ACADEMY
Learn by breaching. Real Linux commands, real tools and real CVEs, inside a simulation where mistakes cost nothing.
// WHY IT TEACHES
NOT AN AUTOHACKER. A TRAINING GROUND.
Most hacking games hide the work behind a progress bar. NODE: PROTOCOL hands you a real terminal. The Linux commands, including pipes, behave exactly like the real ones, and the vulnerabilities you exploit are real, published CVEs.
That means the habits you build while playing, reading logs, chaining commands and thinking like an attacker, carry over to a real machine.
// SKILL TRACKS
WHAT YOU LEARN
Linux command line
Navigate file systems, read logs, chain commands with pipes and work like a sysadmin. The syntax is the real thing, so it carries straight over to any Linux machine.
Networking & recon
Learn how hosts, ports and services fit together, map networks and understand why reconnaissance comes before everything else.
Vulnerabilities & CVEs
See how real, published vulnerabilities are researched and matched to the software they affect, across 72 real CVEs.
Operating systems
Windows 7 and 10, FreeBSD, Debian-based Linux, CentOS, AIX and iOS, plus banking and ATM shells: see how differently real infrastructure behaves.
OPSEC & forensics
Every action leaves a trace and investigators follow it. You learn what logs record and why defenders rely on them.
Red team concepts
Command-and-control, phishing awareness and botnets, explained through gameplay so you understand how attacks are organized.
Mobile & SIGINT
Why cell networks, SIM cards and SMS-based MFA are weak points, and what that means for protecting your own accounts.
OSINT & social engineering
How public information and human trust become part of an attack surface, and how to recognize it.
// BUILT-IN GUIDANCE
LEARNING INSIDE THE GAME
Operator Manual
An in-game manual documents the tools you use: what they do, how they work and when to use them. You learn the concept, not just the button.
Guidance from Vane
Your handler walks you through your first breach and keeps guiding you, so you can start with zero Linux or security experience.
Safe to fail
Everything happens inside a simulated network. Mistakes cost you in-game heat, not a real-world incident, so you can experiment freely.
// INDUSTRY FRAMEWORK
MAPPED TO MITRE ATT&CK
MITRE ATT&CK is the framework security teams use to describe attacker behavior. These are the tactics you experience in the game.
| ID | TACTIC | IN NODE: PROTOCOL |
|---|---|---|
| TA0043 | Reconnaissance | Mapping domains, hosts and services before a job |
| TA0042 | Resource Development | Building infrastructure: servers, botnets, safehouses |
| TA0001 | Initial Access | Getting a first foothold through a known vulnerability |
| TA0004 | Privilege Escalation | Going from a user account to full control of a system |
| TA0005 | Defense Evasion | Managing your trace and the logs you leave behind |
| TA0006 | Credential Access | Passwords, keys and wallets as targets |
| TA0008 | Lateral Movement | Pivoting through LANs from one host to the next |
| TA0011 | Command and Control | Running operations through a C2 framework |
| TA0010 | Exfiltration | Mission objectives built around stolen data |
| TA0040 | Impact | DDoS and world-state consequences of your actions |
// CAREER PATHS
FROM GAME TO CAREER
The game builds familiarity with real tools, Linux and attacker thinking. It is not a certification, but it gives you a head start on the roles and exams below.
> SOC analyst
Reading logs, spotting traces and understanding attacker behavior.
> Penetration tester
Recon, vulnerabilities and the structure of an engagement.
> Red team operator
How real operations are organized, from infrastructure to C2.
> Linux sysadmin
Fluency on the command line, pipes and system logs.
- > OverTheWire: Free Linux and security wargames, starting with Bandit.
- > TryHackMe: Guided, browser-based labs for beginners and up.
- > Hack The Box: Hands-on labs and legal practice targets for every level.
A program for classrooms, bootcamps and security teams is on the way. Want to be first to hear about it?
info@node-protocol.systemsNODE: PROTOCOL is a simulation: every target is fictional. In the real world, only test systems you own or have written permission to test. Unauthorized access is a crime almost everywhere.
// FAQ
QUESTIONS
Can a hacking game teach real skills?
Yes, when the commands are real. In NODE: PROTOCOL the Linux commands, including pipes, behave like the real ones and the exploits are based on 72 real CVEs, so what you learn transfers to a real terminal.
Do I need Linux or hacking experience?
No. Your handler Vane guides you through your first breach and beyond, and the in-game Operator Manual explains every tool.
Will NODE: PROTOCOL get me a cybersecurity job?
No game can do that on its own. It builds familiarity with real tools, Linux and attacker thinking. Pair it with hands-on labs and certifications to turn that into a career.
Is it legal?
Yes. Everything happens inside a simulated network. In the real world, only test systems you own or have written permission to test.
Can I use it in a classroom or for team training?
An educator and team program is coming soon. Contact info@node-protocol.systems if you are interested.