Who should I follow to learn about Cybersecurity?

If you want to **actually learn cybersecurity**, rather than just follow cybersecurity news, I'd build your feed around a few people/channels that specialize in different areas. ### 🎯 My recommended follows - **John Hammond** - Excellent for CTFs, malware analysis, reverse engineering, and seeing how a security practitioner thinks. - **The Cyber Mentor (Heath Adams)** - Great for ethical hacking, penetration testing, and building practical offensive-security skills. - **IppSec** - Probably one of the best resources for learning penetration testing through Hack The Box walkthroughs. - **Professor Messer** - Excellent if you're starting from zero or studying for **CompTIA Network+ / Security+**. - **NetworkChuck** - Very beginner-friendly for networking, Linux, cloud, and general IT foundations. - **LiveOverflow** - Excellent once you want to go deeper into exploit development, binary exploitation, and CTFs. - **13Cubed** - Particularly good for digital forensics and incident response (DFIR). - **Tanya Janca (SheHacksPurple)** - Fantastic for application security and secure coding. - **David Bombal** - Useful for networking, ethical hacking, and understanding the broader IT/security career landscape. These recommendations line up well with current cybersecurity-learning guides, which particularly highlight Professor Messer and NetworkChuck for fundamentals, John Hammond/IppSec/The Cyber Mentor for offensive security, LiveOverflow for deeper exploitation, and 13Cubed for DFIR. [How to Learn Cybersecurity from YouTube in 2026](https://learnwithpath.com/blog/how-to-learn-cybersecurity-from-youtube?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### 🛡️ Don't just follow individuals I'd also follow OWASP. It's one of the most valuable cybersecurity communities to know, especially for web/application security. OWASP provides free resources, open-source projects, chapters, events, and a global community of security professionals. [OWASP Foundation - The Open Source Foundation for Application Security](https://owasp.org/join-community?utm_source=chatgpt.com) [OWASP Community](https://owasp.org/community?utm_source=chatgpt.com) ### If you're a complete beginner I'd go in this order: **Professor Messer → NetworkChuck → John Hammond → The Cyber Mentor → IppSec → LiveOverflow** Don't try to watch everything. Spend roughly **30% of your time watching/reading and 70% actually practicing** with labs and CTFs. If you tell me whether you're **a complete beginner, IT/networking already, or already doing some cybersecurity**, I can give you a **specific 3–6 month cybersecurity roadmap with exactly who to follow, what to learn, and which labs to do.**

**To learn about cybersecurity, follow thought leaders like Bruce Schneier, Troy Hunt, Brian Krebs, Jen Easterly, and Nicole Perlroth - they consistently shape global conversations on digital security.** These experts combine technical depth with accessible insights, making them excellent guides for both professionals and learners.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) ## 🌐 Key Cybersecurity Experts to Follow Name| Role / Focus| Why Follow Them ---|---|--- **Bruce Schneier**| Cryptographer, Harvard lecturer, prolific author| Offers deep analysis of security, privacy, and governance; his blog _Schneier on Security_ is widely respected.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) **Troy Hunt**| Founder of _Have I Been Pwned_| Practical insights on data breaches and password security; strong educator.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) **Brian Krebs**| Investigative journalist, _Krebs on Security_| Breaks major cybercrime stories; excellent for staying ahead of threats.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) **Jen Easterly**| Director, U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)| Policy-level perspective on national cybersecurity defense.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) **Nicole Perlroth**| Journalist, author of _This Is How They Tell Me the World Ends_| Explains complex cyber issues for general audiences.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) **Eva Galperin**| Director of Cybersecurity, EFF| Advocate for digital rights and protection against surveillance.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) **Mikko Hyppönen**| Chief Research Officer, WithSecure| Known for malware research and clear communication on threats.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) **Rachel Tobac**| Social engineering expert| Shares practical lessons on human risk and phishing defense.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) **Chuck Brooks**| Georgetown professor, Forbes contributor| Bridges cybersecurity, public policy, and emerging tech.[16 Top Cybersecurity Influencers to Follow in 2026](https://www.acecloudhosting.com/blog/top-cybersecurity-influencers/) **Keren Elazari**| Security analyst, TED speaker| Promotes ethical hacking as a force for good.[Top 10: Cybersecurity Influencers | Cyber Magazine](https://cybermagazine.com/top10/top-10-cybersecurity-influencers) ## 📌 How to Engage With Them * **Blogs & Newsletters**: Schneier, Krebs, and Daniel Miessler publish regular, digestible updates. * **LinkedIn & Twitter/X**: Many, like Matthew Rosenquist and Shira Rubinoff, share thought leadership and community discussions.[Top 10: Cybersecurity Influencers | Cyber Magazine](https://cybermagazine.com/top10/top-10-cybersecurity-influencers) * **Talks & Podcasts**: Keren Elazari’s TED talk and Patrick Gray’s _Risky Business_ podcast are excellent entry points.[Top Cybersecurity Leaders of 2026 | The Industry Leaders](https://www.theindustryleaders.org/leaders/top-25-cybersecurity-leaders-2026) * **Policy & Advocacy**: Following Jen Easterly and Eva Galperin helps you understand the intersection of cybersecurity with government and civil rights. ## ⚠️ Risks & Considerations * **Hype vs. Reality**: Some influencers focus on sensational breaches; balance this with technical voices like Hyppönen or Alperovitch. * **Bias & Perspective**: Journalists (Perlroth, Krebs) emphasize storytelling, while CISOs (Temi Adebambo, Jameeka Green Aaron) stress operational resilience.[50 CISOs and Cybersecurity Leaders Making an Impact in 2026](https://secureframe.com/blog/cybersecurity-leaders-2026) * **Global Context**: Cybersecurity threats vary by region - following leaders like Paul Jackson (APAC) or Clement Arul (Asia-Pacific) broadens perspective.[Most influential people in cyber security 2026 - the independent list](https://cybersecurityawards.com/best/cyber-security-influencers/) 👉 If you’re just starting, I’d recommend **Bruce Schneier for foundational thinking, Troy Hunt for practical security, and Brian Krebs for real-world threat awareness.** Would you like me to curate a **beginner-friendly “follow list”** with direct links to their blogs, LinkedIn, and Twitter handles so you can start engaging right away?

To learn about cybersecurity effectively, following the right industry experts, researchers, educators, and content creators can provide you with up-to-date threat intelligence, career advice, and deep technical insights. Depending on whether you prefer practical hacking, high-level policy, news, or career guidance, here is a categorized list of top people and resources to follow: ### 1\. Hands-On Hacking & Technical Skills (Offensive/Defensive) * **John Strand (Black Hills Information Security):** Excellent for beginners and pros alike. He offers incredible, free training resources, practical breakdown of security concepts, and active community engagement. * **NetworkChuck (Chuck Brooks):** Highly energetic creator on YouTube who provides engaging, step-by-step guides for beginners breaking into IT, Linux, networking, and ethical hacking. * **IppSec:** A staple for anyone interested in penetration testing. His walkthroughs of platforms like Hack The Box teach methodology, thought processes, and technical troubleshooting. * **LiveOverflow:** Great for understanding the under-the-hood mechanics of binary exploitation, reverse engineering, and how software vulnerabilities actually work. ### 2\. Industry News, Research & Threat Intelligence * **Brian Krebs (_Krebs on Security_):** An investigative journalist who breaks major cybercrime stories, corporate data breaches, and international hacking rings. Essential reading for understanding real-world threats. * **Kevin Mitnick (Legacy/Inspirational) & Graham Cluley:** Graham Cluley is a veteran cybersecurity analyst and podcaster who breaks down complex security news into understandable, engaging insights. * **Bruce Schneier:** A renowned cryptographer, public policy expert, and security technologist. His blog and books focus on the intersection of security, technology, and society. * **The CyberWire / Dave Bittner:** Excellent daily/weekly podcast network providing concise, objective roundups of global cyber threats, intelligence, and national security updates. ### 3\. Career Advice & Transitioning into the Field * **Networkers & Mentors on LinkedIn/YouTube (like Josh Madakor or Tyler Ramsbey):** They frequently publish roadmaps, portfolio ideas, and realistic guides on navigating certifications (like CompTIA Security+, OSCP) and breaking past HR filters. ### Alternative Free Ways to Start Learning Right Now If you are looking to move past passive observation into active learning, consider utilizing structured, hands-on platforms: * **TryHackMe & Hack The Box:** Gamified, interactive labs ranging from absolute beginner fundamentals to advanced penetration testing. * **Professor Messer:** Completely free, comprehensive YouTube video training courses for foundational certs like CompTIA Security+, Network+, and A+. Are you looking to learn cybersecurity from scratch for a career change, or are you focused on a specific area like ethical hacking, cloud security, or defense?

Learning cybersecurity is a journey best tailored to what part of the field excites you - whether that’s hands-on hacking, high-level threat intelligence, policy, or foundational security. Here are top experts, researchers, and educators to follow across platforms (primarily X/Twitter, LinkedIn, and their respective blogs/podcasts): * * ** _Brian Krebs_** _Brian Krebs_ is an investigative journalist [_Brian Krebs_] who runs Krebs on Security. He is legendary for deep-dive, hard-hitting investigations into cybercrime syndicates and major data breaches [_Brian Krebs_]. * ** _Troy Hunt_** _Troy Hunt_ is the creator of the massive breach-notification database Have I Been Pwned and a prolific security educator [_Troy Hunt_] known for making application security and data privacy easy to understand. * ** _Mikko Hyppönen_** _Mikko Hyppönen_ is a Chief Research Officer with decades of experience tracking global malware and cybercrime [_Mikko Hyppönen_]. He’s famous for distilling complex technical and geopolitical risks into clear, engaging insights [_Mikko Hyppönen_]. * ** _Bruce Schneier_** [Bruce Schneier](https://prnews.io/blog/top-cybersecurity-blogs.html) is an internationally renowned security technologist, lecturer at Harvard [_Bruce Schneier_], and author who writes brilliantly on the intersection of security technology, psychology, and public policy. * ** _Graham Cluley_** _Graham Cluley _ is an independent security analyst, podcaster (_Smashing Security_), and public speaker [_Graham Cluley_] who has been breaking down industry news and malware threats since the early 1990s [_Graham Cluley_]. * ** _Andy Greenberg_** Andy Greenberg is a senior writer for WIRED [_Andy Greenberg_] and author of _Tracers in the Dark_ [_Andy Greenberg_]. He provides some of the best narrative and investigative journalism covering hacker culture, privacy, and cryptocurrency tracing [_Andy Greenberg_]. * ** _Daniel Miessler_** _Daniel Miessler_ is a seasoned cybersecurity expert [_Daniel Miessler _] who writes exceptional guides, analysis, and a widely read weekly newsletter (_Unsupervised Learning_) [_Daniel Miessler _] that bridges technical infosec and broader tech trends. * ** _John Strand_** _John Strand _ is a top penetration tester [_John Strand_] and educator who runs Black Hills Information Security [_John Strand_]. He is fantastic for practical, tactical security training advice, webcasts, and community engagement [_John Strand_]. * To help narrow this down, what specific area of cybersecurity are you most interested in focusing on right now? * * **Hands-on technical skills** (ethical hacking, blue teaming, malware analysis) * **High-level news, threat intelligence, and breaches** * **Governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) or career advice** * Show less