But it looks to me like there is no clear path on how to become a security engineer.
So what is your recommendation ? (from training/formation to actually finding a job in security)
There is no clear path, but there are many facets to learn about:
* Web application security and popular attacks (such as https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Category:OWASP_Top_Ten_Proje...) * System and network security (learn to use BackTrack http://www.backtrack-linux.org/) * Understand and learn how to use crypto: e.g. known crypto algorithms and what they are good for, learn how to apply disk crypto, learn how SSL works, know how you should do password hashing. * Learn about phishing and social engineering * Learn about malware, botnets, and zero-day exploits.
Learn about all of them but try to become an expert on just one of these subjects by playing with tools. For example, set up a honey pot system to capture malware. Then try to find the malware on it, and then try to reverse engineer it.
Complete the Matasano crypto challenges and hope they offer to interview you.
I would suggest working towards CISSP depending on your formal education. If you're interested in software security learn IDA Pro, start a blog, set up a honeypot, start analyzing malware you collect, and write about it.
It covers most modern aspect of software security.
Start participating in CTF (capture-the-flag).
Go to conferences: defcon, blackhat, shmoocon, derbycon. Talk to people.
Read phrak.org.
Learn about the old-school hacker culture.
Hack stuff.
i also took a couple of CS security classes in school but they were not really "hands-on"