I need to learn about hacking. I need to learn, starting at a general level, how it works. Ultimately I'd like to be able to not only understand what all the hacking terms mean but, more importantly, how they work!

For example, I want to be able to take a piece of hackware and examine it, understand it, and know what it really does.

So, all that to say, what are some good resources for a novice?

Don,
   I appreciate the response... here's the problem. I'm enough of a noob that I don't even know what I'm looking for. I'd be happy to search, but my questions don't seem to turn up in a search.

I've been to many forums over the years, and I can appreciate the "Oh no, another noob. USE THE SEARCH FUNCTION!" sentiment... I guess I'll do some more digging, but honestly.... I am very much a noob. So much so that the topics I need to learn about are rarely discussed.

Thanks...

if you are unwilling or unable to learn how to search for the right material or be able to ask the right question, you may need to pick a different hobby.  there is an element of self learning, and having to ask a good question to get a good answer.

but since you are new, i'll help you.  looking at the various forums on this site, pick on the one that has the most posts, which happens to be this one "Ethical Hacking" which has 3000+ posts.  start looking at the topics of the threads, that should be a good start. 

if you are too lazy to do that, dont expect much help.

here's the link: http://www.ethicalhacker.net/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,54/board,22.0/

To Don -

I was looking into weather you had any newbie threads on here and how to start etc so i have started browsing through some of the threads whilst making any contributions i can.

I have spent a while reading up on Security, hacking and forensics but i still havent been able to put any of these into practise due to not having any hands on experience.

i would be glad to help start a newbie section with what i have been looking at and what i would like to learn more about.

i will start looking through and finding some Threads of interest

=]

Cheers

mambo

EDIT:

I have had a quick browse through to show the sorts of things i find useful.

I think the main thing that i struggle on whilst trying to gain the basic knowledge is understanding the logic behind how to acheive something. I can gain all the technical knowledge in the world about a subject from the internet, but until i can understand the logic behind it and how it is acheived in a non technical sense, it is hard to comprehend even trying.

For example i have avoided XXS [cross site scripting] for a while due to all the complex articles i read about it, but when you realise it is basically stealing cookies you can begin to think about why people would do this and  what you could do to protect yourself in the logical sense, then look into the technical ways of doing this.


So here are a couple of things i found good to read about:

Tools and Add on Tutorials: How tro use simple tools and firefox add ons such as http://www.ethicalhacker.net/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,54/topic,1146.0/

Passwords:
understanding passwords such as
http://www.ethicalhacker.net/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,54/topic,160.0/

And password cracking tolls have been a huge headache for me, so articles such as this are useful:
http://www.ethicalhacker.net/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,54/topic,23.0/

I think tutorials regarding tools such as Nmap and command line tools such as netstat would be a massive help.

I also feel a tutorial on setting up a virtual environment or lab would be great as it would help us newbies do some hands on stuff without wrecking our computers or putting in the wrong ip and scanning some governement agency =]

I hope this helps. Sorry its a bit long winded.

This thread also got a lot of great answers.
[Thread] An Ethical Hacker must have these skills...

Great responses...thanks alot!