Beginner’s Guide to Ethical Hacking: Review of Joseph Delgadillo’s Udemy Course

Are you fascinated by the world of cybersecurity but don’t know where to begin? Want to learn how to protect systems by understanding how hackers think? If you’re a complete beginner looking to break into ethical hacking, Joseph Delgadillo’s popular course on Udemy, “The Complete Ethical Hacking Course,” might just be your perfect starting point.

In this review, we take a deep dive into what the course offers, who it’s for, and whether it’s worth your time and money in 2024.

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What Is The Complete Ethical Hacking Course?

“The Complete Ethical Hacking Course” is a beginner-friendly cybersecurity course on Udemy, created by Joseph Delgadillo. It teaches the fundamentals of ethical hacking, covering core concepts such as reconnaissance, scanning, network exploitation, and social engineering.

With more than 19 hours of in-depth video lectures, the course walks you through practical, hands-on demonstrations using real-world tools like:

• Nmap
• Wireshark
• Burp Suite
• Maltego
• FOCA
• Recon-ng

This course focuses on showing how hackers operate so that you can better defend against them. No prior coding or cybersecurity knowledge is required, making it a go-to option for beginners interested in ethical hacking for beginners online.

What You’ll Learn

Here’s a quick breakdown of some of the course modules:

• How to gather data from public sources (reconnaissance)
• Scanning networks for open ports and vulnerabilities
• Exploring man-in-the-middle attacks and network sniffing
• Exploiting vulnerable systems (both Linux and Windows)
• Web application attacks and how to test for them
• Basics of social engineering and email exploits

The course is entirely video-based with additional downloadable resources to practice alongside. It’s self-paced, so you can move through the material at your own speed.

Who Is This Course For?

This course is aimed at:

• Beginners with little-to-no knowledge of cybersecurity
• Aspiring ethical hackers looking for an introduction to tools
• IT pros wanting to expand into network defense

However, advanced users or those already familiar with penetration testing may find it a bit light.

Pros and Cons

Let’s look at the strengths and weaknesses of this ethical hacking beginner course.

✅ Pros

• Beginner-friendly format and explanations
• Lifetime access to all content
• Teaches real-world tools used in the industry
• Includes examples of both offensive and defensive strategies
• Frequent Udemy discounts slash the price significantly

❌ Cons

• Shallow coverage on advanced penetration testing
• Some tools covered may be outdated in a fast-evolving cybersecurity field
• Learners may need to supplement with more in-depth resources

A user on Udemy said, “It’s the best course if you have no experience in hacking. Covers a lot of topics. The instructor explains the concept very clearly.” But others noted it could go deeper on technical skills for more experienced students.

How It Compares to Alternatives

When compared to courses like Zaid Sabih’s “Learn Ethical Hacking From Scratch” or Ramsai Dupati’s “Zero to Hero” bootcamp, Joseph Delgadillo’s course stands out for its beginner accessibility.

While Zaid’s materials may be more comprehensive and updated for 2025, Delgadillo’s course is a great intro for someone not quite ready to dive into certifications or complex scripts.

(Sources: Udemy.com course descriptions)

Price & Value

The listed price for this course is approximately $84.99 on Udemy, but it’s almost always on sale for under $20. That makes it an exceptional value for those just starting out.

With lifetime access, downloadable materials, and future updates included, the course pays for itself after just a couple hours of learning.

Still, keep in mind this is an intro-level course. As your skills progress, you may need to invest in more comprehensive training or certifications like CompTIA Security+ or CEH (Certified Ethical Hacker).

What the Reviews Say

Most users applaud the course’s structured progression and real-world tool demonstrations. However, advanced students sometimes feel it lacks depth.

“I feel disappointed… the topics were only touched very lightly.”

But another said:

“This course gave me the confidence to start applying for entry-level cybersecurity jobs.”

The course’s real strength is giving you an accessible introduction. Think of it as your first ethical hacking bootcamp — not your last.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

For under $20, “The Complete Ethical Hacking Course” is a valuable gateway into cybersecurity. It simplifies complex topics and teaches you real tools without drowning you in theory. If you’re a complete beginner or just curious about hacking ethically, this is a perfect starter course.

However, if you’re already familiar with IP scanning, Metasploit, and network security frameworks, you might want something more advanced.

💡 Verdict: Recommended for beginners looking to learn ethical hacking in 2024.

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Ready to start your ethical hacking journey?

Bonus: Tips for Success in Ethical Hacking

Before wrapping up, here are a few tips to get the most value from this (or any) ethical hacking course:

• Set up a lab environment (e.g., with VirtualBox or Kali Linux)
• Follow along with the demonstrations, don’t just watch
• Join ethical hacking forums like r/netsec or Stack Overflow
• Use free tools like Hack The Box or TryHackMe to practice
• Build a small portfolio or blog to showcase your skills

Learning cybersecurity takes time and practice, but this course helps you take that critical first step. As cybersecurity jobs continue to rise — with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicting 35% growth from 2021–2031 — now’s the best time to get involved.

(Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Cybersecurity Outlook 2023)

Good luck and happy hacking — ethically, of course.