Thanks for all the great replies guys! I think i am going to start with Hacking: The Art of exploitation then move onto Grey Hat Hacking.

After i get those books in my head what should i move onto? Are those books "pre-beginner" or by the time i finish those will i actually be able to do something? What are the next set of books/ resources for learning?

remember, my goal is to do stuff through the internet so i can access my server without it needing to be in the local network? I hear TCP/IP by Addison Wesley is a good read, would that be next or what?

Thanks again you guys have been super supportive!

So the consensus i'm feeling is for complete beginners who have my amount of experience with computers is Grey Hat Hacker as well as The art of Exploitation.

Is the art of exploitation more of a social engineering book?

Also are your guys' opinions on hacking exposed (6th edition)?

Hey guys! I am new to ethical hacking and i wanted to know how is the best way to start learning all this stuff?

I know C pretty much in and out, i know a tad of C++ (going to be learning a lot more soon), and i some python. I am also moderately familiar with linux (having worked with Ubuntu, Mint, Fedora, and CentOS).

I also know HTMl, CSS, and Javascript. And am planning on learning PHP and MySQL very soon.

I got into ethical hacking because i just started my first ever home server ( a small webserver to host a personal website) and i wanted to get into security and learn the ins and outs.

I am very eager to start learning because it will give me a lot more knowledge about networks and security systems. Eventually i want to move the server back home (right now its with me at college but its a hassle to keep here), and be able to pentest with it over the internet (to simulate a real hacker who wouldn't normally have physical access to the server).

How do i start learning? I am very eager. I bought some books and checked some others out from the library after reading some other posts but i dont know which one to read first. I have the following:

• Counter Hack Reloaded, Second Edition
• Ghost in the Wires
• Hacking - The Art of Exploitation 2nd Edition (this one came with a neat CD but i have looked at it yet)
• Hacking Exposed Network Security Secrets and Solutions, 6th Edition
• Kevin Mitnick - Art of Deception (i think this is more social engineering but i picked it up anyway since it was recommened)
• Metasploit - The Penetration Testers Guide
• Social Engineering - Christopher Hadnagy (this one i KNOW is social engineering, haha)
• BackTrack 5 Wireless Penetration Testing (I hear that Backtrack 5 is the most widely used operating system for hacking)
• Gray hat hacking: The. ethical hackers handbook, 3rd Edition
• Practical Hacking Techniques & Countermeasures
• The Basics of Hacking and Penetration Testing

But those are sooo many books and i am a pretty damn slow reader

What book should i start on? Is there a better book to start out with than the ones i listed? Also after i finish my first book what one should i move on to?