That's great that you want to get into ethical hacking, it can be a fascinating field to learn about cybersecurity and vulnerability research. Here are some recommendations to get started with little to no prior programming experience:

Learn some basic programming languages. The most useful ones for ethical hacking are Python, SQL, Bash, and JavaScript. Python is easy to read and learn, and essential for many hacking tools and techniques. SQL is needed to query databases. Bash and JS are important for web app hacking.

Study network fundamentals. Learn about network devices, protocols (TCP/IP), network topology, network operating systems, network models (OSI/TCP), ports, etc. Having a solid network foundation will help you think like an attacker.

Practice common vulnerabilities and exploits. Things like SQL injections, XSS attacks, DDoS attacks, brute force attacks, buffer overflows, man-in-the-middle attacks, etc. You can find many tutorials online to walk through them.

Learn penetration testing methodologies. Things like reconnaissance, scanning, exploiting, pivoting, maintaining access, covering tracks, and reporting. The hacking process is as important as the techniques.

Use hands-on tools and techniques. Study tools like Wireshark, Nmap, Hydra, John the Ripper, Metasploit, etc. And practice recon, scanning, cracking passwords, exploiting bugs, and more.

Do cybersecurity capture the flag events. These are like hacking simulations where you "attack" a system to reach a flag. They provide realistic hacking challenges and help build skills.

Learn defensive strategies too. Studying defenses will make you a better ethical hacker. Things like IDS, firewalls, network admin practices, secure coding, defense tools, etc.

Stay up-to-date with new tools, techniques, and vulnerabilities. Ethical hacking is always evolving, so keep learning and practicing regularly.

Consider professional certifications (OSCP, OSCE, eCPPT, etc.) for guidance and credibility. Certs can help validate your skills to employers.

Does this help outline a good path to get started learning ethical hacking? Let me know if you have any other questions! I'm happy to provide more recommendations and resources.
spam fails_task lang_mismatch pii not_appropriate hate_speech sexual_content quality toxicity humor helpfulness creativity violence