Hack means to figure stuff out and usually share that knowledge, not necessarily break into someone's network.
If you truly enjoy hacking you'll just do it.
You will mock scenarios, virtual machines, you'll pentest your own network (backtrack), you'll read everything about anything related to your craft.
First realise that there is no any software that can fully automate the whole process. There are bunch of Linux distros(Like Backtrack, Kali Linux, BlackBuntu, Blackbox, etc) that can help you to make things easier, but if you want to really learn the things I would recommend you to install a basic OS like Ubuntu and install all the software by your own.
You'll write notes, study, memorize subnets, read RFCs, tinker, test, disassemble, learn, script, copy, modify, find offsets, understand inner workings at levels that bore others.
This is a hacker.
I find it is much more enjoyable to solve a problem than to simply learn for the sake of learning.
I find it is much more enjoyable to solve a problem than to simply learn for the sake of learning.
When people can't figure it out, but you can figure it out, they pay you.
Now you have a sustainable craft/income doing what you enjoy.
You can't easily explain or market your abilities easily without certifications.
You can't easily explain or market your abilities easily without certifications.
But with just a few of them, you can easily make six figures.
You won't always get to "hack" and tinker on your employer's dime, but you'll have money to do it on your own and you will get to experiment and learn on networks, firewalls, operating systems, servers, etc.
So, decide what topics you enjoy, then get some certifications in those topics.
Look for work in that area so you get paid to hack and do what you love.
Someone else suggested backtrack linux and I think that's a great place to start.
Someone else suggested backtrack linux and I think that's a great place to start.
Understanding all of the topics related to any of the tools on that distro will leapfrog you into a world of six figure jobs.
Consider that in order to get paid to do what you love, get some certifications in that industry.
Consider that in order to get paid to do what you love, get some certifications in that industry.
They will instantly give you income.
Studying for the certs will also show you the types of topics that you need improvement in.
Here are some rules to follow if you really want to learn hacking:
1. Never GiveUp(Because no software ever made which don't have any bugs, if software is good then there may be some platform vulnerability)
2. There is no any software that can fully automate the process of hacking anything, So first you will have to learn and the execute.
3. Follow OpenSource as much as possible, because buying all software cause you lot of money and cracks will first spy on you.
4. Never try to run any program blindly in your main machine, First try to find if the software is from trusted source then it OK but if is not then install it in Virtual machine.
5. Learn to test not to exploit, if you found anything report it to developers.
6. Avoid fishing and keylogging because they are not hacking they are a chip form of cheating.
Hacking is a crime, yeah that's true.
But now to eliminate these crimes we need to have some security experts and these experts first hack into a particular system or network (with a permit) and looks for the flaws in the network and then start building up and coming up with measures to prevent them.
For an instance take the example of Wifi encryption.
It used WEP encryption type back.. which used an RC4 algorithm and which was easy to crack which then now got upgraded to WPA\WPA2 encryption which is far more secured than WEP.
Talking about "Why should i learn hacking",
1. Cybercrime has increased with the new technologies, so first of all to eliminate or atleast trying reducing these crimes.
2. Learn it for your own personal interest(I guess this point is more important) Do things you like to do and in which you have keen interest and curiosity about learning.. Hacking is a skill..you can't just learn it in a few days and get over with it, it takes years to be one of them and yeah if you want to learn hacking solely for the fun i.e. for friend's Facebook account or email or something like that, things will not work out for you. You should decide to learn hacking because of your own personal interest for becoming an expertise in computer systems and networking.
Talking about "Why should i learn hacking",
1. Cybercrime has increased with the new technologies, so first of all to eliminate or atleast trying reducing these crimes.
2. Learn it for your own personal interest(I guess this point is more important) Do things you like to do and in which you have keen interest and curiosity about learning.. Hacking is a skill..you can't just learn it in a few days and get over with it, it takes years to be one of them and yeah if you want to learn hacking solely for the fun i.e. for friend's Facebook account or email or something like that, things will not work out for you. You should decide to learn hacking because of your own personal interest for becoming an expertise in computer systems and networking.
Senior Network Security Engineer working with corporate firewalls, networks, and application security
