Originally posted here by smooth_operator
ok sweet im in some college classes right now including data communications and java. i took a semester in vb last year which helped a little but it was only an introduction. i bought a c/c++ book, redhat linux 7.0 bible (i put linux on an old HP...now its actually worth having around ) and then a security book for linux (what with shells and all that...) i actually liked c/c++ and filled a whole note book with notes that i could take with me wherever. do you guys have any books you would recomend? and are internships worth having?

For books you may want to check out the product review forum here on AO - from time to time, people post information regarding a book and such. You may find some information of some value to you there.

As far as internships, yes, if you can get one, whether it be working alongside a security admin, network admin, etc., that is good. ANY experience in the field that you can gain before you actually get to the field is most certainly worth having. That'll save you from being in complete shell shock once you get to your actual job and you are not expecting certain things. So yes, find an internship, pay attention during the internship so you can soak up as much knowledge as possible...