Looking for links to detailed security info

[php_Guy]

I've installed the various security contributions here and added a bit of htaccess but I don't really understand a lot about security and would like to read up.

 

1. How do hackers get into a site in the first place? If admin is pw protected how do they get past it?

2. Does renaming admin really help? If they can figure out how to beat security can't they find a way to find the new folder?

3. There are names of various types of attacks floating around but only vague descriptions at best. I'd like to find details on exactly what these attacks do and how they do them.

4. Why is a shared-server less secure? Assuming the host knows their business, can't they make it just as secure for their customers as a private server?

5. Why is a shared-ssl certificate not as good? Not only is it free with some hosts but it saves the cost of a dedicated ip. Are they less secure somehow?

 

I guess I'm looking for a site that gives detailed instructions on 'how to hack a site' in order to understand what they do and how they think so that I can be better prepared to defend against them.