Beginner

[karlht]

Hi, I started my first semester at a local community college and will be transfering to a 4 yr. to get my Bachelors in CIS. I am new to computer security and how a computer works. I am literate, can function quite well, but I do not have any working knowledge of computers. What I'm wondering, is if anybody has any suggestions on books I could start reading to build a knowledge base. I have probably 2-3 semesters before I even get into any core classes, and I really want to feed this hunger I have for more information. I am a beginner so go easy on me. Thanks alot!

[EXreaction]

I am not sure what to recommend you do to start learning about computers. Information Security is a pretty advanced field and I am not sure if it would work out well to even try getting into that without quite a bit of experience in computers. The beginning classes may teach you what you need to get into it though, but I would talk to the instructors for those classes.

I think the best thing to start out with is to start messing around with different computers and operating systems and keep up to date with the latest tech news. It would also help out quite a bit if you looked around support forums and read what people say to do, specifically in the hardware parts of computers.

I would look for a cheap used pc from craigslist or something. One you can take apart and take a look at the parts. As for installing different operating systems the easiest is through a virtual machine. Virtual PC 2007 is free and from Microsoft: Download details: Virtual PC 2007

Mess around with installing and configuring windows systems and if possible, learn a bit about linux systems. Ubuntu is a good place to start for linux.

[karlht]

Yea, I'm trying to do that- as far as getting familiar with the computer and it's parts. Studynotes.net has some good info. that I found, and I've also started messing around with the laptop that I have. I've come to realize that security not the place to start, and that I have to get a knowledge of computers in general first.

[pullmyfoot]

Got a few good sites for ya in my bookmarks.

AnandTech: your source for hardware analysis and news
bit-tech.net | The UK's leading source for Hardware and Games reviews
The Tech Report - PC Hardware Explored
www.hardwarezone.com® :: Connecting IT To You
[H]ard|OCP - www.hardocp.com
TrustedReviews - The UKs premier source of Technology News and Reviews

And this last site is pure gold
Ars Technica

obviously relavent article from that site.

All eyes on cybersecurity at midpoint of federal review - Ars Technica

On the first three sites, the comments at the end of their articles from the forum members have quite a bit of useful information and opinions you can learn from too..

[EXreaction]

What kind of security were you looking into specifically?

You might be able to get into it right away, but usually those kinds of courses are setup for people who've already taken the other degrees for the security field they want to get into (like say, networking). 1 year is plenty of time to learn what you would need to know if you can spend the time on it. I'd figure at least an hour or two a day for checking news, reviews, and tech forums to learn most of what you'd need in a year.

[karlht]

Honestly, I'm not sure which (network)? I don't think that there was a seperate specialization in the course outline. I've been doing that lately- especially checking out this site, and others. It's just that I don't have much knowledge as far as computers and most of what is said in the forums on this site is way over my head. I've been trying to learn, and some it has come via the hard way on my laptop. By the way, do I have to own a copy of windows or some other OS for virtual PC. I downloaded it, and I don't have any licensed copy right now other than what is already on my laptop.

[karlht]

Thanks pullmyfoot, I will check that stuff out.

[EXreaction]

You can use copies of Windows XP and Vista from the IE compatibility virtual machines from here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

They can only be used for a month or two before having to redownload, but they are free.

[karlht]

Thanks, I'm downloading both Linux and Windows. Why do some people like Linux more than Windows. I had never heard of it untill I started coming onto sites like these.

[KarmaKiller]

Because in linux, you can literally build your own OS, with only features you like/want.
Of course that takes some serious knowledge/skill, but if your into stuff like that....

[karlht]

I downloaded Linux, how do I use this as my OS for VPC? I used infrarecorder to copy it to a CD, but I'm not sure where to go from there. Everything I try doesn't/won't work for some reason. Sorry for the ignorance.

[EXreaction]

I've never really used Virtual PC myself to install new OS's on it, but if you look around there are some quick tutorials.
Installing Ubuntu on Virtual PC for Windows Lovers

[huntert]

i would say to learn some stuff about pcs. you could read passport to a+ by mike meyers and if you wanted to go deeper you could read a+ all in one also by mike meyers. you could learn a lot from howstuffworks.com. One thing maybe to look at is getting cisco's ccna and then taking cisco's security training. I think that networking is more important than hardware.

[karlht]

Thank you^^. What certification route should I be looking at. I realize that all the certifications are specific to whatever concentration in IT you would be going into. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[EXreaction]

As you said, it depends on what you want to do.

A+ and Network+ are always nice. If you are getting into MSFT stuff you *might* want to look into their certifications, or Linux+ if you plan on needing Linux, Security+ for basic security, and on and on.

[karlht]

Thanks, I'm going to be going into infosec. I've ordered Mike Meyers books- A+, Network+, and Security+, and I will be attempting to become certified in those once I am confident that I can pass the tests. As a Infosec concentration, where would you recommend going from there?

[EXreaction]

I am not sure what certificates are all above Security+ for that field. I still need to get some certificates myself.

[cksboy15]

I had never heard of it untill I started coming onto sites like these.

That is a good question. I think its because there are so many different versions of linux, last I heard there where 24, and the fact that the manuals for linux seem more intended for programmers or really computer savvy people.

[EXreaction]

List of Linux distributions - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...x-Gldt.svg.png

Linux is a server OS, it was not designed for desktops or normal users. People just have decided to try and make it useful for desktops and slapped a GUI over the top of it.

[zepper]

I'm wondering why anyone would go into a field in college with no prior interest in the field? First you discover what you love to do and then you go about finding out how to make a living doing that, and then getting trained in the details necessary to it - not vice-versa. If you don't enjoy what you're doing, you'll never go far doing it - it'll always be drudgery.

A lot of people waste a lot of time in college by not doing the above in the correct order. I know...

CIS is mainly programming, so if you don't already know you love programming (or something close to it), you probably shouldn't be on that track. Anyone going into CIS should have already learned and done some pretty extensive programming on their own these days (with the ubiquity of computers, free or inexpensive programming languages/compilers and inexpensive self-help books in computer programming/languages). I know I taught myself BASIC, a bit of assembly and writing a bit of HTML all after the age of 30, but I couldn't say I love to do it. I'm more a hardware guy and hardware is more on the engineering track.

Good luck.

.bh.