Not Quite Sure if this site is what I'm looking for

I just found this site about an hour ago, And i'm not quite sure if this is what I need. I understand that this site relates to security issues and learning how to protect your system... I want to learn how to hack (and in no way shape or form be malicious about it).. This fall i'm going to college to get into Computer Science and Networking.. I was just going to wait and learn all my stuff there, but I decided it was best if I got a headstart on my own to even see if this is the career that i want to get into.

:confused: Im not even quite sure what I want to get into anymore.. I've always said, I want to learn to hack.. I dont want to be malicious and take peoples ****, or give them virus's.. I just want to learn how to protect my computer from these kinds of people, and gain knowlege of whats going on. I guess you could say Im nosy... I'm not even sure if im in the right place! someone help :P

Hey if you want to protect yourself, you gotta lean how they do it;)

Stay here and read on some threads, if you don't like us, we won't keep you here.

I'll surely stick around for a few to check things out.. I'm hoping to learn a lot off you guys :) Its great that everyone shares they're knowledge on here :) Thanks so much

Welcome to AO. Remember this as a rule of thumb. A little knowledge never hurt, but using a little knowledge will get you in trouble fast. Good luck in your studies.

Although many here are quite adept at hacking and many more are learning too many are admins whose job it is to protect their systems from hackers (self included) and get very annoyed when someone asks a “how do I hack type question”…it could be one of our networks their trying to break into. Because of this and the anti-points system here if you ask a ‘how to’ question more than likely you’ll wind up getting banned.

I understand completely where youe coming from which is why im saying this. Just state clearly why your asking a question and you’ll be OK.

Yea, I understand where the Admins are coming from with that.. and quite frankly I dont blame them at all for banning people for it. I dont understand how anyone could learn to hack from this site, and turn it around and use it against them. Thats just down right wrong and very disrespectful...

:) I'll make sure to clearly state why I'm asking questions

Thanks a bunch :) YOU GUYS ARE GREAT!!!!

My advice would to read up on it a bunch, and find a decent Wargame (computer set up specifically for people to hack into).

They have those? I've never even heard of those!


M!DGeT

www.hackthissite.org if they're up again, is great for this, just google for something like "wargame" or something like that...

The Site isn't up anymore.. :( That makes the M!DGeT sad :( I'll keep googling wargame in hopes that I have some luck with it :P

http://cm.bell-labs.com/cm/cs/cbook/
http://www.kohala.com/start/unpv12e.html
http://www.rfc-editor.org/rfcxx00.html

Purchase the first 2 books read the RFC's bleh its christmas im mad with coke define hacking some people hack code ( change availbale source to suit there needs ) then theres your wget -r http://k-otik.com/exploits packetstorm etc kiddies how most start out in 'hacking' i did im not ashamed to admit it im not elite in no ways at all but it taught me the internet can be a harsh place
i have been rm -rf / twice for running my mouth in IRC from gawd knows who but it taught me one thing respect people you dont know get in to coding and networking breaking root just comes to you after that also dont support full disclosure more hassle on the intraweb than its worth when and if you start coding audit code looking for 'flaws' in developers code C can do all you need but there are php vulns SQl vulns etc infact study to be an admin of a network start your own lock it down how much you know best and go at it dont give up if your serious its quite a buzz seeing your code work the way you want. When you know C start on assembly ( a low level language ) **** there is too much to mention in one post and you didnt define your 'hacking' needs so i dont know if you want to pen test or change code to work for you but in the end you will need to learn a programing language and TCP/IP even down to the underbelly of the operating system you run its far too broad a subject to get in too in one post http://phrack.org publishes ways to bypass security etc read something and what you dont understand post about it we need more articles on topics like this anyway but its the festive season and im mad with it so either take my advice or give up it doesnt come over night all the 'elite' i know have been around computers for at least 7 year know a few languages and know there way about a few systems and im glad i met them ( You know who you are ) <-- probably wont even see that here but if your serious dont give up heh some of the 'elite' i know dont even work with computers as there day job its just there 'hobby' anyways both ways are fun but breaking root will eventually land you in jail. My advice to you dont go ./ everything you find vuln to the latest gcc -o sploit sploit.c you will get know where learn to admin code and network then see what tickles your fancy from there


merry crimbo 1:25 am

Wow, Have you ever tried reading that Computer Hacking for Dummies? I just recently bought that and a book about programming.. Due to the issues of money being tight and me spending too much money on my new toys (Laptop and Flatscreen Monitor) I have been busy playing with my new toys rather than reading.. I try to find stuff on the net because I figure everything can be found on the net... When it comes to codes and ****.. thats where I get lost.. IM A NEWBIE!! :P Its like a fricking foreign language.. Or maybe I'm just that damn slow... But oh well.. I'll keep trying to pick this **** up! Thanks for the info!! I'll check it out!! You can never have enough Info!! :P

<------------------------------------------------->
M!DGeT

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Wow, Have you ever tried reading that Computer Hacking for Dummies

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Nope i tend to stay away from books with the work 'hacking' in it i bought hacking web apps exposed last year what a let down that book was i thought i would have learned my lesson and bought hacking linux exposed another let down stick to books that are on the subject **** the 'hacking' books **** they will teach you absoultley nothing of a true hack

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I figure everything can be found on the net

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It can :)

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When it comes to codes and ****.. thats where I get lost.. IM A NEWBIE

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Start with novice coding tutorials or go to a site that host's ( Dare i say it ) http://lib.daemon.am/Books/C/ <- teach yourself C in 21 days

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Its like a fricking foreign language

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Well in a way it is :p

Wow, that site is really helpful! Thanks a bunch! :P You guys are great!!!

Not really, most are arrogant *****s. No one is mean to you because you appear to be a distsy object with boobs.

M!diget:

First off, welcome to the forums! It is good to have people come here that are seeking solid knowledge and not just a quick answer. As you've seen from those who've welcomed you already, if you ask a direct and honest question then you will receive a direct and honest answer. So keep that mind mind :)

I would also like to pass on a few beginner tips that would apply to both the beginning administrator and the newly sprouted hacker(depending on which way you eventually decide to lean), if I may:

First, don't be sucked into the "Which Operating System is better?" argument. Don't let anyone tell you an operating system sucks nor rocks. Find out for yourself. Slackware linux is different than Redhat linux, for a reason. Redhat Linux is different than Windows XP, for a reason. Each of them can be secured just as strong as the next, and each offers as much flexability within the system to fit the admins needs. What you need to learn is not what operating system is the coolest/most recommened, but instead the aspects of each OS and what makes them different. Try as many OSes out as possible, and dig as deep as you can into it. Learn how to make Windows XP into a rock solid and completely secure server. Learn how to write complicated batch scripts in the bash shell for Linux distributions. But DON'T ever settle on someone telling you another operating system is better than the other.

Second, don't hesitate to ask questions. I don't care how stupid or absurd they may be, ask them anyways. We all remember how it was first starting out (and most respect it when others go through it) and thus will be willing to answer even the simplest questions. Ask them in a mature, direct way and you will receive a mature, direct answer. This doesn't mean you should stop self-research by any means. But take the questions you truley can't find and bring them to us.

Finally, read. Read until your eyes bleed. Read old txt files from Cult of the Dead Cow (talk about OLD). Read the instruction manual for your motherboard. Study up on the basics of TCP/IP protocol. Anything, but continue reading. Even if you don't fully understand what you are reading, read it anyways. Because later on when you are reading something else that explains what you've read before, things will start to click. Peice by peice, reading will lay the foundation for memory structure and the questions you need to ask us.


Also, if you ever need real time conversation for questions, conversation or the like, don't hesitate to click the profile button on our posts to view a member's profile. Some have their AIM/MSN/Yahoo/ICQ accounts posted, allowing you to contact us whenever.

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First, don't be sucked into the "Which Operating System is better?" argument.

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Just to make sure you understant this. Linux is better, is what he meant to say.

:p

Hi

games

Some good advice already has been given. In addition,
I found it quite amusing, also as a distraction
to more serious self-study procedures, to play
"hacking-games" on the web, as mentioned.

A few games can be found at

- http://www.hackthissite.org (already mentioned)
- http://www.try2hack.nl
- http://www.hack.ae
- http://www.learntohack.org
- http://academy.dyndns.org
- http://biw-reversing.cjb.net

Note, most of them are pure web-defacement and/or cracking
issues.


case-studies

There are more serious contests from time to time, eg. Argus
systems[1] (PitBull). It is useful to read reports about these,
as an example LSD could circumvent older versions of Pitbull
anno 2001. They have written a white paper about it[2], which is
full of information, however nowadays partly outdates.
Nevertheless, first, it gives you a guideline of what you have to
learn in case you want to know about such kind of "hacking",
and second, a chronological approach might always be useful.
I mention such kind of information because I think it is of
prime importance for example as a security software developper to
understand ways how "hackers" might be able to bypass your own
efforts.

resources

Some good resources are
- phrack.org[3] (already mentioned)
- GIAC[4]
- AntiOnline Tutorials[5]


This is information to keep you busy for the next 1-2 years :)

Cheers



[1] http://www.argus-systems.com/
[2] http://www.lsd-pl.net/documents/kernvuln-1.0.2.pdf
[3] http://www.phrack.org/
[4] http://www.giac.org/GCIH.php
[5] http://www.antionline.com/forumdispl...?s=&forumid=68

If you want to look into Wargames RootHack is a good site.

They host free unix shell accounts on their own network, where you secure your server with your team (6 members) and then try to "disable" the other teams. It's very fun if you know what you're doing (well, for dorks like me anyways). I think we should get an AO team together, it'd own all. ^_^

Anyways, if you're interested here are 2 tutorials on the subject:

The RootHack Survival Guide
MsMittens' Complete Wargames Series Tutorial: PDF


If any AO start a team, keep me updated on it. I'd love to see how that goes. :p