Build a Cybersecurity Home Lab for Under ₹15,000

₹15,000 Cybersecurity Lab

You don't need expensive equipment to start learning. Here's a complete lab setup for under ₹15,000.

Hardware (₹10,000-15,000 total)

• 💻 Used Laptop: i5/i7, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD — ₹8,000-12,000 (olx/refurbished)
• 📡 Alfa WiFi Adapter: AWUS036ACH — ₹2,000
• 🔌 USB Hub: ₹300
• 🔒 USB Rubber Ducky (DigiSpark): ₹200

Software (Free)

# Hypervisor
VirtualBox (free) or VMware Player (free)

# Attacking Machine
Kali Linux (free download)
Parrot Security OS (free alternative)

# Target Machines
Metasploitable 2 (intentionally vulnerable)
DVWA (web vulnerabilities)
VulnHub machines (hundreds of free VMs)
HackTheBox Pwnbox

# Lab Network
Host-Only adapter in VirtualBox = isolated network

Lab Architecture

┌──────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐
│  Kali Linux  │────▶│ Metasploitable│
│  (Attacker)  │     │  (Target)    │
└──────────────┘     └──────────────┘
       │
       │              ┌──────────────┐
       └─────────────▶│   DVWA       │
                      │  (Web Target)│
                      └──────────────┘
All on Host-Only Network (isolated)

Docker-Based Lab (No Disk Space Wasted)

docker run -d -p 80:80 vulnerables/web-dvwa
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 bkimminich/juice-shop
docker run -d -p 8080:8080 webgoat/webgoat

Free Learning Platforms

• 🏆 TryHackMe (free tier)
• 🏆 HackTheBox (free tier)
• 🏆 PortSwigger Academy (free)
• 🏆 PicoCTF (free)
• 🏆 ONLY4YOU courses

🔥 Start learning with our free courses at ONLY4YOU →