useful?

• Do you think CEH still holds weight in hiring, or are there better ways to demonstrate competence?

• Is there value in studying CEH material just for foundational theory, even if not going for the cert?

Not trying to start a cert war, just genuinely wondering how others in the hacking/security space see these certifications in 2025. For context, I’ve looked through EC-Council’s website, and while the marketing is strong, I’m not sure how much of it translates to real-world capability.

I'm looking to get some training on something, and the CEH looks pretty interesting, but I don't want it if it's too basic or a waste of time.