Self-taught or classroom-taught??

[blue_wolf]

Ok I am pretty much self-taught as well. That might be the reason I don't know anything. Also I would go to school to learn but I believe it is not nessicary because I really do not want a carreer in computers. This is just a hobbie I have. And it would hurt to protect yourself on the net theses days.

I believe most school really don't teach you things that you can't either learn in a book on your own or the "YAhoo". lol

Butif you want a job in this field haveing a job a degree is important.

Cheers! BLUEWOLF

[RoadClosed]

Yes there are many "Fly By Night" technical training centers that push out MCSE zombies and pollute it's worth. They can be sniffed out with a few questions or a day in a class. I try to avoid the ones that promise "guaranteed MCSE" or push late night commercials and tout about how much money you can make with a small "investment”

[nihil]

Security and AV is a rapidly moving and volatile environment. You have to research it yourself, by subscribing to the various AV and security providers alerts. Also various bodies such as CERT, CIAC etc.

Peer to Peer communication is also an essential facet of practical security and AV work. You need to subscribe to the appropriate newsgroups, and "network" with people.

I am not "knocking" formal qualifications, I have a degree myself...it shows you can "get your head down and learn"...........but whatever you learn is going to be out of date...just check the publication dates of the textbooks?

Formal education can teach you basic principles (VERY IMPORTANT) and the workings of your IT environment, but practical AV and security is a hands on day to day activity that is down to you.

cheers!

[Kiniktik]

well im 14, and ive just looked into this long and windin road, tryin to self teach, but failin miserably, i need some information!

OH by the way anyone have a "shell account", need some info on that 2

[PuReExcTacy]

To answer your question. I don't care where you live, unless it's India, you'd better increase your chances of scoring that job with some college and certs. Even though I started out learning by reading on my own. I find that when you get formal training in a University from a professor that's been around the block, you tend to learn text book stuff and real world stuff. The classroom is an invaluable opportunity, if your lucky enough to attend a class, do so.

I find that in the job market today, you've really got to have a minumum of 3 years experience and a cert before they even give you a damn interview. It's pretty messed up right now.

Another thing, is that your not going to learn everything from a classroom. If you want to stay current, your gonna have to start picking up a book. I've actually learned more about Information Technology outside of a classroom, only because when I started class, they weren't speciallizing in open-source technologies, every thing was about getting a stupid MCSE. So, if you wanted to learn, you had to get a book. Today you'll be able to take a class on just about everything, but you'll save lots of dollars of you can discipline yourself enough to not go hangout, and use that $40 on that next big thick book.


--PuRe www.pureescape.net <<~~ now visit my website before I jump out of your monitor and pull you though.

[alphabetarian]

Originally posted here by Kiniktik
well im 14, and ive just looked into this long and windin road, tryin to self teach, but failin miserably, i need some information!

OH by the way anyone have a "shell account", need some info on that 2

Depends on what you're trying to learn, and where you are right now. To accurately answer your question, we'll need more info. But generally, if you've never played with anything but Windows and aren't yet comfortable with your knowledge of that, stick with Win boxes and learn as much as you can about everything that you can. The registry, the DOS prompt and it's commands, EVERYTHING... If you're pretty comfortable with your Windows knowledge, it's time to dual-boot and install a Linux flavor. If you're just starting out with Linux, I recommend Red Hat because of it's ease of install. If you're not, then pretty much any other flavor will do. Now, if you want to program, definately go Linux...lot's of free development stuff.

My $.02...

alph

[\/IP3R]

coming up next.............. what is your favorite KamaSutra pose........... AHHH Not again.

[DivineRogue]

Just like most people have already said, most my knowledge has been self taught, but what I have learned in school so far has definitaly helped me to be able to teach my self this kind of stuff... I have taken a bunch of c++ classes, and that has helped me learn other languages that are useful (PERL, JavaScript and so on). Also as said before experiance is (in my opinion is AWESOME) I have learned so much from doing Co-Ops. Granted I have been lucky because I got a Co-Op working at a company where my dad works, but the best advise I can give is find a co-op somewhere and pick everyone's brain. Just the other day we were testing out the exploit with the Cisco Routers seeing what all the protocals that would crash them before we applied the patch to fix it. My boss came and got me because I know c++ and we went to town testing it. Find out what you can from other people and then find ways of breaking things (that are yours or you have permission to break) and when you break it figure out how to fix it.

[the_JinX]

All self taught here..
started using computers in 1984 and programming in 85..

I just love to read, be it literature or be it "A Book on C"..

Reading some Tom Clancy at the moment..

But in two weeks I'll start the Oreilly's perl books series..

[starace]

It really depends on the individual. I myself have a B.S in CIS and A.S. in EE. But have been playing with computers and s/w for many years. So a combo is what has work for me. You should probably experiment and see what works.