Its never too late to start learning, you can start by browsing this site and learn what you feel you're ok with.

because the only one who can answer this question is you.

...but still there is some movies that have good story, like:
Antitrust
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218817/

Firewall
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0408345/

on the Antitrust's Trivia:

the rest is on:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0218817/trivia

really funny.

I'd recommend getting The Protocols (TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 1) and The Implementation (TCP/IP Illustrated, Volume 2) by the Late W. Richard Stevens, both of them are great

http://www.flazx.com/ebook3482.php
http://www.flazx.com/ebook3483.php

If you mean the book authored by Ankit Fadia, There is of course a second Edition that is Published in 2005, and I don't think it still talks about windows 98.

http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Guide-Ethical-Hacking-Second/dp/1598630628/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_2_txt?pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1931841721&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1TQV4H3P2YPKYBF8RFRW

peace,
Marshel.

I'm gonna try to be honest with at the best I can.


like this you're going no where, believe me.

this is a very bad way to start.

forget about stealing users passwords or PC admin....or whatever for a while.

when you learn hacking it should be for a good cause like helping securing a Network or a server or learning about how the Technology works, not for stealing yahoooo password.

but I think you wanna learn anyway, so here is list of stuff that you should get into if you wanna hack:

1- learn the basics about a computer's hardware and OS. As I said above, build the PC's for your home lab.
Then learn the basics of networking, read on TCP/IP, SSH, SSL and other Network Protocols.

2- Learn about programming language: Delphi or C/C++, java, Python, Perl (Assembly if you can put up with it you're gonna a be cOOl it can help find exploits and vulnerabilities  )

3- Search the Google for "cryptography" read about it, try to understand as much as you can (will, not so much because cryptography is so big).

4- Download and try Linux, Go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linux and read all whats in that page, If you can go and try other *Nix Flavors that will great.

5- Now you're ready to measure the level of skill you got, so
go on to the Certification section in this forum and read about Certification like: CEH, CPTS and OSCP.

after you learn stuff like networking and programming you will be able to steal or do whatever you wanna do, but I'm not encouraging you to do that, I'm encouraging you to learn and get in the IT world.

It is long and very hard path that you looking at right now but it is not impossible.

that is if you want to learn.

more on the meaning of the word "hacking":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hacker

this is a great paper (old one but it is worth it):
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/hacker-howto.html


Sure you can get tools like metasploit and nmap and Nessus, and go on hacking other poor peoples computers stealing their Yahoo passwords (people how does that are called lamers and Script kiddies), but you will not accomplish anything from that.

It is never too late to start learn about computers as long that you have the passion for it, as long that you enjoy learning how programs work.

and If you read most of the topic in this forum they will help a lot tryin to figure out what you wanna do.

Regards,
Marshel

.....Dear Lord, Did you said windows 98 that is so old.

but anyway, to delete the password When windows ask for the password, click on the X box in the upper right. It will only work if you start Windows.

or like you said if you can get to the dos on that computer delete all the .pwl files in C:\windows Directory.

Marshel.

Abdullah

Really nice, dubai is a nice city.

I'll try to be there.

Glad to be the first to say, Welcome in EH-NET

Best wishes,
Marshel

just like slinjim100 said,

and here is a guide for making strong password:
http://geodsoft.com/howto/password/

peace.

Last night I was playing with my lab more than I should, let's just say that I messed up some stuff, and three of my
PCs went down   
and I only have one PC now, which have 1 GB ram, Do you know what that means ?? Yep, thank god I still get the
chance to run VMware and setup another Virtual lab, until I repair the other Boxes 

Anyway, on top of windows XP-SP2, I installed 3 VMs:
- Windows server 2000
- Windows server 2003
- Linux (Fedora and Back|Track2)

This is what I did the first time when I first got the chance to setup a lab:
- scanning and discovering the security holes on windows 2000 server
and hardening the system and close unneeded ports (make it more secure)
Note: some may argue that windows 2000 server is too old and you won't learn anything from it.
will, it is always good thing to start from point zero and start learning, so after I feel that That I got
bored from windows 2000 server then I go to practice on windows 2003 server and so on.

- setting SAMBA on the Linux box.

Also, I found real great book called:
Practical Hacking Techniques and Countermeasures
http://www.amazon.com/Practical-Hacking-Techniques-Countermeasures-Spivey/dp/0849370574/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1196512700&sr=8-1

It shows a lot of the most common security holes and how to exploit them and close them. I wouldn't recommend it for Newbies because it doesn't explain exactly how these holes work or how did they show up.
But, it is great if you already knew about networks, at least that is my opinion.

...and I' will tell you guys more soon when I got the time.
funny thing is when someone have a lot time to kill he doesn't do any thing useful, and when someone is so busy
he remembers how could he invest his time in learning new skills.

as I said before [any comment or suggestions would be great help for me ?? ]

Peace.

I don't have an answer for your question but what I want to say is that it is illegal to hack someone else email even if it is your wife and even if she is cheating on you.

If you are a pen-tester looking for help or you have a technical problem that gives a headache it would be more than welcome to share it with us here in the forum and I'm sure you will a lot of help.

but since you've but it this way....

I hate to say this, and I don't mean to middle in your relationship with your wife but it would a lot more better if you solve your problem in more reasonable way, cerntly not by hacking nor cracking or what so ever.


Peace.

The Source:
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1&section=0&article=97024&d=4&m=6&y=2007

another one from Alryiadh News paper (in Arabic):
http://www.alriyadh.com/2007/11/25/article296702.html

Details of the conference are available on:
(Arabic) www.itns.org.sa
(English) http://www.itns.org.sa/detail.asp?InServiceID=212&intemplatekey=MainPage

BillV:Thanks, thats what I hope to accomplish.

don: Its good to here this from you, I'm trying to do my best.


Noted, I'll try to make the lab more flexible as you said, and thank you.


once again thank you all guys.

thanks this is a nice one, of course there is the famous:

Google Hacking Database
http://johnny.ihackstuff.com/ghdb.php


Peace.

Hi everyone,

   I know there's a few posts in the forums here that talks about building a lab to practice security (ethical hacking). I've already read some of them.

in this post I just want to share with you the way I'm gonna build my lab, hopefully with your comments and maybe criticism I'll do best.

first here is a simple MAP:



by the way I know there is something called "Virtual Machine"
I tried it and its Okay 


and here is Objectives that I want to achieve:

- Practice setting up Active Directory & DNS on the windows boxes.
- Practice setting up SAMBA on the Linux box.
- Get Snort and Ethereal and learn to monitor traffic.
- Practice tightening the kernel on Linux.
- Read up on the Windows services and see which ones you can disable w/o breaking authentication or replication.
- Set up VPN's and RAS in ALL of the Boxes and learn to harden them.
- Practice MONITORING SECURITY LOGS.

and more that I can't remember right now.


and also practicing to get Certifications like:
[CCNA or RHCE or MCSE, CEH, CPTE, OSWP and OSCP]

It might take some time to get all those, but it doesn't matter how long it will take. because I'm having fun right now and I don't want it to end