Intro:
The reason I wrote this is because there are a vast amount of "hacking for newbies" texts available on the Internet, most by very knowledgeable individuals. However, they all (to the best of my knowledge) cover dialup hacking only. To explain what I mean by that, let me categorize the various means in which a hacker gains access to a computer, supermini, mainframe, etc - into three distinct genres. There's the obvious on-site access, which is as simple as being in the premises of the system in question. There’s dial-up access, which is simply using a modem to dial into another modem, and going from there. And finally, there's what I will hereafter refer to as IP access. In short, this means accessing a system via the Internet. On-site (relatively unfeasible in most cases) hacking is usually covered briefly in most of the readily available texts out there, though they mostly focus on dial-up hacking. The idea of connecting to a computer elsewhere with a modem has been around a long time, so therefore has the dial-up access method of hacking. But the Internet, having only been around for about 30 years, has not been a widely used method of access. Actually, it hasn't been that recent, so why a guide to hacking on the Internet hasn't already been written is beyond me. That is the primary focus of this text. Take any computer or network of any potential target of yours, and most likely they are connected to the Internet. Which means you, as an Internet-hacker-to-be, can break into it. This is very good for people like us, because finding a computer or network on the Internet is much easier than finding a modem number (I'll explain how later). One last thing before we get into the actual hacking stuff: this text will not teach you to be a hacker, nor will any text out there or any collection of texts. Hacking is a self-taught craft, meaning you will need the dedication to go out and find materials on your own. If you have a specific question, go ahead and ask someone on a hacker IRC channel of whatever, but if your question is too broad ('how do I hack into a NetWare box?') you will be ridiculed and labeled a lamer. Keep your questions technical in nature ('what's the SMTP command to set the recipient'), and most will be happy to share their knowledge with you. Once you've completed this text, I suggest you play around with what you've learned (as 80% or so of what you learn will come from hands-on experience). Next you will need some material on topics just glazed over in this text. Get yourself a UNIX book (UNIX for dummies, Teach yourself UNIX in 24 hours, whatever). Then get yourself a book on Windows Networking. These are also readily available. Other books you should have in your collection are general hacking books. The book Maximum Security is very informative, as is Secrets The Happy Hacker. Secrets of a Super Hacker, Steal This Computer Book, and the New Hacker's Dictionary are at least worth checking out at your library. If all this seems like too much work, well then you probably lack the dedication to become a hacker. If you're still eager to learn - great! This text will point you in the right direction. So, without further ado (ado?) - on with the hacking!
Prerequisites
First of all, let me say that it is assumed that the reader of this text already has a basic working knowledge of computers and the Internet. Not extensive, by any means. This text is targeted to people who probably have their own computer (or ready access to one), surf the web, and have always wanted to know what exactly hacking was all about. If you start reading and find yourself lost, put this down and go get yourself a basic book on computers and the Internet before you delve into this. For example, its assumed that you already know what a URL is (e.g.: http://www.hackers.com/archives). This really goes without saying, but I as the writer of this text, take no responsibility in the actions of those who act based upon principals learned by reading this material. Really, this is intended to inform anyone who's always wondered how exactly these "hackers" they hear so much about do what they do, and for concerned system administrators who want to know how hackers can infiltrate their network. Okay, anyway, onto the good stuff.