ok so i want to learn like the basics of programing and hacking and then move on from there but i don't know where to start.

H1PPY,

I'll start with the programming aspect of your questions as thats where I got started. I'd recommend that you try to find a small project that you want to complete, I've found that nothing can be harder than trying to learn programming for the sake of programming. If you've got a project it will give you something to work towards, keep you focused and ultimately give you a sense of achievement as you complete various aspects of the project. From experience though, when starting out don't be afraid to through a project away if you realise you should have done it differently. Start again and use what you've learnt to build a better solution and learn more along the way (assuming you haven't got a boss looking over your shoulder.)

Whilst I'd agree with shawal that C (and derivatives) is a good language for systems and network programming, it can be a scary place to start. I've known several programmers and lecturers who advocate the use of web based coding for learning as it is easy to get interaction with the program without a lot of 'black magic'. Personally I think that the intergration between presentation and application logic can be confusing and the lack of structure can allow you to form bad programming habits.

For a starting point I'd recommend trying Visual Basic, although you'll probably want to graduate to a more 'advanced' language after you known the basics, VB can be a great starting point to learn to code and common programming structures. After all, BASIC was originally designed as an educational tool.

As you can probably guess from my response, there is no 'right' language for any programmer, or any situation. From reading your post I'm assuming that you are just starting out, if possible enrol an an introductory programming course. The guidance and assistance from an experienced programmer can make a large difference in your rate of learning and overall proficiency, possible making the difference between you being a 'code hacker' or a programmer.

If you know other programmers, try using the same language and toolsets as them, hopefully they should be able to offer assistance and recommendations whilst you are setting out. It can also be a nice sense of achievement and indication as to your progress when mentors who taught you the ropes starting asking for assitance and thoughts from you for their projects.

For the hacking aspect of your question, I'll mostly leave that to more experience members of this forum. Most of the recent books published should give you a good start, for a complete new entrant into the field Hacking for Dummies and Hacking Exposed seem to be the most accessable and are often recommended. Don't forget about Google aswell, should be every hackers best friend

Good luck

none at all...programming i only no sum php and wut u mean by mathematical skill

Hey, thanks for the link! Looks like a good read.

Kraxor,
Java would be suited better if are thinking Object Oriented Programming. C++ is more flexiable and complex than C, it is more extensive. C is simple, the only complications peopel have with C is pointers, however for system programming, and for security purposes it is much stronger to program in C. saying so could be also misleading as i see metasploit among other applications are written in Ruby, some others are written in python. so i again emphasize to learn programming you can start from any where, whoever this will affect the way you model and design your prorgams, if you start with python or ruby, this would be a very nice neat choice as you will think in objects, and in python you will produce a very readable code, while in ruby your code will be short and will make sense

vijay2,

I do have a different opinion in here, scripting as an automation tool, and understanding exploits, and controling security tools from workflows, or control programs will differentiate an ethical hacker from a script kiddie big time. I do agree with you that network, and system administration are a must have skill, and i do see trend in system admins these days not to script things, and get away with it. however to understand what is going on a Linux/Unix system shell scripting is a must have skill.

my 0.02

Good system administrators make own patches ........... First exploit then fix ...
To exploit you must "read" the source code.... i speak for OPEN Source right now ...

if you think Administrator do ./configure ./install ./blabla ./run  hope you will not Administrate my network

All is linked... . This is the true, you cant start from - ][Half --->Top

you start from - ][nothing ---> Half -----> Top this is very long process...
To become good you need time ...
Time is money ....
You cant rollback the time ...
so TIME > ALL












Shawal you are right but as i say this is my thinking ... Ruby and python are good too but C++ is the best.... you can do things like Ruby and Python but rly it's more hard.... but you can do all and ++++++ extras... that you cant do in Ruby and Python. But all is require sense and "what you want to do like a Programmer" Im beginer in Programming so i can say BIG WORDS.... but this is my opinion.

vijay2,

so you would like to use an exploit without being able to dissect it? most Linux boxes will have python/perl by default, most webserver will have php/asp by default. in windows you will have the cmd.exe , wmic, among other new shells, and sometimes you will be lucky and get a cygwin

the development environment does not have to be complex, scripting is about simplicity.

I never made the assumotion that you will need the compiler on the victim machine, however if it is there he/she is only to be blamed to make your job easier, same applies if he/she provides a tftp client, or vnc. even worst netcat or some sort of netcat functionality

any security topic is not limited to one thing and no one person can master all skills.  so ethical hacking is a wide domain where several skills can be usefull, the more you have them in your utility belt or hacktool box, the more resourceful you are, however this is only valid if the skills of how to use them goes along with the tools availability including coding

have a nice day