OverTheWire Bandit is a free, online command-line wargame for absolute beginners. You connect to it over SSH, solve a goal at each level, and use the information you uncover to access the next one. Its challenges build practical familiarity with files, text, network services and SSH—not a single command or trick.
How Bandit level progression works
Bandit is arranged as a sequence of level pages. Start at Level 0, then follow each page’s instructions to reach the next stage. A level is complete when you solve its goal; the result—usually a password or other access information—lets you log in for the next level. The official Bandit overview describes the game as aimed at absolute beginners and intended to teach basics useful in other wargames.
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The first transition illustrates the pattern: at Level 0 → Level 1, find a file called readme in the home directory and use the password in it to log in as bandit1. The Level 0 → Level 1 instructions describe that goal and warn that passwords are not saved automatically and may occasionally change.
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The official Level 0 page gives the connection target and initial credentials. You need an SSH client and an internet connection; the instructions do not require buying a particular device or book.
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- Open a terminal with an SSH command available.
- Connect to
bandit.labs.overthewire.orgon port2220using the usernamebandit0. The initial password is alsobandit0:ssh [email protected] -p 2220. - When prompted, enter
bandit0as the password. Password characters may not appear while you type; submit the entry normally. - Once connected, read the current level’s goal and work out how to meet it. After solving it, follow the next level page to continue.
What kinds of skills do the levels use?
The levels apply everyday command-line ideas in different contexts. The examples below are representative, not a complete inventory of the game.
| Example level | Task type | What it exercises |
|---|---|---|
| Level 9 → Level 10 | Finding readable text in data | Searching or inspecting file contents to locate a human-readable string preceded by equals signs. |
| Level 16 → Level 17 | Network services and SSL/TLS | Identifying listening ports and distinguishing services that use SSL/TLS. |
| Level 13 → Level 14 | SSH key handling | Using a supplied private key to make the next login. |
| Level 25 → Level 26 | Working with a nonstandard shell | Adapting when the login environment behaves differently from a typical shell; the level page also includes a Windows note. |
Across the sequence, the official goals include file inspection, encoded text, network services, SSL/TLS and SSH keys. The point is to learn how to investigate a goal using the command line, not to memorize one fixed recipe.
How to get unstuck without skipping the learning
Use the system’s built-in documentation and the feedback the game gives you. The Bandit overview recommends reading a command’s manual with man <command>, and using help <command> for shell built-ins. The official level guidance also emphasizes paying attention to error messages and points to a hint file for a later challenge.
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- Look up unfamiliar commands and options in their manual pages; use shell
helpfor built-ins. - Read errors as clues. They can show whether a path, command, permission or connection is the problem.
- Keep your own local notes, including passwords you need for later logins. The game does not save them automatically, and they may change.
- If you remain stuck, the overview points players to the project’s chat for help.
SSH troubleshooting: “broken pipe” in a virtual machine
The official overview notes that some virtual-machine network adapters configured for NAT may produce an SSH “broken pipe” error. It suggests adding IPQoS throughput to /etc/ssh/ssh_config; if that does not resolve the problem, it recommends changing the adapter to bridged networking. These are the site’s suggestions for this particular issue, not a guarantee for every operating system or network setup. If you change SSH configuration, follow your system’s documentation and consider asking an administrator if the machine is managed.
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