Questions about basic networking school

[-=Xploitz=-]

I'm starting a "Computer Networking Science" associates degree program at my local tec. school. It seems to be a basic networking degree but it's the best thing I could find in my area. I just wanted to ask Xploitz and anyone else who is/has attended similar programs that involve the general study of networking etc. What do you want to do after school? Pen-testing specifically or simply a network administrator? I think a job as a pen-tester would indeed be cool, but I believe I would enjoy even being a network admin as well. I've always shown an interest in making computers "talk", and feel any job in this field would be fun. Also, just wondering how much such a basic class prepares you for a pen-testing specific job. I'm asking this stuff here because the counselors there were not at all familiar at all with the word "pen-test", and couldn't offer any insight to these questions. Thanks everyone.

Wow!

What great questions!!

Why you want to ask me? Hell..I'm a nobody. Streaker and Re@lity in my mind are the best people to discuss this all with.

He and Re@lity have more knowledge in Networking and I can even fathom. I'm only a lowly student.

Sure, I can crack WEP, WPA,WPA2 and websites in under a New York Minute....and do some "Xploitz"....but theres so much more to the bigger picture. I want to be the best all round IT Security Specialist in the world. I'm willing to sacrifice anything and everything to achieve my goal. Hell...when I first found this forum..I heard of Linux, but I never even looked at a Linux desktop!! I was strictly a Windows man.

Before I found this forum, (wanna hear a good laugh at my expense?)... me and my wife bought our first laptop. We installed the OS and made backup disk of windows...booted it up..and we were dying to try wi-fi!! (Thats why we bought the laptop in the first place.) So we clicked on wireless connect..and low and behold!!! There was this thing called WEP and WPA/WPA2 networks...with names like Linksys..dlink...2wire457 ...etc.....and we couldn't get our "free" internet!! We really believed that when you bought a laptop...that you got instant "free" wireless internet from some satellite signal in outer space or something!! We were wondering how we get this "free" internet...because after all...thats why we bought the laptop for...to get free unlimited wireless internet anywhere we brought our laptop!! ...boy was this a shock to us both when we couldn't get our "rightly free wireless internet" just because we have a laptop!..lol!!

But seriously..thats what sparked my interest in BT2. I had never been exposed to wi-fi or Linux. So I had 2 things to overcome...knowledge in both areas...a BIG obstacle to overcome..so what did I do?? I signed up to this forum and the aircrack-ng forums..I read ..and read..and read..literally EVERY THREAD I got involved...I asked questions when "search" and google failed..I posted my problem(s)..listed all commands used..and any other useful information anyone could use to help me....and I dedicated months into learning Linux and Wireless Fidelity. I went to my Library... Barnes and Noble...bought every book under the sun that I thought would help me to do what I wanted to do. Now look at me. I'm in college getting my Assoc. in Network Administration..and I plan on going the distance in getting a PHD in IT security..specializing in wireless security.

Why specialize in wireless Security??

Answer:

Simple...in a few years from now..I believe that a wired network will not exist. I believe that the demand for a Global Wireless Network will be met (Wi-MAX) and I want in on the action! Wired networks will be a thing of the past..I promise you. Sure there will be a few that won't convert..but in time..they will all be forced to utilize wireless communications of some sort as technology grows.

I have NO certs...no experience in Network Administration at all. I'm a regular Joe Blow from The United States of America who loves Penetration Testing Wireless networks. And I WILL make a living doing thus. No, theres no great need for it...but large companies and government agencies will want to make sure their info is 100% protected..and thats where I come in to play. Sure...I'm gonna have a job as an Network Admin one day....but my passion and all my energy is going into Pen testing Wifi...you can bet your arse thats where the high dollar money will be in a few short years.

IT Security,....Wireless Fidelity and -=Xploitz=-........together. What a great team!

[Primey]

To the users, 'nothing is your fault', the only person that needs to know that you made a mistake is your boss. The average populace does not need to know that. You can always give technical mumbo-jumbo to throw them off.

this is so true its scary

you must always have the power to give some major technical mumbo-jumbo, it helps...A LOT

and -=Xploitz=-...."rightly free wireless internet"....i just laughed my ass off

[imported_spankdidly]

A competent NetAdmin should never have to tell anyone to back their stuff up to the server. The GPO's should be configured in such a way that their data resides on the server and it's seamless to the user.

Not true. Where I work, your data is up to YOU to backup. Not the server or the netadmin. If you lose/corrupt/wipe/delete you data, that's your fault/responsibility. Thanks God too. I'm tired of data recovery stuff.

[streaker69]

Not true. Where I work, your data is up to YOU to backup. Not the server or the netadmin. If you lose/corrupt/wipe/delete you data, that's your fault/responsibility. Thanks God too. I'm tired of data recovery stuff.

See that just creates headaches by laying it on the feet of the Users, because they don't know and will never know any better.

With using GPO's, all their data is stored in their 'My Documents' folder, which is coincidently mapped to their H: drive which happens to be a home folder on the server. All users know that all their data is to reside in their 'My Documents' folder and anything that is not in there, is not being backed up.

It's a quick and easy way to make sure that your users aren't annoyed that they lost data. Remember, the goal is to make the life of your users and ultimately yourself easier.

Now, let's think about this. The VP of IT calls you up and says he just lost all his data because his harddrive failed. Are you going to sit there and tell him that it was HIS responsibility to back up his data?

If your company actually has such a policy, it's because the Net Admin is probably an idiot, and doesn't know how to set things up properly.

[Primey]

Not true. Where I work, your data is up to YOU to backup. Not the server or the netadmin. If you lose/corrupt/wipe/delete you data, that's your fault/responsibility. Thanks God too. I'm tired of data recovery stuff.

i agree with streaker on that one, where i work, i have to make sure that the data is stored on the server and properly backed up, in an HDD, burned into a DVD or a Gigadrive, and yeah, when one of the users has to look up an old Autocad file, guess who has to look it up, you guessed it, i have, the good part of this is that i dont trust any users to do this because they WILL screw up and i'll have to fix the damages so my boss won't rip me a new one

[-=Xploitz=-]

and -=Xploitz=-...."rightly free wireless internet"....i just laughed my ass off

Lol...well, at the time it made perfect sense to us! Spend $1,000 on a laptop..and it better come with free wireless internet!! We always heard people say "get a laptop and you can have wireless internet access".....and in the movies...you see someone typing away at their keyboard while surfing the internet. It never shows them "connecting" to a free hotspot...or a wireless network. All you see is some guy in the middle of the freaking woods or desert...with no possible way to get internet....and he gets it!! So we figured it was done for free via satellite to the guys laptop just because he has a laptop. .......And we wanted that!!

[streaker69]

i agree with streaker on that one, where i work, i have to make sure that the data is stored on the server and properly backed up, in an HDD, burned into a DVD or a Gigadrive, and yeah, when one of the users has to look up an old Autocad file, guess who has to look it up, you guessed it, i have, the good part of this is that i dont trust any users to do this because they WILL screw up and i'll have to fix the damages so my boss won't rip me a new one

Another important point is TRUST NO ONE! If you hear that someone is looking for a new job. Immediately take steps to back up their data. Do not tell them you're doing it, just do it. Even if what you hear is just scuttlebutt, do it anyway, it will save your ass in the future.

If someone gives 'two weeks notice' immediately back up their data. Even if you have to temporarily kill their account to do it. Back up all their data, this includes all their email. I'm currently in the process of getting our HR policy changed that if someone turns in their notice, they are immediately off the network, all because we got bit by someone we thought we could trust.

So, TRUST NO ONE.

[Primey]

Another important point is TRUST NO ONE! If you hear that someone is looking for a new job. Immediately take steps to back up their data. Do not tell them you're doing it, just do it. Even if what you hear is just scuttlebutt, do it anyway, it will save your ass in the future.

If someone gives 'two weeks notice' immediately back up their data. Even if you have to temporarily kill their account to do it. Back up all their data, this includes all their email. I'm currently in the process of getting our HR policy changed that if someone turns in their notice, they are immediately off the network, all because we got bit by someone we thought we could trust.

So, TRUST NO ONE.

again, so right its scary, and yes, i trust one person and only one person to do backup of the data, me...let me put it into perspective the kind of users i have:

User: "I can't send an email with attachment thru the company's mail, why is that? "

fyi, the SMTP here is configured so that the attachment limit is 10MB

Me: "If you are trying to send an attachment that is 50MB, it will not send, the limit is 10MB miss "

My Brain at the moment: " !"%&/#%/ dumb...plain old dumb "

so yeah, that is why i do the backups

[imported_spankdidly]

With using GPO's, all their data is stored in their 'My Documents' folder, which is coincidently mapped to their H: drive which happens to be a home folder on the server. All users know that all their data is to reside in their 'My Documents' folder and anything that is not in there, is not being backed up.
.

We have this in place. It's still the responsibility of the user to keep their data safe. I'm not a netadmin, Just a deskside tech. Also, if the VP had this problem, anything/everything would be done to retrieve the data. I'm sure other measures have been put in place with their data. It's just the general population that has it rough. I think the situation is unique here. It's not like anywhere else I've worked where the general pop. is a bunch of noobs.

[MisterCrash]

Well this is all great info everyone. Thank you. I didn't think I would get so many responses in so little time. I look forward to this education and a lifelong career in IT and all the responsibilities in it. I'm glad I found this forum of friends that all share the same interests. And as long as I don't ask for "A step by step noobie tutorial" I think I'll fit in just fine.