Being an eCPPT I completely agree with Armando that you don't need to be a programmer to complete the course but you still should be able to understand the code. Most of the php required for the course can be easily learned from w3schools.com http://www.w3schools.com/php/default.asp

But, to get the most out of the course, I would suggest that you learn enough php to be able to set up a basic website, prior to joining the course. Learning vulnerabilities without understanding the language gives you an abstract view of that vulnerability. If your objective of joining the course is to LEARN and not just to earn one more certification than I would definitely suggest learning enough PHP and C (Focus on pointers) before starting web application and system security modules.

You can even start the course and learn PHP and C alongside. In that case I would suggest starting out with network security module first as it doesn't require ant programming skills and learn PHP or C side by side. Then, once you're comfortable with PHP or C, you can jump to web application or system security modules.

I didn't know any PHP when I passed the certificate exam.

'The Web Application Hacker's Handbook' will be a good companion.
Other books I read/consulted:
Counter Hack Reloaded by Ed Skoudis.
The Shellcoder's Handbook.

Counter Hack Reloaded: I can't believe it's already not on the list.
http://www.amazon.com/Counter-Hack-Reloaded-Step-Step/dp/0131481045/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1301469768&sr=8-1

Building Open Source Network Security Tools: Components and Techniques
http://www.amazon.com/Building-Source-Network-Security-Tools/dp/0471205443/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301469732&sr=8-1

This might appear as a strange choice, but it's really a great book. Building your own tools also helps you understand the existing tools out there.

Congrats tturner

Hello MadCoder, and welcome to the forums!
xXxKrisxXx has accurately answered all your queries, I'm here to just give you some diversity eLearnsecurity's PTP is I think a great course for someone beginning into the security field. I've done only this course, but based on the reviews of other courses, I guess PTP and courses from hackingdojo are the only beginner friendly courses out there.

Though PTP covers a lot of material (network, web and system security), it doesn't go too deep into any of it. But it does provide you a good security foundation so that you can easily dive into other courses like OSCP and SANS etc.

To get the best out of this course, use some outside references along with the course material. I used 3 books: The web application hacker's handbook, Counter Hack reloaded and The shellcoder's handbook to accompany each of the 3 course modules.


I can't talk about experience as I don't have any (will be graduating in 2-3 months), but retaining requires a lot of practicing. Presently, the course has only a few labs but in late April they'll be providing lab environments which students can access into, and practice their skills. It might require 'purchasing'  some lab time, though, nothing is finalized yet.
coz they aren't Microsoft j/k

I would suggest Counter Hack Reloaded. http://www.amazon.com/Counter-Hack-Reloaded-Step-Step/dp/0131481045

Good luck! Hope you'll be the first one to get the new certificate

Perhaps this might help you
http://www.pentest-standard.org/index.php/Pre-engagement

Congrats guys!

Congrats Hayabusa! Though CEH isn't on my list anytime soon but I do want to hear your thoughts on the new syllabus. Perhaps it might change my mind

I'm just a college student so I'm not in a position to give any professional advice, but I do remember these SANS intrusion discovery cheatsheets. Lots of good stuff there

Intrusion Discovery Cheat Sheet v1.4 for Linux
http://www.sans.org/resources/linsacheatsheet.pdf

Intrusion Discovery Cheat Sheet v1.4 for Windows
http://www.sans.org/resources/winsacheatsheet.pdf

@H4TT1fn4TT
Student course will launch probably by the end of this month or early March. The information will be updated after the launch.

CPE credits are continuing professional education credits. Some certs like CISSP etc. require the cert holder to earn a minimum number of CPE points in a given time period in order to maintain their cert. If the cert holder can't earn the required CPE credits his cert will expire and he'll have to re-take the exam to renew the cert.

The way I learned, and still learning Linux is via programming. If you've or want to gain some programming experience you can follow the similar approach.

Grab a good *nix programming book.  The book most often recommended is Advanced Programming in the UNIX(R) Environment (W. Stevens) http://www.amazon.com/Programming-Environment-Addison-Wesley-Professional-Computing/dp/0201563177

If the above book appears a bit lengthy for you then you can try "Advanced Linux programming" which I'm reading right now. It's freely available at the following URL http://www.advancedlinuxprogramming.com/alp-folder Don't be fooled by its title though. It's a beginner book but covers all the necessary aspects of Linux programming in about 250-300 pages.

IMHO this 'programming approach' has multiple benefits over the 'learning the commands approach'.
a) You learn to program: Books like these get you out of the learning the syntax phase and helps you focus on building actual applications. Programming experience will be very useful if you ever want to get into reverse engineering or software exploitation.

b) You learn the 'OS': Instead of just focusing on the commands of an OS you learn how the OS implements these commands in general.

c) You learn the 'commands': Most of the Linux commands are nothing but wrappers on the Linux API. By actually learning the API you'll learn the commands easily. Also, instead of blindly running a command it helps you to understand what actually happens when a command is run.

d) You focus on Linux: Instead of pondering over various distributions you'll focus on Linux itself.

e) You'll retain the concepts (and commands ): By practicing the programs in the book - and creating your own - you'll retain the concepts for a much longer period than just reading just another *nix book.

Congrats!

Congrats!