Your Cyber Security Student Toolkit
Undergraduate • Chromebook
Networking, security labs, forensics and programming tools for cyber security students.
Who this toolkit is for
For cyber security students. Everything here is for education, authorised labs and defensive security. You don't need Kali Linux as your main operating system: running it in a virtual machine is common for practicals.
Choose any modules to see the tools for them. Without a module, module tools appear under Specialist / Optional.
On a Chromebook, this shows web apps and Android apps. Many Chromebooks can also run Linux apps; choose Linux to see those.
Use security tools only in authorised labs and on systems you own or have permission to test. You don't need Kali Linux as your main operating system: many courses run it in a virtual machine for practicals.
Notes for Cyber Security students
At college level, the focus is usually on understanding networks and safe computing practice, so packet analysis, virtualisation and a programming language are the priorities. At undergraduate level, modules typically add web application security, digital forensics and security monitoring, which is where the lab tools above come in. Postgraduate and professional-certification study often assumes you already run your own lab; the home lab guide on Aptorise walks through setting one up.
Platform matters more on this course than most. Many security tools are built for Linux first, so most students run Linux in a virtual machine whatever their main computer is. Windows and Intel Macs can run VirtualBox; on Apple Silicon Macs, virtual machines need Arm versions of operating systems, so check that the images your course uses are available for Arm. Some universities provide hosted lab environments, which avoids the problem entirely.
Every tool here is for learning on systems you own or are authorised to test. Scanning, capturing or attacking anything outside your own lab or a course-provided environment can break the law and university rules.
No tools for this combination yet. Try another computer or level.
Course requirements vary. Software requirements differ between schools, colleges, universities and modules. Check your course materials before purchasing software.
Build your student setup
Build My Setup lets you add or remove apps, see why each is included and, where verified packages exist, get one install command. Nothing is installed automatically.