For everyone who managed to get in on this I just scheduled my exam and GIAC gives you two free practice tests with the GPEN attempt.  They normally do this with all their challenge exams but with the free attempt I assumed they wouldn't but they surprised me!   

How about "Crumpet Con"!   

Good Luck!

I don't know Billv they may still be using the local consultant idea.  If you look at the "Why Choose EGS?" page they say:


If you could become one of their local consultants that would certainly make getting an LPT more attractive.

You can find some good checklists to secure your server and applications here  http://www.cisecurity.org/.  Most of the controls they recommend you won't be able to implement unless you own the servers that is hosting your website.  Good Luck!

Good luck with your leap of faith, we are all hoping you land firmly on your feet!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you for all your hard work in administering this forum which I believe is one of the best security forums on the Internet.

 

Sounds like you have already taken the right approach by contacting the software manufacturer.  If I were you I would simply persevere and keep bugging the Tech Support until you get what you want.  After all how are they going to fix their problems (software and support) if their customers don't keep at them?

However if you insist on delving into the dark arts (which I don't recommend) to fix your problem the link below is as good a place to start as any.

Astalavista.box.sk   *** Warning: not a friendly site ***

BillV,

More then likely the new jobs will still be created.  The new "leadership" will make a few changes to the program.  Maybe change the mission statement a bit possibly even shift it into a cross-service agency, integrating the Army and Navy.  Then spin the program back up with all new press releases but with one major difference the new Generals name in all the articles.  You gotta love bureaucracy.

http://blog.wired.com/27bstroke6/2008/08/air-force-halts.html

Speaking as a former member of the Air Force I bet this is completely political.  Some new General wanted to get credit for the new Cyber command so they stop all the old Generals plans dead in the water.  I saw this kind of stuff all the time.  Policies would get reversed or drastically changed as soon as you got a brand new General appointed.   

Welcome to EH-Net!  I don't know if you have had any exposure to IT Security during your career so it is hard to give you a thumbs up on the CEH as a starting place.  If you have some experience in IT security then yes the CEH training would be a good place to start.  On the other hand if you really haven't had to much exposure to security then the Security + certification is a better place to start.

Security + a is much more generalized IT security certification where you would be exposed to a wider base of information.  CEH training is specialized and concentrates on exactly what it sounds like "Ethical Hacking".  CEH begins teaching you the methods and tools used to perform penetration tests.  Without knowing more about your background I would personally recommend you go for Security + first then once you get that down move on to CEH training.

That being said as for which training institute to use InfoSec Institute or ChicagoCon that depends on what you are looking for.  If you want to just get the CEH certification and move on then I would recommend going with the InfoSec Institute.  With their training you could focus on just studying for the CEH exam.  You can spend eight or more hours a day in class then go home at night and study some more all week.  This method makes passing the test much easier.  If you are interested in getting your feet wet and getting some training.  As well as talking to and seeing a lot of cool things and people then you would be better off going to ChicagoCon.  There you get the "full" package you will get presentations from top IT Security professionals, a weeks worth of security training, and some good nights of drinking with the top IT Security professionals but this "full" package might make passing the CEH test at the end of the week more difficult.  Especially the "drinking" part.   

Both are in my opinion good options and whichever you go with you should still make it a point to sign up for ChicagoCons conference only option.  That way you can meet a lot of the people on this forum and get
hear some great security presentations.

Can you tell that work is really really slow tonight?  LOL!

I signed up and luckily managed to get the last slot.  I will also post what I find out.

Here is a link from one of the presenters with some information about it.

http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=1666

My guess is they will probably run it just like their "challenge" certificates which means no access to any SANS training material you just have to study what you can find and take the test.  Even at that though it is a heck of a deal because it cost around $ 900.00 to take a SANS test "challenge".

I also agree with RoleReversal and Oneeyedcarmen that this is probably to demonstrate how much more material is covered in the GPEN training compared to the CEH.  I am sure that after taking the test they will ask the participants to write up a review/evaluation comparing the two.

I don't know but I would guess that they use the "x" to signify external.  I have no idea why they would do that but it is the government.

Good start on the blog iSmith.  I am to lazy to have a security blog.  Never enough time and when there is I always find something else to do.  Good Luck on the Linux test! 

Welcome to life with Vista!  I completely agree with you Vista is slow, buggy, and just not worth upgrading to.   It does have a few features I like better but not enough to make up for the problems I have with it.

Having said that I do sometimes wonder if Vista is really as bad as I think or if it is that XP is just too good?