1. First you will want to open your browser and go the VirtualBox Download page

2. From there you will want to select what your host OS is, for me that is Windows

3. Then after the download has completed navigate to the file and run as administrator

4. Go ahead and follow the default setup and accept the license agreement and choose the installation directory

———I did have to go ahead and installsome pytone bindings. I did this by running the follwing powershell command “pip install pywin32”. This basscally allows Python scripts to interact with Windows APIs

After that, you should be good to go, VirtualBox should be downloaded now. There is an option to install the Extension Pack, which will allow you to use VRDP or have USB support, to give example. I like to have my labs never limited and would not want to ruin my flow if I was doing a lab so I will show the very easy steps to download this as well. But this is purely a personal preference.

5. Go back to the homepage where you found the download for VirtualBox on the right you should see the option to install the extension pack

7. After the download compleats go ahead and navgate to the VitruleBox GUI. Then you will go to File > Tools > Extension Pack Manager

8. Then you will see and Install button go ahead and select it. it will open you file explor. Select the newly downloaded extention pack, select it then hit open, it should download into the everiment and now you should be good to go.

Now you are good to go, virtual machines is crucial because they provide isolated, reproducible environments that let you safely experiment with configurations, simulate networks, and analyze potentially harmful code without risking your host system. Hands on labs build on this foundation by turning theoretical concepts into practical challenges, helping you develop troubleshooting strategies, reinforce muscle memory for security tasks, and gain confidence in real-world scenarios. Together, VMs and labs accelerate learning, enable rapid iteration, and prepare you to tackle complex cybersecurity problems with both technical precision and operational insight.