How to learn network security?

faizlo · 11-22-2011, 02:47 AM

Hi,

I want to learn network security and this means I should read books and learn some tools. My problem is I do not want to do something illegal and I don't want to have trouble but I do not know how?
If I scan a network I am not authorized to, this will be illegal and I do not want it. Do you have any suggestions?

~faizlo

yooy · 11-22-2011, 03:29 AM

you can try booting backtrack to play aroud or check for books for security cerfiticate (CompTIA Security+)

unSpawn · 11-22-2011, 04:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faizlo

My problem is I do not want to do something illegal and I don't want to have trouble but I do not know how? If I scan a network I am not authorized to, this will be illegal and I do not want it.

If you don't have spare machines to play with then virtualization (in the form of VMware, QEmu, Virtual Box or whenever else you can use) may help for creating your own LAN. If you install minimal virtualization guests, no desktop and only the necessary packages to run (vulnerable?) network services then such virtual machines won't require much in terms of disk space and RAM.

faizlo · 11-24-2011, 03:09 AM

So, aren't there any networks available for education purposes?

~hatim

OlRoy · 11-24-2011, 03:54 AM

Most people create their own virtualized network like was previously suggested. There are even already made OSs that were intentionally made vulnerable such as Metasploitable, Damn Vulnerable Linux (DVL), De-Ice, pWnOS, etc.

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If you want to pay for a lab, you could try something like The Hacking Dojo. I never used them, and prefer to make my own lab.