EH-Net

Hi guys

Im a regular participant amongst the forums and an avid IT security fanactic, i got my CEH more than a year ago and have been looking for a basic level job in IT security at the moment its a real pain to find any job in the IT as you all know. I previously have experience with designing wifi networks for the retail industry and performing SBS migrations.

I'm kind of at a stand still at the moment,most of my time is spent studying and researching and getting experience with as much as i can with new technologies, tools and attack vectors. And now i'm having difficulties propelling myself to the next level onto topics such as reverse engineering or the advanced topics of ethical hacking, im frustrated!

It's not that i'm not interested, i just have nothing to push me, are there any study groups or any advanced forums going at the moment where i can interact with others and gain new challenges.   

Have you considered approaching an open source project for a tool you use.  Maybe the authors could use some help.  This might give you a sense of direction and you would be giving something back. Explaining your circumstances to the project lead might get you the mentoring you need to get you started.

Just a thought.

Syn

If you are searching for study groups it may help to add where you are located. Although it could be done also virtually, I made the experience that meetings for real on a regulary basis are better in many ways.

As already suggested by SynJunkie, it may help you to get pushed when helping on some (open source) projects or start your own.

Depending on your money and time it also may help to subscribe for one of the available security courses and certificates.

Hey 3PIL0GU3 =)

I find recreational hacking has a real value in firing up the motivational juices.

Are there any hackerspaces, 2600 groups, or defcon groups near you? What about colleges that host CTF's?

As synjunkie said, is there a tool you're really good with? Can they use some open source support? Hell even if you just LIKE a tool and arent good with it people are always looking for contributors to documentation, video guides, etc.

Check out the end of Kevin Johnson's presentation here, he goes over some logistics:

http://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=e0ae6eff-c788-4b6b-8401-7026014c56e0
 (http://Hey 3PIL0GU3 =)

I find recreational hacking has a real value in firing up the motivational juices.

Are there any hackerspaces, 2600 groups, or defcon groups near you?

As synjunkie said, is there a tool you're really good with? Can they use some open source support? Hell even if you just LIKE a tool and arent good with it people are always looking for contributors to documentation, video guides, etc.

Check out the end of Kevin Johnson's presentation here, he goes over some logistics:

http://mediasite.video.ufl.edu/mediasite/Viewer/?peid=e0ae6eff-c788-4b6b-8401-7026014c56e0)

Thanks for the replies guys. I have some open source community projects in mind as for the community groups i'll keep looking although i don't think there are many in my area.

3PILOGU3,

try not to lose your passion and drive, appreciate it can be frustrating.
Another avenue to perhaps spark your interest could be to setup your own blog, or contribute on others, or create a magazine article on something you are working on.

These are all great ways to give you some focus, and also increase your exposure.

Chin up and good luck.

3PILOGU3,

I'll echo Dale's comments, a blog or other contributions can be a good way to focus the mind and make you document your research and findings. In my case I have also found it a good way to build a reputation and show your employer or potential employers that you have the drive, skill-set and ability to get the job done.

Also get out and about to local networking events for IT guys if there is anything in your area. Doesn't need to be security related, there's a all round group in my area that I've been attending for a few months and as a result of my skillset I'm gaining a reputation with some of the regulars as the 'security guy', again not bad for reputation and helping maintain confidence and drive. Exposure to different problems and others system and network designs doesn't hurt either.

Keep doing a little bit everyday and don't give up, and you should get to where you want to be eventually. Good luck

Just one last thought on the Reverse Engineering. Not sure if you would have caught this on an old episode of hak5 but there are RE challenges that range from the starter level to quite an advanced level.

Maybe these could give you the challenge you need.

Check em out!

http://www.crackmes.de/ (http://www.crackmes.de/)

http://www.hak5.org/?s=crackme&x=0&y=0 (http://www.hak5.org/?s=crackme&x=0&y=0)

Syn