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title: My OSCP Journey

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![](https://i.imgur.com/lN9hK3D.png)


# My OSCP Journey

[TOC]

## Introduction
Hello everyone!
In this document I am going to explain how was my journey in the OSCP.

## How did I do on the exam?
The truth is that it went quite well, I was quite comfortable and had no problems with hacking any machine.
I received the email that I passed on June 12, 2021, I got the 100 points (since I hacked the 5 machines) in about 10 hours.

## My preparation

Well I did all the TJNULL list of HackTheBox machines, I only had one rule while making the machines, **MAKE THEM WITHOUT HELP**. I did them without help to get my head used to thinking in such a way to solve problems in such a simple way, that is, to see things where most people don't see things. After this i did all the rooms of the offensive path of tryhackme. After this i bought the proving grounds VIP and i made all the VIP machines from proving grounds, this platform is like a HackTheBox but from Offensive Security, most of the machines are made by them and they are very cool in terms of content, very recommendable, although the web interface is a piece of shit. After this I did the exam.
Also something important to note is that you make a routine of preparation, for example, I have to go to school at 8 am but to be able to hack more I started to wake up at 5 am and I started hacking from 5 am to 7 am. Then I would go to school once, take a shower and have breakfast, then when I got home I would eat something and then I would start doing school work and then hack more machines. I got to stay awake for a long time about 19 hours a day, taking advantage of all possible time.
**NOTE: IF YOU DON'T CONTROL YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE AND HOURS IN FRONT OF THE COMPUTER IT CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR YOUR HEALTH, SO BE CAREFUL.**


## What route did I follow in the exam?
This is a question that I have seen that people ask a lot, I personally opted for what many people opt for, start with the buffer overflow, you may wonder why, the reason is because the BoF is the easiest exam and it is 25 points, that is, 25 points practically given away, it took me about 20 minutes I calculate in doing the BoF. 
The second machine that I decided to hack was the other 25, this one I spent more time, about 4 hours or so I calculate and the truth is that it was pretty cool.
After finishing the BoF and the 25 point machine I went to sleep (I started the exam around 7 PM), woke up around 3 AM or so and continued with the machines. I continued with the 10 to warm up, it was very easy, then I did the 20 and that was it.
That was my machine route:
- 25 pts BoF
- 25 pts box
- 10 pts box
- 20 pts box
- 20 pts box

## Special Note: PWK Labs
Do not spend your time in the OSCP labs, they are not profitable, keep doing hackthebox, tryhackme and proving grounds, I did all the public segment of the lab network (I think about fifty or so machines) out of sheer boredom because I had finished everything and there was a week left for the exam, but do NOT spend your time in these labs if you do not have time to spare.

## Recommendations
- In my opinion the OSCP is not very difficult technically speaking, it is not easy either but it is not as monstrous as it is painted, for this reason the best advice I can give you is not to focus so much on being the one with more technical knowledge and focus on developing a creative thinking that will help you to manage in blocking situations where you are stressed (think outside the box).
- Make notes of everything you learn, but make structured and orderly notes, take care of your notes like your personal hygiene.
- Go to the exam relaxed, this can be overlooked and is very important, it is 24 hours, if you get stressed sleep for a while or clear your head by taking a break. But above all stay calm.
- Hack machines like crazy
- Make a preparation routine
- Learn about manual SQL Injection.
- Take a friend and make the preparation with him/her