Hi there

I'm a soon 29 year old guy with a master in information technology working full time as a. NET developer. I've had an interest in security, especially pentesting since high school, but back then I never really considered it as a career path option. Now lately the last year I've begun to read more and more security articles, tutorials etc, and I've started coding in Python trying to make small client server back doors, my own http server and stuff like that to get an in depth knowledge of networking and protocols etc. I'm also reading Counter Hack Relosded, and this world of security is so much more  exciting compared to my daily job.

Hence I dream of a career within pentesting, but do you guys think it is to late for me to change direction from being a 'commercial'. NET developer without any real knowledge within security  to becoming a professional  pentester? If not, how would you approach this endeavour, and what path do you think I should take? The reason why I'm so in doubt is because this field is so large and requires such a broad knowledge, and I can code, but I really don't know where to start. 

I don't have any really useful knowledge within security, so I'm a complete newbie, I only have like 3 years of programming experience, but I consider my self a fast learner.

What do you guys think, am I to late with this, and is my age against me, or how and where could I start with my current knowledge?

Oh and I'm sorry for the length of this post.

I changed careers from network admin to pentesting at 30. I managed to do so without taking a pay cut. It's possible, you just have to be strategic about it. Like ajohnson said, the next logical step in my eyes is for you to become a web app ninja. You'll have to convince a potential employer that you actually know what you're talking about. You might want to start blogging, or publishing useful code to the community.....whatever it is, just start showing that dream company that you're a ninja. Where are you located?

ajohnson, cd1zz and impelse are all right!

I am a Java developer who started transitioning into pentest 5 years ago. I am now 37 and I am almost completely out of web development.

So by all means, do it! It requires lots of work, but like me, you can do it! 

Thank you all for your answers. It's comforting to get some support from people with experience already on the same path. I think I'll read up on web app pentesting and try to use some of my experience with WCF from the. NET world. Better start somewhere than nowhere I guess

I'm from Copenhagen / Denmark, and nice forum

Oh, in that case, you may have to move as well. I'm not trying to discourage you, but it doesn't sound like there's a lot of opportunities over there. MaXe, despite his impressive skills, actually relocated to Australia for a full-time pen testing gig: https://forum.intern0t.org/blogs/maxe/132-living-down-under-beginning.html

28 is not too old. I am making the transition after 15yrs working as a sysadmin

He is too old. Yes, too old to begin the training.

(I couldn't help myself)

Man, man, man!!!

Age is mere a number. don't worry and go ahead. Though I am 50 now, I feel very young with younger member of this group!!

Enjoy.