Always feel free to ask questions here.

A lot of the people here really know their stuff, and they are always helpful.

Welcome to the forum! There are lots of nice people here. 

I agree with Dengar13 about starting with a couple of books.

I also agree with you about basic Linux knowledge. But, I would not start right off with a hacking distribution, I would get to know the basics. Start with something like Ubuntu. Learn how to use the terminal, install programs, etc.

Since you are already in IT... If you don't already know, I would suggest learning about the TCP/IP protocol, and learn the differences between a hubbed network and a switched network.

There are a lot of aspects to learn about, but those are good to start with.

Same here, with added insomnia.

I'm also eager to see who the winner is!

That's exactly how I feel when I read articles like those.

It really is amazing, the things that people come up with. It's just unfortunate that it has to be for such a malicious cause.

Same here. I am saving up to go to Hacker Halted USA next year.

There's also the self paced study. I did my C|EH using video training, the v5 courseware, and the Official Certified Ethical Hacker Review Guide. It's a lot cheaper that way.

If you do it that way, you don't have anyone in the classroom with you.

I don't use it for anything that requires serious computing...
Apparently the solid state drive that it comes with is only good for about 100,000 write cycles, so it is not good for compiling.

I do use it for every day stuff, like taking notes, checking the Ethical Hacker Network forums , and watching movies.
With a USB DVD drive, I can use my normal live CDs like BackTrack and Helix.

This is a really great wardriving laptop. It's funny to turn on Airodump-ng or Kismet and drive through neighborhoods to see how many people have insecure wireless APs. I sometimes do this on my way home from work just to see how many I pick up. It sits nicely on my dashboard without sliding.

Thanks for that BackTrack link, oleDB!

I have been going through the LFS book (http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/), and it is a really good way to learn how Linux works, inside and out.

I agree that Live CDs are very good for people who just want to quickly use a tool instead of installing it. I still use Live CDs all the time, depending on what I need to do.

But, I also agree that it's very important for hackers to have some skills using Linux, and I am planning on putting together my own attack OS with LFS. After I'm done, I'll probably just say "okay, that was fun, now back to Gentoo", but it will still be a good learning tool.

For people willing to put together their own attack OS, would you recommend starting with something that has already been made (such as Ubuntu), or something like LFS (http://www.linuxfromscratch.org/) and make it all from source??

I've been using precompiled distros (BackTrack, nUbuntu, Helix, Knoppix STD, Gentoo, Debian, etc.) for a long time, and I am intereted in putting together my own pentesting OS.

Who else has put together their own attack/pentesting OS, and how did you do it?

I agree that it is too soon to phase out Windows XP.

After all, they still supported Windows 2000 until June of 2005, and XP came out at the end of 2001.

Signed. 

Since no one else is saying it, I will:

What is a good starting point for people who want to put together their own attack OS?

I'm not sure this should be in malware...

In fact, I'm not sure that this is ethical...

I got one of these earlier this month.

Is anyone else using one, yet?

It is quite an impressive little machine. I use it as my main computer at home, and a little bit at work.

I wonder if they will do something like that next year.
I will be all over it if they have a discount next year. 

Is anyone planning on going to Hacker Halted USA 2008 (Myrtle Beach, SC) to attend the CEHv6?

I would love to go, but it costs too much for me (US$2,299 if you register by April 1st ).
Maybe in a few years I will be able to do something like that.