- How do I become a hacker
- Which computer languages do I need to learn?
- Which are the steps to become a Security Expert
In this post, I am going to try to answers to these questions. I will open other questions, which I will answer in my following posts.
Let me know your opinion.
Operating Systems
For sure the starting point, if you are green on IT is knowing how a PC works, how it does boot, the BIOS/UEFI, the boot sectors and the different type of partitions and bootloaders.
You should not focus on a specific OS, perhaps at this stage. There are loads of websites that provide free training and free PDF.
Windows 7 & Windows 10
In my opinion, the best way to learn an OS is by installing it on your PC. If you are still "green" than you should start with a "desktop" OS such as Windows 7 or Windows 10.
It is possible to get trial licenses directly from Microsoft. Just create an account, go into the download area and search for trial licenses. The best way is to create an acocunt under "TechNet":
Then you can click on "Downloads", select the OS you wish to try and click on Evaluation. You need to further register but at the end you can download a fully functional ISO which will allow you to install the product and use it without limitation for 90 days... and 90 days are enough to follow a basic/intermediate training (2 weeks) and then do some more advanced "stuff"!!
I am not a Micorsoft "guy" but I can tell you that Technet website is good, with a lot of information.
Now that you have the ISO, you need to find a good training website. For Windows 10 I would suggest to have a look at this tutorial:
Linux
That's my area! Learning Linux is not difficult, especially if you don't have any IT knowledge at all! If otherwise you are a GUI-guy then you should have more problem; but when you will discover the power of Bash ... nothing will stop you anymore.
So, you want to learn Linux; that's come free, forever! Just download a distribution (collection of the OS kernel and free softwares) and install it on your computer.
Now you should be good enough to do an installation within a VM (Virtual Machine). In this way you will be able to mess-up your system as much as you want and restart from a working snapshot.
I am not going to explain you how to create and work with a VM (it is out of the scope of this article), but you can have a look at this link:
Which distribution to use... this is an easy question!! Easy because all the Linux distros are based upon the same Kernel (Linux kernel) and a similar set of tools (utilities). Hence if you want to learn the command line (learn the hard way), any distros is good for you.
You do not need any fancy GUI interface; most of the servers does not use a Graphical User Interface at all.
Perhaps, one of the most used server distribution is RedHat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) so similar distributions maybe the right starting point: CentOS, Scientific Linux, Fedora.
Personally, I use CentOS 7 on my Laptop and on several VM which I use to make tests.
You may find a good training (basic training) at this link:
The Linux Foundation sposnsors it (with a brief video introduction by Linus Torvalds). I followed that training years ago as a refresh of my knowledge, just before starting a position as Tech Support, which required the use of Linux CLI commands. I highly suggest you to follow the training, complete the proposed exercises, and after that search for "The Linux Bible" book. It is a good intermediate level training manual which you can use to increase your knowledge quite a bit.
Networking
If you completed the above steps (which requires you quite some time if you are studying after working hours), you should already have learnt a basic knowledge of Networking. That's not enough if you want to follow the road to Cyber Security Success!!
I followed a 1-year training course in Milan, Italy (eForHum) and got Cisco CCNA certification. That is just an example of training that you need to follow to have a basic knowledge about ISO Layers, IPv4, IPv6, switching and routing protocols and finally Cisco CLI commands.
It has been useful in all my following working experiences, especially now working within a Telco company.
Another good training to follow is the one that brings you to get CompTIA Network+. You may find a good training course if you join Cybrary.it
Computer Languages
Knowing computer languages is possibly the hardest step to achieve in the "growing as an hacker" learning curve.
If you studied Linux, you should have come into Bash and you possibly had some scripting experiences with it. Anyhow, I would suggest you to learn it really well together with the regular expressions (which are used by tools such as grep, awk and sed).
Another language you should be able at least to "read" is Python. If you are going to do reverse engineering of malware, possibly you need to have a background in C/C++ as well.
Any Linux distro provide free environment and IDE to practice these languages. Again the best way to start is by following a basic/intermediate training with loads of Labs ... practice practice practice !!
As suggested by +Mike Barton a good understanding of the Assembly language is quote "very important and not only for reverse engineering but for very tight code".
Perhaps writing good code is something missing in this days!
As suggested by +Mike Barton a good understanding of the Assembly language is quote "very important and not only for reverse engineering but for very tight code".
Perhaps writing good code is something missing in this days!
Continuous Learning
To complete the post, I would like to suggest the beginner (and the expert as well) to keep studying! Learn how the "black hat" are doing their dirty activities by reading forums.
A good way to be always updated is by creating a Google Alerts, which is a Google tool to be able to have Google posting you with a periodicity you may specify, articles related to a selected topic.
The Security world is made of several "chapters" such as Physical Security, Network Security, System Security...
Every Security Expert should have a basic knowledge of all the topics and be expert on a few ! So you should study the training material related to some entry level Security certification such as CompTIA Security+ or Certified Ethical Hacker.
Conclusion
Continuous studying and practice practice practice!!
Don't do dummy things such as trying the available tools without authorization against Networks and Systems you don't own!!
Enjoy every moment of the study, share your knowledge and be always positive.
1 comment:
Which distribution to use... this is an easy question!! Easy because all the Linux distros are based upon the same Kernel (Linux kernel) and a similar set of tools (utilities). Hence if you want to learn the command line (learn the hard way), any distros is good for you.
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