Very new to the hacking/security world of computers.

[cyberpirate]

I was going to get my CEH, but someone on here recommended that I start off with getting my CompTIA A+ first. I am going for that and getting tid bits here and there but I want to get a good, solid book that will show me the ropes.

Any ideas or recommendations?

[Goatboy]

This is just my experience, so don't take it as the truth. That said:

I have not had a day of formal training in my life. Up until college started a few months ago, everything I knew was self-taught. If you think that's interesting, I also never bought a single book. I learned early on that Google is better than any library (in some senses). You can find a tutorial on just about anything on Google, as long as you look.

Now some people just can't follow something if it's not in a book. That is perfectly fine. If books work better for you, go for it. I just personally prefer to read a guide or a manual. Saves money, doesn't take up a lot of space, and I can carry a LOT more PDFs than I can books.

Where books come in handy is for things like the A+ or any other formal test. Any guide you find online might be great, but will most likely be outdated. In addition, I have yet to see one guide that contains all you need to know. You might need to read a guide on hard dicks, a guide on electricity, several books on Windows commands, etc.

I'd suggest the official CompTIA A+ study guide. That or the ExamCram book. Or A+ for Dummies (Shamefully, I got that one to study from). The A+ is basic, but I've heard it can be hard if you don't focus on details. As such, I'd suggest a good blend of straight book learning and online insight. I'm rambling, so I'll end with this: Do what works for you, and do it well.

EDIT: I went ahead and highlighted my typo for everyone. Enjoy the laughs at my expense =D

[cyberpirate]

I prefer books, but you are right, once you find it- the book might be outdated (everything outdates in minutes in the technological world).

We had Gigabytes one week, and the next week we had terabytes.

I do prefer books over pdf (hate staring into screens- hurts the eyes). But, I will do whatever is necessary. I need fresh start.

Thanks for the info, Goat.

[faazshift]

@Goatboy: I think you meant 'hard disks' toward the end of the second to last paragraph. Hilarious typo though.

[Goatboy]

@Goatboy: I think you meant 'hard disks' toward the end of the second to last paragraph. Hilarious typo though.

... I'm actually going to highlight that.

Ironically, I was just talking about how I hate it when people say "I think you meant to say" when they misinterpret my meaning, but not when I make a typo. Might have been a sub-conscious thing.

[cyberpirate]

Well, we are Human ^_^

[sanddbox]

Thinkin' about hard dicks, Goatboy?

Anyways, as Goatboy said, I would actually stray away from books for the majority of your learning -- with the exception of classes, as the books will teach you those little things you almost never use that are featured prominently on the test (like recursion. I mean, besides the occasional factorial function or the tower of Hanoi puzzle, who really uses recursion?).

[Goatboy]

Thinkin' about hard dicks, Goatboy?

It's usually a toss up between yours, dotty's, and Monica's.

[sanddbox]

Thinkin' about hard dicks, Goatboy?

It's usually a toss up between yours, dotty's, and Monica's.

Wait...I'm a wannabe journalist! I know what to do! *activates quote misconstruing powers*

Thinkin' about hard dicks, Goatboy?

It's usually... yours

[cyberpirate]

Ok, gotcha all on that.

Stray from the books and try to take my essential learning via internet and/or classes (the classes I will do without- I need to work).