3D print pocket protectors
Oh my god that is hilarious. I might need to fire up my 3d printer to make one of those.
3D print pocket protectors
Just a suggestion. You can often get an old computer for little money. Get one. Install Linux on it and play with it. Back in the old days when I was more into learning about such things, I set up my own mail server and would play with it. I would stay in command line only for a couple weeks every now and then. It would surprise you the apps available for CLI for mail, irc, Usenet, MP3 players, etc. okay, lynx isn’t an exciting web browser, but I used it back then. Learn BASH and do some shell programming. Compile your own kernel. You can always install an unupdated OS and try to exploit your own box.
Let's not forget about the awesome and inexpensive raspberry pi. You can even run a striped down version of win 10 on it.
Ethical hacking?
Yes, also closely related to pen testing
As an aside, what is it that computer guys do for fun? Gun guys build/modify guns to suit a purpose. Car guys try to build faster cars and tougher trucks. What do computer guys find fun?
It depends on the computer guy. Hardware guys try to build and tweak hardware to get the most performance out of it like car guys do. Security guys tend to read up on the latest attacks and defence mechanisms. I can't tell you what programmers do, since I am an old Hardware/Security/SysAdmin guy.
I also play computer games as well for fun.
As far as advice, if you are interested in something, and you have a computer start learning on your own. Classes will help, but if there is no passion to learn about the field you are in, and it is just a paycheck then I am not sure it is what you should do.
I have switched my career multiple times and have had to learn new things all the time. I have done Helpdesk, desktop support, Windows Server Administration, Linux Administration, Network Engineering, Network and Systems Architecting, Business Consulting, etc. In the past 25 years technology has changed, evolved. I am constantly learning something new. Sometimes it is something I need to learn, sometimes it is something I find interesting.
IT is a very exciting field is you are passionate about it. I started as a desktop support guy back in '99 and currently am an Information Security Engineer doing all kinds of cool stuff (to me at least) protecting some seriously critical things. Good post by fullmetaljesus. Read it carefully. I also invite you to check out a community that has been key in my professional development: TechExams. The fine folks there can help you set a path and provide valuable input on which certs will help you out the most. Best of luck.
I started to go down this path. I worked for a little company a local hospital bought then later sold. I was entry level as it got and did basic desk top support. Everything from password resets to setting up new pc/monitor/printers. Virus removal, imaging new pc's for the clients. They offered to pay for me to go to school to learn networking so I took them up on it and enrolled to Ivy Tech to get started. About 4 weeks in they laid off desk top support and formed a new company shortly after.
Was kind of a blessing I got laid off. I learned I hate staring at a computer screen for most of my day, hate being in a cubical where I can only have my ipod up so loud and a boss constantly looking over your shoulder.
Buckle up for a wall of text.......
First!
Get yourself an "A+ study guide"...
...
Bombard me with questions if you have them. I will do all I can to answer them.
What about this course?
D E F G H I J
1
COLLEGEWIDE CURRICULUM OF RECORD
2
SCHOOL OF COMPUTING AND INFORMATICS
3
NETWORK PENETRATION
4
CERTIFICATE
5
PROGRAM CODE:
6
2017-2018
7
LOCATIONS:
Bloomington - Columbus - Evansville - Fort Wayne - Indianapolis - Kokomo - Marion - Richmond - Sellersburg - South Bend - Terre Haute - Wabash
8
ALSO AVAILABLE STATEWIDE VIA DISTANCE EDUCATION
9
Leads to certifications in the Cyber Security/Information Assurance field including CompTIA: A+, Network +, and Security +; and EC Councils: Certified Ethical Hacking.
10
11
PROFESSIONAL - TECHNICAL
12
CSIA 105 Introduction to Cyber Security/Information Assurance 3
13
CSIA 106 Workforce Preparation: CompTIA Security+ Certification 1
14
CSIA 210 Network Protocol Analysis 3
15
CSIA 225 Ethical Hacking 3
16
CSIA 260 Business Continuity in an Information World 3
17
INFM 109 Informatics Fundamentals 3
18
ITSP 135 Hardware/Software Support 4
19
ITSP 136 Workforce Preparation: CompTIA A+ Certification 1
20
NETI 105 Network Fundamentals 3
21
SVAD 111 Linux and Virtualization Technologies Fundamentals 3
22
23
REQUIREMENT TOTAL:
27
24
25
TOTAL CREDITS:
27
I don't mean to be rude, but many of those will be over your head. But the A+ will be a good start and the hardware software support may be a good follow up
So you're saying you found out you don't like office work? Cause most places are like that, if you're in an office. InfoSec would be the same, for the most part, unless you were lucky enough to get a permanent work from home position.
If I recall IvyTech classes correctly, the 100 level stuff is all pretty basic. They should be introductory courses that will give basic understanding of the subject. I think the list looks great, but I agree that the A+ and Security+ will be very helpful to get basic understanding down.
When I started back in 2013 we started with DOS from which you could move to the beginner classes for networking and such. Most of the "class time" was just showing up for a test and turning in homework. Most of the class was a software based program to configure virtual networks which we did at home.