This article is from the comp.security.unix and comp.security.misc FAQ, by Alan J Rosenthal flaps@dgp.toronto.edu with numerous contributions by others.
No. We're security professionals. We try to secure systems. We think that
securing systems and fixing bugs are more intellectual activities than running
a program which someone else wrote which you don't understand.
You should only attempt "penetration testing" of a system with the consent
of its administrators and/or owners. They will only be interested in your
services if you know something. You can start your education by learning
some general computer science and computer programming, and by reading
computer security textbooks and/or newsgroups.
 
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