ahem! let me clear my assumptions...
hacker = good guy
cracker = bad guy
but the public opinion is different which idc
@IHATEMYSELF
I changed my opinion to be more sensible and convey really what I was thinking... but you quoted my earlier post
See 'cracker' wud be a rather incomplete when we talk at higher level like stealing secure information. i understand what u r saying and we do have terms 4 good and bad hackers:Black hat,white hat,cracker as u said,phreaker,open source,computer security hacker.
BUT this is rather very off topic. the guy wants to know how to be a hacker ,as i said which needs him to know elementry knowledge of networking and programming and a much higher level can be achieved by experience .
But he need to start 4m somewhere which i said 'googling' may help

It is imp. to know the tools for hacking in detail which cannot be discussed at this platform.
You may find saying they know hacking but they are just plain morons who have learnt a few tweaks or some illegal modification.A true hacker knows basics and invents new ways.