Yes Kevan, you should check out those links that Chris posted.  I assumed that you where going to scan or hack your own laptop from your desk top. If thats the case, then go for it.  Dont go crazy scanning other peoples computers with scanners like Nessus ,because of a number of reasons. One reason is if you crash someone's server and they log your IP you will be in deep crap.

No it's not. there's some rev-eng stuff, some database stuff, some crypto stuff, etc. It's all hacking. Don't try and compartmentalise everything, just go with the flow and absorb everything you can.

I've complete all the challenges there, if you stick with it you'll learn a lot.

If you register there with the name Kevan, then you can send a link to this thread as the solution to "Other Challenges #11" and get some easy points.

BTW, if you need any help just ask. You can see which challenges I've already finished here; http://hellboundhackers.org/profile/Negrita.html