Minimal knowledge/skills at hacking/pen-testing at the moment. Starting out is so ominous because everybody has a different idea of where to start out. Currently reading a "How Networks Work" book, Hacking for Dummies (to learn terminology, etc.), and a book on Backtrack 5 by someone who appears reputable. Also, picked up all last year's issues of 2600 and subscribed. I threw a new HDD & DVD/CD drive into an old gaming tower & hoping to use that as my "guinea pig" for experimenting in a safe non-harmful way. Any pointers, books, places to look, etc. Would be greatly appreciated.
p.s. As a sidenote, i took programming in high school (12 years ago). Learned on ANCIENT stuff though (basic, pascal, & got my feet wet briefly in C++). So, i have SOME concept of how programming works.