Videos are ideal for presenting complex information quickly, and they can play a central role in a college student’s education.
While it’s true that cybersecurity students typically have a great deal of printed material to read through, from textbooks to case studies to research journals, some information they need to absorb is best presented in video format.
A great way to discover multiple perspectives from a diverse group of people involved in cybersecurity is to visit their YouTube channels and view their videos on a regular basis. Not only are the good channels quite informative, they also often cover timely topics and can be fun and exciting to view as a supplement to your regular course load.
- The PCSecurity
With a reach of 197k subscribers to date, The PCSecurity channel has been on YouTube since 2011 with updates on antivirus and cybersecurity tests and offering product reviews and news of current events. You’ll also find tutorials and guides, from enterprise and business security evaluations to analysis and testing of Endpoint security, including a popular video on “How to Decrypt Ransomware: A Full Guide.” Playlists for this channel include Windows Security, Antivirus/Anti-malware tests, and Cybersecurity Myths Explained.
2. Kaspersky
Kapersky, a security solutions vendor, launched its YouTube channel in 2006 and has over 80k subscribers, offering news on how to protect against major information technology security threats, ranging from spam and phishing expeditions to hackers deploying viruses and spyware. Students visit Kapersky to learn the basics of internet safety, including a better understanding of threats posed by the dark web, bitcoin, and adware. The channel’s Business Matters playlist includes videos explaining cybersecurity requirements to corporate executives, while its Enterprise Security playlist focuses on topics such as managed detection and response.
3. Security Now
The Security Now channel has amassed 47k subscribers since it went live on YouTube in 2012. It’s the brainchild of Steve Gibson, who came up with the term “spyware” and who is the developer of the world’s first anti-spyware application. Gibson records live videos for his channel every Tuesday afternoon. Popular topics include Bluetooth fingerprinting, Widows 10 privacy tradeoffs, and how criminals are resorting to SIM jacking as they menace smartphone owners. Subscribers to this channel can count on seeing regular coverage of botnets, problems with anonymity on the internet, and ransomware updates.
4. Security Weekly
Security Weekly became a YouTube channel in 2014 and does not reveal its number of subscribers or how many views its videos receive. But view counts aren’t the only measure of a channel’s usefulness. Subscribers can find a wealth of interesting offerings, such as a live tutorial on building a PC. It features weekly updates on topics including enterprise security, application security, and security compliance issues. You can also anticipate ongoing coverage of major events, such as RSAC 2021, InfoSec World, Secure World, and BlackHat meetings.
5. LiveOverflow
A YouTube channel since 2015 and boasting 675k subscribers to date, LiveOverflow bills itself as a video provider from a “wannabe hacker” who covers IT security topics as well as coverage of participation in hacking competitions. For example, subscribers see topics such as “Hacking into Google’s Network for $133,337,” remote debugging of ARM chips, writing simple programs in Python, and installing Linux systems. One popular feature on this channel is the LiveOverflow web hacking series, which includes 10-minute videos covering HTTP protocol, PHP and XSS, and JavaScript.
6. 13Cubed
Over 30k people have subscribed to the 13Cubed channel since joining YouTube in 2006. A side project created by Richard Davis, 13Cubedprovides new videos at least once per month on Mondays. Davis covers penetration testing, incident response, and digital forensics. Some recent presentations featured user access logging forensics, an introduction to Windows forensics, and memory analysis. If you are curious about how to mount VHD/VHDX images in Linux or are interested in assembly language, this is an ideal YouTube channel to subscribe to.
7. Computerphile
The Computerphile channel went online on YouTube in 2009 and is now viewed by more than 2M subscribers who are interested in all things having to do with computers. A widely viewed video covers cracking the World War 2 era Enigma cipher and how its security approach holds up to a modern laptop. Viewers are treated to such topics as running an SQL injection attack, how to crack passwords, and difficulties dealing with time zones. With computation and mathematical theory part and parcel of computer programming, this channel routinely offers videos on subjects such as random numbers and encryption schemes using very large numbers.
8. The Hacker Stuff
Since becoming a YouTube channel in 2015, The Hacker Stuff now has 18.7k subscribers, attracting individuals who want to know more about such topics as ethical hacking, android tips, PC insights, information about Linux tutorials, and a whole range of technical issues. Popular videos showcase processes such as how to use a guest account to gain administrative access to a system, the top hacking tools used by criminal hackers, and how to hide your private files. People interested in penetration testing and tools to test websites for various vulnerabilities will want to subscribe to The Hacker Stuff.
9. HackerSpoilt
YouTube’s HackerSpoilt channel went live in 2015 and now has 628k subscribers who want to stay current on information security and cybersecurity training. Viewers will see how to defend (and attack) systems using virtual laboratories with “real-world scenarios.” An excellent place to start is with the channel’s Penetration Testing Bootcamp playlist. You’ll also find value in its Red Team Tutorials, which cover adversary emulation and exploitation techniques against Windows and Linux systems. You may come for the malware analysis videos but stay to watch all the ethical hacking topics.
10. Webroot
Webroot joined YouTube in 2008 and has garnered 4.79k subscribers to date. It is the product of a company that supports businesses with a cloud-based data security system. One of its more recent series is a three-part offering on ransomware, showing how companies and individuals can protect themselves against this latest hacker scourge. Its Industry Intel playlist covers news on emerging threats and events, ranging from Black Hat info to International Women’s Day. From an overview of which states in the U.S. are the riskiest in terms of cybercrime to an explanation about WiFi security using virtual private networks, Webroot is a YouTube channel that cybersecurity students will want to subscribe to stay up to date on the industry.
Expand Your University Studies with Cybersecurity-Focused YouTube Channels
There is no single best cybersecurity YouTube channel since each student will have different interests, backgrounds, and career goals. But each of these ten channels is a useful and enjoyable resource that you’ll want to consider checking out and subscribing to today.
They will provide context and a good overview of current events in online security, which will be immensely beneficial when you are enrolled in Lewis University’s cybersecurity master’s program.