http://www.offensive-security.com/information-security-training/penetration-testing-with-backtrack/

- will this help me out in regard to pentesting? I can take online courses and get certified (not licensed.. of course).

I have been doing programming in mysql, Java, and pHp. Now I am learning C and then eventually Assembly Language. my programming is quite rusty so I will need to re-hone my programming skills.

I may know how to program but I still need to understand the security fundamentals so I will able to conducting pen testing. I just want to make sure I am on the right track; writing viruses interested me but often perceived as a threat by many organizations/governments so I am not sure if this is a good thing but that's something I want to learn.

Guys,

I just graduated from RIT with a Bachelor of Science degree in IT (Website Development and Networking).

Now I am focusing on Offensive Warfare as my main specialty. So I want to specialize in Penetration Testing and get licensed. I want to get certified in OSCP, or LPT.

http://www.offensive-security.com/information-security-training/penetration-testing-with-backtrack/

Then eventually I will probably take Cryptography (program viruses) at RIT, and be able to write/program my own exploits via python, perl, and etc.

I really want to register for a course online (I can't do it via live classroom because I have hearing loss and would require an ASL interpreter) so online class would be ideal for me.

So please put me in the right direction and where should I do first? Thanks!