Two parts: the Autodidact Academy, our curriculum and study tips, and Career Hacking, for those who have done (some of) it and want a first job in infosec, preferably remote.
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"Only the autodidacts are free." ― Nassim Nicholas Taleb, Antifragile.
Autodidact Academy
Four modules:
From zero, expect roughly 2000 hours: ~1000 CS, ~500 English, ~250 each for the rest. Very unscientific, very rough.
- Assess. Score yourself 1-10 on every module and submodule. Allocate hours to the gaps. "Perfect" isn't expert-level; you need to be conversant, not a world-class cryptanalyst.
- Plan. Fit it around your life. Go slow: six months is our sweet spot (three minimum, twelve maximum). Rushing means shallow learning and burnout.
- Persist. Life will derail you. Adjust, don't quit.
A note on AI. LLMs are now the best tutor you've ever had, and the easiest way to fool yourself. Use them to explain, quiz and critique you. Never to do the learning for you. If you can't explain it without the chatbot, you don't know it yet.
English
Nearly everything in this field is in English. Aim for independent-user level (B2) in reading, writing, listening and speaking.
- Read widely, and look up what you don't know.
- Listen to long-form talks and podcasts, in varied accents: Darknet Diaries, Smashing Security, Lex Fridman.
- Speak by shadowing: repeat speakers in real time. Voice-mode AI makes a patient conversation partner.
- Write, then have an AI assistant proofread and explain your mistakes.
Computer Science
Security is applied CS. Work through Teach Yourself Computer Science: nine topics, ~100 hours each. Skip what you already know.
Code assistants write plausible code and plausible vulnerabilities. Fundamentals are how you spot the difference. Learn one memory-safe language (Rust, Go, Python) and one that isn't (C).
Information Security
Get familiar with the core areas. These MOOCs are free in "audit" mode; budget ~50 hours each, exercises included.
- Foundations of Cybersecurity (Google): key concepts.
- Cryptography (Stanford): often the only reliable tool we have.
- Operating Systems: Overview, Administration & Security (IBM)
- Computer Networks & Network Security (IBM)
Spend the last 50 hours on a topic of your choice. Ideas:
- Cloud Security Basics
- AI & agent security: OWASP GenAI Security, MITRE ATLAS (prompt injection, agent permissions, model supply chain)
- Secure Software Design
- Incident Response & Digital Forensics
- Risk Management
- Post-quantum cryptography
Then get your hands dirty on Hack the Box, Try to Hack me or Cryptohack. The forums and chatrooms are full of fellow lifeforms.
A passion project
Pick something well-defined, interesting, and ideally screen-free. Decoding a different realm makes you better at spotting patterns, and time offline lets the digital stuff sink in. The more you love it, the less it feels like work.
Five books:
- Evan Ratliff - The Mastermind
- Ryan Holiday - Trust Me, I'm Lying
- Alan Watts - The Book
- F Adams & G Laughlin - The Five Ages of the Universe
- Richard Thieme - Mind Games
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"No one should ever work." ― Bob Black, The Abolition of Work.
Career Hacking
Our recommendations for landing a remote, entry-level technical security job. Mostly tested, mostly reliable, not the only path. Make this work for you.
Assumes you've done (some of) the curriculum. Faking it takes a gullible employer and a talent for buzzwords. That's not what we're helping with.
The honest 2026 picture: entry-level is tougher than it was. Automation is eating routine tier-1 triage, and employers want juniors who can show work, not just list certificates. Be the person who uses AI to go faster, and can still tell when it's wrong.
1. Prepare a battle plan
Choose a lane:
- Security Analysts (Seekers): detection, threat hunting, response
- Security Engineers (Makers): cloud, identity, automation, detection engineering
- Penetration Testers (Breakers): including AI/LLM application testing
Search with your google-fu: variants, adjacent terms ("red teaming", "vulnerability assessment"), other languages, and how an employer would word their ad. Build a shortlist of 20 and prioritise:
- Smaller employers. More learning, faster replies, less bureaucracy. Pay and security are lower, but that's not why you came, right?
- Other countries. People are more alert and open when crossing cultures.
- No published vacancy. A spontaneous application dodges toxic competition.
- Security specialists over generalists with a security opening.
- Your timezone. Protect your sleep.
- Salary arbitrage. Apply where your pay would rise yet remain affordable to them, or where wages are lower but the industry is growing. Play with our universal salary calculator.
2. Build proof
This matters more than ever. Public, verifiable work: CTF results, write-ups, a home lab, detection rules, FOSS contributions, a responsibly disclosed bug. A small, finished project beats a long list of courses.
3. Submit strong applications
Send exactly what's asked. No more, no less. Your CV: English, contemporary, PDF, one page, error-free, with a personal touch and links to your proof. Many CVs are now screened by software, so mirror the posting's keywords honestly. Cover letters: a couple of tailored paragraphs, written by you. Recruiters spot generic AI prose instantly.
4. Prepare
Do extensive OSINT on the company and your interviewers. Learn their process and any tests. Rehearse common questions, and sleep well.
5. Interview
- Be on time. Stable connection, quiet room, no motion.
- Listen. Let them lead. Answer precisely: no waste, no withholding.
- Know their business, but not too well. Informed isn't obsessive.
- Speak clearly.
- Be honest but diplomatic. Say "I don't know", then show how you'd find out.
- Expect live exercises, and know their AI-tool policy before you open one.
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How to apply
The mentorship is free, self-paced and open to all. There's no form and no deadline.
- Self-assess. Give yourself a 1-10 score on each of the four modules, and decide roughly how many months you'd like to take.
- Email us at info@greenbridge.gr with a few lines about yourself, your scores, and your timeframe.
- Join the Discord. We'll send you an invitation. All communication is asynchronous.
You're the boss: your pace, your timetable, your progress. We answer questions, help you get organised, and cheer you on.
