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Cybersecurity Truths I Found Out Before It Was Too Late When I started my cybersecurity career, I thought I had it all figured out. I’d get the right certifications, learn the hottest tools, and climb the ladder to that impressive job title of “CISO” But here’s what I didn’t know: the things that actually move your career forward aren’t always found in a textbook, a bootcamp, or an online course. Over the years, I’ve learned—sometimes the hard way—that success in this field is as much about people, impact, and communication as it is about technology. Here are the cybersecurity truths I wish someone had told me on day one. 3 + 2 1. Certifications Don’t Replace Projects Certifications are a great starting point. They prove you can study, absorb information, and pass a test. But hiring managers don’t hire you because you have letters after your name—they hire you because you can solve problems. If you have a certification but no hands-on projects to back it up, you’re competing with hundreds of others who look exactly the same on paper. Build something. Secure a cloud environment. Create a threat detection tool. Document it. Share it. That’s what makes you stand out. 2+4 2. Years of Experience ≠ Impact I’ve met people with two years in the industry who made more impact than others with twenty. Why? Because they didn’t just do the work—they improved it. They spotted gaps, fixed broken processes, and made life easier for their team. Impact beats tenure every time. 2+1 3. Chasing Job Titles Will Make You Miserable A title won’t make a toxic workplace better. It won’t make meaningless work more fulfilling. Focus on roles where you can learn, grow, and contribute. The titles will come naturally—often when you stop chasing them. 3 4. Learning How to Communicate > Learning Another Tool I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: communication is the multiplier skill. Being able to explain a complex risk to a non-technical executive in plain English is often more valuable than mastering another niche tool. If you can’t communicate risk, you can’t manage it. 3 5. Most Security Issues Are People Problems, Not Tech Problems We love to focus on the tech—firewalls, SIEMs, zero trust. But most breaches happen because of misaligned priorities, ignored processes, or simple human error. And yes—sometimes politics. Learn to navigate people, not just packets. 4 6. You’ll Spend More Time in Meetings Than in Terminals If you think a cybersecurity role is all about hands-on hacking… you’re in for a surprise. You’ll be explaining findings, negotiating timelines, and aligning on priorities—often in meetings. Lots of meetings. 2 7. Trust Gets You Access—Tools Just Get You Started Your relationships will open more doors than your technical stack ever will. Build trust with your team, leadership, and peers across the business. 1 8. Documentation is a Security Control No one likes doing it, but clear documentation prevents mistakes, speeds up incident response, and helps new team members ramp up quickly. 1 9. Knowing the Risk is Half the Job. Communicating It is the Other Half Identifying a vulnerability is one thing. Convincing the business to fix it—and explaining why it matters in terms they understand—is another skill entirely. 2 The Bottom Line I came into cybersecurity thinking it was about breaking things. It’s really about protecting what matters—and explaining why it matters. So if you’re starting out (or even if you’re years in), remember: Projects > certifications alone Impact > tenure Communication > another tool in your belt People skills > pure technical skills Master these, and you won’t just survive in cybersecurity—you’ll thrive. Check out my video on this topic also ! 2+7

R36 Gaming Console in Protective Case Hacking R36S In this piece, we will talk about how to improve the R36S. You've just purchased a highly modifiable item, and there are many rabbit holes to explore. If you purchased your R36s from my store, you've got an original R36S and not a dangerous, cheap clone. If you have your R36S already, you know that it works great right out of the box. If you're like me, you want more than just cheap; you want to maximize your investment, which, to me, means a few things. But mainly, it means you're hacking the r36s! Let's go do this: Swap the stock nameless R36S 64GB SD card with branded, high-quality, high-durability 32GB and 128GB micro SD cards so that you don't lose your game progress, and sleep easy knowing that it is configured in a more highly available architecture. Add new games and expand it from the 64GB version with 15k games to the 128GB version with 25k games for free. Adding a silicon case to prevent damage from drops. Adding a wifi dongle so the console can have internet connectivity to update games, download new games, and play multiplayer. Adding a screen protector to further protect the screen from drops. Budget for improvements: $100 By the end of this piece, we will have invested about $100 into a budget-friendly Game Emulator, ensuring it stands the test of time and provides us with years of fun and no trouble. Plus, we get to have fun tinkering. SD Cards A few months ago, I grew tired of constantly replacing SD cards. I have a lot of devices that require SD cards, and they would break frequently. So I replaced them all in one swoop with high-quality SD cards and haven't had the first problem since. It appears that there are numerous error codes that can result from faulty SD cards. The SD card that comes with the Game Emulator stock isn't reliable. Whenever you purchase an item with an SD card, the first step is to replace it with a brand-name card. Brands and quality matter big time for SD cards. You'll save your games and time on this SD card, making it not worth the headache of losing everything. This is a mandatory step in my opinion. This Game Emulator was designed for occasional use, such as one time during a road trip, rather than as a serious portable gaming console, which is what we're preparing it for. We're preparing it for the streets, for the occasional drops and slips, for the ring-a-ting-tings and the dilly-whacka-do. They didn't account for wear and tear or abuse, and they made it as cheap as possible. It's really too cheap for my standards, so I'm fixing that because at it's root, this is one sweet electronic. This is a fantastic $50 gaming machine, and we're going to upgrade it to become the best gaming machine it can be, one that won't break down on you in serious portable gaming conditions. A quality SD card is a few bucks, and I'm going to make you buy TWO. You need two for this architecture, and they need to be name-brand, like the one in the product list at the bottom of this article. One 32 GB is for the operating system, and the other 128 GB is for games, game progress, and other applications. ArkOS The 32GB name-brand SD card that you will replace the 64GB stock one with, we will install the ArkOS operating system on and make it bootable. This is widely believed to be the best operating system for this hardware. Download an imager. Since I use a Mac, I will be using Balena Etcher. A website specifically for this ArkOS warns against using Balena Etcher, but it seems awfully suspicious. The person warning against it is promoting the developer's name of the imager product he's promoting, which seems like an attaboy promotion. Maybe they'll go on a date or something. Balena Etcher is the 900lb gorilla for ALL operating systems for imaging flash drives, SD cards, and external media. It is really a simple and fantastic free tool. I've contributed to their project a time or two and I'd recommend you to do the same. The issues they describe seem to stem from using a too-large micro SD card or issues during the copy process, but when imaging something, it's either going to work or it's not; it doesn't degrade as time goes by as they describe. That is a common problem with people, they try to buy these generic Micro SD cards that are terabytes, and wonder why it has all of these problems. You need to spec the size of your Micro SD card to be near the capacity you'll fill it. That solves a lot of the most common SD card issues, other than buying a high-endurance brand-name SD card. To paint the picture a little bit better, if you're storing pictures on a digital camera, it's better to use a 16GB Micro SD Card and use two if you need more storage. Do it this way to improve reliability and redundancy, rather than to try to shove a 1TB Micro SD card in the camera. For our purposes, 32GB is a little bit more than we need for the operating system but not too much more that the extra space gets bumps and bruises that corrupts the card. Then, in the second slot on the other side of the console, we are adding a 128GB name brand card just specifically for the games. We are separating the games which are disposable and replaceable, with the SD card that will hold the ArkOS, saved games, configurations and are unique to you. And, on a regular basis, you'll pull out the 32GB memory card and use Balena Etcher to make an image of it. So you'll back it up. Flash this file onto your 32GB name-brand card. I will say one last thing about the R36s and the TF2 slot, it's very finicky and only works with some brands of SD cards. I had a SanDisk card in mine, and the R36S slot 2 TF2 slot wouldn't recognize the SanDisk card until I replaced it with the one in the shop. You're welcome to try other SD cards, but make sure they're high-quality SD cards. Once the image has been completed, Windows may ask you if you want to format the SD card. MAKE SURE TO CLICK CANCEL ON THIS QUESTION! If you let it format the SD card, you will need to install the image again. Start your Game Emulator and go to Options > DeviceType > and select r36s and then let it restart. GAMES Games in this world are called ROMS, and they are only legal to have if you own the corresponding game. So be sure to delete all the ROMS you download that you don't have a cartridge for. You won't go to jail, but Nintendo might sue you if they show up at your front door. This is because you invited them, and they saw you playing their games, and they have evidence that is admissible in court. Ok. So, it's unlikely you'll be doing bad things then, huh (srsly don't create a YouTube video). So I'll leave you to ponder while I point you in the direction of Tiny Best Set. Take your 128GB name-brand SD card and put it into your Game Emulator and go to Options > Advanced > go all the way to the bottom and select switch to TF2 slot for ROMS (or something similar). Then you'll know if your machine will have the common problem of not being able to read your SD card in the TF2 slot. If you're having trouble, try a different name-brand SD card. SanDisk is the worst for this application. Download uTorrent and unzip the torrent below then double-click Out of this torrent, you'll select: tiny-best-set-go-games.zip tiny-best-set-go-expansion-64-games.zip tiny-best-set-go-expansion-128-games.zip When it finishes downloading, you'll unzip the three zip files (will take quite a while). It will contain a zip file for every ROM, but you don't need to unzip these. The Game Emulator will unzip them as needed. Then you'll put your 128GB name-brand Micro SD card into your card reader. This is a manual process. Copy the ROMS you want to include from the three zip files you unzipped (they will also be zip files) into their respective folders, which were created on the 128GB name-brand Micro SD card when you selected 'switch to the TF2 slot for ROMS'. Keep the original SD card that came with the Game Emulator. You will want to copy some of the PSP and PS games from there to your new card. This process takes a day or so. I highly recommend getting the additional extras. I've got all of the games on my r36s and now just dove headfirst into games. The extras should be here soon and I'll post a note. Grab yours today!

This article discusses the five-step SOC Analyst Method. The five sections are Reason for the Alert, Supporting Evidence, Analysis, Conclusion, and Next Steps. Learning the method gives you the fundamental knowledge required to analyze and prepare a security alert for further action or a conclusion. Practice with live attackers inside Splunk. Figure 1-1: SOC Analyst Method What Is the SOC Analyst Method? The SOC Methodology emerges from extensive cybersecurity experience, providing a structured approach to analyzing security events. The five-step SOC Analyst Method offers a manual process that, despite the prevalence of AI and automation tools, remains a valuable skill set. This knowledge not only distinguishes you within the cybersecurity community but also proves indispensable in specific situations where manual analysis adds depth to threat comprehension and response strategies. Following these five steps in sequence results in a comprehensive overview of a security event, from its beginning to its conclusion. The figure illustrates the security event gateway, which is developed from the ground up, including a proposed allocation of time for each step. While certain events may demand more or less time in specific steps, the general guideline suggests dividing the time spent on a security event in this manner. Figure 1–2. Security Event Gateway 5% is for identifying and understanding what caused the alarm to trigger. 40% is for gathering and documenting all evidence pertaining to the alarm. 40% is for studying the evidence, checking the reputation of the indicators, looking for historical correlations, and otherwise determining if this is malicious behavior. 10% is for crafting a conclusion that is the result of your security analysis, and taking any necessary immediate actions. 5% is for determining the next steps, if any. Let’s dive into each step and explain how to conduct a security investigation. Reason for the Security Alert This section explains why the alert was triggered. The SOC is a series of triggers for malicious behavior, and the first thing you will need to do is have a solid understanding of why it was triggered. The reality is that the SOC is extremely fast-paced, and the breadth of knowledge that is required to conduct a security analysis is immense. Don’t be afraid of rolling up your sleeves and digging into an alert that you haven’t seen before to find what it is looking for and why this particular instance looks malicious. Without understanding the logic behind why it looks suspicious, you won’t know what evidence to collect to build a case to analyze. Every tool has different signatures, so the first place to look is the vendor's documentation. The simplest way is to search the Internet for information about it. Just Google the alert title. It’s usually that simple, unless it’s a custom rule, in which case you should refer to your internal documentation if you have any. You may be in a situation without documentation, but this step is critical, and you cannot continue until you understand the rule. Once you understand what the rule is looking for, the next step is understanding what happened to trigger this particular alert. For instance, the rule might be configured to alarm if it matches any IP address on a blacklist, and the second part is finding what IP address triggered this particular alarm. Examples: This alarm was fired due to a ransomware variant being detected on the endpoint machine “Machinename123” and not cleaned.This alarm fired due to numerous external login attempts against a public facing web server “ login.xyz.com ”. This alarm fired due to the domain admin “twall” adding the user “testtest” to the admin group “xyz_TEST_ADMINS”.In your analysis, this is the first thing that the reader will read and it will help them quickly understand what the alert is about. Supporting Evidence This section lists the supporting logs and evidence that you found while building the timeline of the event. A timeline looks at what happened directly before and after the alarm was triggered. What you are trying to determine in the analysis step that follows is whether this alert triggered on malicious activity or if there is some other benign reason this rule has been fired. In this step, however, we are doing nothing more than collecting and documenting supporting evidence to later analyze. Note Usually I will start with a timeline of 24 hours before and after, then adjust as the analysis progresses if needed. But if you need to widen the timeline, more supporting evidence goes here. The first part of supporting evidence I like to target is identity. Add the job title of who was targeted, username, email, last login, and if they’re a VIP or privileged user, as well as any other relevant details. And then document the device name, IP address, and any information you have about the asset. Is this a user workstation, server, dev, or prod? Then include any information about the files associated with the alert, their hash, file size, and signer. Next, paste any logs you have for the event that may be helpful to reference. Endpoint logs, SIEM logs, firewall/network logs, IDP/IPS logs, anything that you find that may be helpful to think about and analyze in the next step. Start thinking if this activity would be a part of their job description, and what tools you have internally that might have information about this event. For instance, it may be a good time to check your ticketing system to see if any maintenance was happening that could trigger this. Next, document any actions the account has taken recently. For instance, have they recently had an account lockout or changed their password? Have they downloaded any oversized items recently, or downloaded many different items quickly? Document any suspicious email actions, including deleting and sending unusual amounts of emails. Document any suspicious mail forwarding rules. You are looking to document anything that the account did in the timeline that may be pertinent to the alarm that triggered. But remember, we’re investigating the alert to copy the evidence at this stage. Try not to chase any theories too far just yet. In my experience, once you are staring at all of the data in text and thinking about it for a minute or two in analysis, you will have a better chance at a correct theory and conclusion. Time-wise, it’s much faster to analyze with a complete picture of the evidence. Others will read this analysis and will be able to understand how you got to the conclusion easily and quickly. All of the information that supports your analysis should be in the supporting evidence. You can and should add more supporting evidence if your analysis pivots you in another direction. Analysis This section is where you take your supporting evidence and evaluate all of the information you’ve collected using threat intelligence, external, and internal tools. You attempt to make connections between the supporting evidence and malicious behavior. There are a lot of online tools that are standard for use in this step. VirusTotal is perhaps the most common way to check the reputation of an indicator of compromise (file hash, IP address, URL, etc.), but any automated tool can do that today. What distinguishes you as a “better than machine analyst” is your thoroughness. The fact is, automated tools simply haven’t reached the point of conglomeration where they even have the licenses to check it all. You will commonly get different answers about reputation from other tools. Check IP Void, URL Void, Spamhaus, AbusePDB, Cisco Talos, and document as many as possible. A few of my commonly used free online tools are as follows: Virustotal: Use this tool to research IP address and URLs. Talos Intelligence: Use this tool to conduct reputational checks on IP addresses and URLs IPVoid: Use this tool to check blacklists for a particular IP address. URLVoid: Use this tool to check URLs for safety reputations. Reverse.it , Joe Sandbox, Any.run , Hybrid Analysis: Use these tools to analyze online/offline files and URLs for malware. Domaintools: Use Domaintools’ free Whois service to research registrant information. Threat Crowd: Threat Crowd is a system for finding and researching artifacts relating to cyber threats. TOR Exit Node List: Check if the IP address is on a TOR exit node. IBM X-Force Exchange: Check the IoC for information in X-Force Exchange. Internet Archive: Use archive.org to get an idea of how long a website has been up or what it looked like, recovering pages, malware samples, or other files that are no longer available. Urlscan.io : Use this tool to get a quick website snapshot and check reputation. WhereGoes: Use this tool to see where a link goes to. Reverse IP: Use the Analytics tool Reverse IP to find out how many websites are hosted at the IP address. Google: Please never, ever conclude any analysis on an IoC without finding out what Google has to say. Note Depending on a company’s crown jewels and how their business operates, the way a company approaches cybersecurity varies. Where cybersecurity matters to keep the lights on, such as the financial and manufacturing industry, being thorough is more important and companies want to exceed compliance standards. A Few Tricks… Whois is always at the beginning of this section, and paste it in. It saves a ton of clicks and tabbing back and forth. You’ll use that domain name or IP address many times, and you’ll know where to find it. Archive.org is useful, but no one thinks of using it. You can see what a website looked like in the past, and I use it commonly for investigations where I need to guesstimate how long a website has been up. Be sure to use websites to see where exactly a URL goes. I use wheregoes.com in almost every investigation. Notice how many hops it’s taking. On more than a few occasions, I’ve thought the domain name was legitimate by looking at it, but after checking where it goes, I noticed a few hops. Looking closer, it was a well-crafted lookalike domain name. Google everything. I can’t stress this enough. You may have all the tools, but a quick Google search almost always adds more context to an investigation. Often, finding sandbox reports of a particular hash allows you to skip the step of executing it yourself. Remember that automation can’t Google search and gems like where researchers have published a write-up on their blogs about a piece of malware. Note Be sure to be careful with Googling IPaddresses, ensuring you don’t visit the website. Take snapshots of a website. If you want to visit a suspicious website, do so in a live session in a sandbox. I like urlscan.io for a quick reputation check and snapshot, while Joe Sandbox is better for a live session. You want snapshots because you don’t know when the website will be taken down. Phishing sites, for example, are often taken down by the attacker as soon as they’ve harvested a few credentials, and then redirect the URL to a legitimate site. As soon as you can, snapshot. Historical analysis must be done every time. In your ticketing system, determine if this has happened before. When was the last time there was a ticket for this user or device? Also, has this attacker been seen before? If so, which happens frequently, how did the last analyst handle it? It’s important not to jump to conclusions; even though it may look similar, it should only be used as context for this investigation and a clue for verifying it. The last thing you do in this step is pause. Pause to review everything until this point for accuracy and add any supporting evidence that was overlooked. Conclusion This section states the result of each section that led you to your action. The reason for alarm, the supporting evidence, and your analysis should be presented in a precise, clear, and easy-to-read manner and in that order. Be sure not to make this section too lengthy. The idea is that a reader can read it and know what to look for in the previous sections to find more detail if they need to. The last sentence of a conclusion states the action you took, and every conclusion must have an action. This could be as simple as “Closed ticket due to false positives” to “Isolated the machine and escalated to the Incident Response team.” Examples: This alarm triggered due to user “kmax” visiting a webpage that contained suspicious Javascript with iframes that redirect. Evidence from the proxy logs proved the user was redirected to another website, but it resulted in a 404 error. Analysis of the referring website showed that it contained the iframes that redirected the user to the potentially malicious website. The landing page has a malicious reputation on Virustotal, URL Void, and URLScan. I submitted the referring URL to be reclassified as malicious and closing alarm as resolved because the malware was never received.T his alarm triggered due to user “guam” visiting a website containing suspicious obfuscated code. Evidence shows that the user successfully visited this website. After decoding the Javascript, I found the Javascript contained “Eval()” statements. By changing the “eval()” to “alert()” I was presented with the landing URL. Analysis of the landing URL by virustotal, senderbase, URLvoid, and hybrid analysis has proven this website was malicious. I submitted the machine for a reimage and reset their credentials. Next Steps Sometimes you’ve taken immediate action or couldn’t take immediate action on a security event, and there are still items pending. For instance, you’ve just sent the device off for a reimage, and you need to follow up with the user when they are online. Or this ticket is part of a greater incident, and it's pending closure by a master ticket. Or maybe you were still unsure about what to do after the analysis and needed to escalate it to a higher tier in the SOC. It is perfectly acceptable to put N/A in the Next Steps sections, which will be most common because you’ve closed the ticket. If there is anything here at all, it needs to be tracked and the ticket must not go into a closed status until a higher tier or the Incident Response Team resolves it. This section is sometimes used for tickets where a security event becomes a security incident, and the Incident Response Team needs to be involved because the ticket has become more serious than what the SOC typically deals with. This may be the case if the asset is a critical asset, there is evidence of data exfiltration, or the user is a VIP user who gets the white glove treatment. Each SOC will define what constitutes escalating to become a Security Incident, and the ticket has traveled through all tiers of the SOC and still isn’t resolved. In any case, if the ticket remains open, the following steps are recommended. Summary The last thing I want to cover in the article is masking. All URLs that you copy and paste into the analysis need to include brackets [.] around the periods, and this is crucial. It makes it so that there are no accidental clicks by anyone reading the analysis. www[.]google[.]com This method, when used properly, gives structure to a security analysis, allowing for greater readability by higher tiers in the SOC and to provide for quick details for complex Incident Response investigations. It also serves as a tool to learn how to conduct a proper security investigation. You may find that you don’t need to use it all of the time, but I encourage you to learn this method so you have it when you need to use it. I have taught this method for the past ten years, and some companies have chosen to use this method for every ticket. Some only require their junior analysts to use it as a training tool for a security investigation. In my last role, I was customer-facing for a managed SOC, and it was common for a customer to want a “deep dive” after our analysts had finished the ticket because they wanted more detail. In all cases, after applying the method, they had all the details they wanted to feel that we had made the right decision. It may seem like more work for you, but in the long run, learning to apply this method will only benefit your career. Download the SOC Analyst Method Template here . and practice with the data inside Splunk.

Skull Hacker How to Hack the Root Account on a Mac Maybe you've forgotten your root password, or maybe you're a concerned parent who needs access to your child's computer. Whichever the case, this quick tutorial will allow you to hack the root account of a Mac without ever knowing the password. Hold COMMAND+S while restarting the MAC Four commands to set/reset a Root User password: localhost:/ root# /sbin/fsck -fy localhost:/ root# /sbin/mount -uw / localhost:/ root# launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.opendirectory.plist Or on older Macs localhost:/ root# launchctl load /System/Library/LaunchDaemons/com.apple.DirectoryServices.plist Lastly localhost:/ root# passwd Newer Macs

Starting a career in cybersecurity can be both exciting and challenging. One of the most common entry points is working in a Security Operations Center (SOC). SOC positions are critical for organizations to monitor, detect, and respond to cyber threats. If you are considering a role in this field, it’s important to understand what to expect, the skills you need, and how to grow in your career. Understanding SOC Positions and Their Importance SOC positions involve working in a centralized unit that focuses on protecting an organization’s information systems. The SOC team continuously monitors network traffic, analyzes security alerts, and investigates potential incidents. Entry-level roles in SOC are often the first step for many cybersecurity professionals. In these roles, you will learn how to use various security tools such as SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) systems, intrusion detection systems, and endpoint protection platforms. You will also gain experience in incident response and threat hunting. Key responsibilities in SOC positions include: Monitoring security alerts and logs for suspicious activity Investigating potential security incidents Escalating threats to senior analysts or incident response teams Documenting findings and maintaining incident records Collaborating with IT and other departments to improve security posture SOC analyst monitoring security alerts Skills and Qualifications Needed for Entry-Level SOC Positions To succeed in entry-level SOC roles, you need a combination of technical skills, analytical thinking, and communication abilities. While some positions may require a degree in cybersecurity, computer science, or related fields, many employers also value certifications and hands-on experience. Essential skills for entry-level SOC analysts include: Basic understanding of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS, HTTP) Familiarity with operating systems like Windows and Linux Knowledge of cybersecurity fundamentals and common threats Ability to analyze logs and alerts from security tools Strong problem-solving and critical thinking skills Good written and verbal communication for reporting incidents Certifications such as CompTIA Security+ can boost your resume and demonstrate your commitment to the field. Practical tips to build your skills: Set up a home lab to practice using security tools. Participate in Capture The Flag (CTF) challenges and cybersecurity competitions. Follow cybersecurity blogs and forums to stay updated on the latest threats. Take online courses focused on SOC operations and incident response. Practicing cybersecurity skills on a laptop Is a SOC Analyst an Entry-Level Job? Yes, a SOC analyst role is often considered an entry-level position in cybersecurity. Many organizations hire junior analysts to handle the initial monitoring and triage of security alerts. This role provides a solid foundation for understanding how cyber threats operate and how to respond effectively. Entry-level SOC analysts typically work under the supervision of senior analysts or SOC managers. They are responsible for identifying false positives, escalating real threats, and learning the organization's security protocols. This hands-on experience is invaluable for career growth. However, the role can be demanding. Analysts often work in shifts to provide 24/7 coverage, and the job requires attention to detail and the ability to stay calm under pressure. Career progression from SOC analyst may include: Senior SOC Analyst Incident Responder Threat Hunter Security Engineer Cybersecurity Consultant Security operations center with analysts monitoring threats What a Typical Day Looks Like in an Entry-Level SOC Role A day in the life of an entry-level SOC analyst involves constant vigilance and quick decision-making. Here’s a breakdown of typical daily activities: Review notes and ongoing investigations from the previous shift. Continuously watch dashboards and alerts for unusual activity. Analyze alerts to determine if they are false positives or real threats. Use tools to gather more information about suspicious events. Report confirmed incidents to senior analysts or incident response teams. Record all findings, actions taken, and outcomes in incident management systems. Communicate with IT teams to resolve vulnerabilities or apply patches. Spend time learning new tools, techniques, and threat intelligence. The role requires strong multitasking skills and the ability to prioritize tasks effectively. It’s also important to maintain a mindset of continuous learning, as cyber threats evolve rapidly. How to Find and Apply for Entry-Level SOC Jobs If you are ready to start your career in cybersecurity, looking for soc analyst entry level jobs is a great first step. Here are some tips to help you find and secure a position: Highlight relevant skills, certifications, and any hands-on experience. Join cybersecurity groups on LinkedIn and attend industry events. Practice common SOC analyst interview questions and scenarios. Employers value candidates who are eager to learn and grow. Some organizations offer internships or apprenticeships that can lead to full-time roles. Additionally, keep an eye on job boards, company websites, and cybersecurity forums for openings. Applying to multiple positions increases your chances of landing a role. Starting a career in SOC positions offers a rewarding path into cybersecurity. With the right skills, mindset, and persistence, you can build a strong foundation and advance to more specialized roles. Stay curious, keep learning, and embrace the challenges that come with protecting digital assets in an ever-changing threat landscape.

In today's digital age, password security is more important than ever. With numerous online accounts requiring login credentials, creating strong passwords is crucial to safeguard your personal information and sensitive data. This blog post will explore best practices for creating stronger passwords and maintaining adequate password security. The Importance of Password Security Passwords are the first line of defense against unauthorized access to your accounts. A weak password can be easily guessed or cracked, leaving your personal information vulnerable to hackers. Research indicates that approximately 81% of data breaches are attributed to weak or stolen passwords. With such high stakes, understanding how to create and manage strong passwords is crucial for everyone. Moreover, as online threats continue to evolve, it’s vital to remain vigilant and proactive in your approach to password security. Implementing effective strategies can help you mitigate risks and safeguard your valuable data. Password manager interface demonstrating password creation skills Why You Need a Password Manager In today's digital world, strong passwords are your first line of defense against online threats. But juggling dozens of complex, unique passwords can feel like a Herculean task. Enter the password manager – your new secret weapon for online security and convenience. What is a Password Manager? Think of a password manager as a secure vault for your online login credentials. It's a software application that stores your usernames and passwords, encrypted for maximum protection. Why Should You Use One? Password managers generate and store strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts, eliminating the need to reuse weak or easily guessed passwords. Forget the frustration of forgetting passwords! A password manager automatically fills in your login details for you, saving you time and hassle. Your passwords are encrypted, making them highly secure. Even if the password manager's servers are breached, your data remains protected. Access all your passwords in one place, securely stored and readily available whenever you need them. Key Features of Password Managers: Automatically create complex, random passwords that are difficult to crack. Log in to websites and apps effortlessly by having the manager automatically enter your credentials. Store other sensitive information, like credit card details or essential documents, securely within the manager's encrypted vault. Safely share passwords with trusted individuals like family or team members. Are Password Managers Safe? Yes, when used correctly, password managers are highly secure. They use advanced encryption to protect your data. However, it's crucial to choose a reputable manager and enable features like two-factor authentication for an extra layer of security. Choosing the Right Password Manager: Some popular password managers include LastPass, 1Password, and Dashlane. Each offers unique features, so consider your specific needs when selecting one. Consider factors like: Look for strong encryption and two-factor authentication. Choose a manager with a user-friendly interface that simplifies your online experience. Using 2-Factor Authentication You must use two-factor authentication on your password vault. I prefer a YubiKey; I feel more comfortable knowing it's a hardware token. However, even software tokens can serve as 2FA. Do not store your passwords in a password vault without two-factor authentication (2FA). Make your vault password complex Here are five essential rules for creating a complex vault password: Aim for at least 12 characters. Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessed information. Don't use dictionary words or everyday phrases. Change your password regularly and avoid reusing it across multiple sites. Following these rules can significantly enhance your password strength, offering better protection against potential breaches. In Conclusion Using a password manager is a simple yet powerful step towards enhancing your online security and streamlining your digital life. Say goodbye to sticky notes and reused passwords, and embrace the peace of mind that comes with a secure, organized password system.

In today's global marketplace, the complexity of supply chains has reached unprecedented levels. From sourcing materials to delivering products, each step in the supply chain involves various risks. These risks can arise from natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, cyber threats, and more. As a business leader, understanding how to mitigate these risks is crucial for ensuring smooth operations and protecting your bottom line. Understanding Supply Chain Risks Supply chain risks can be broadly categorized into a few types: Operational Risks include disruptions due to machinery failures, labor strikes, or other operational issues. For example, a factory shutdown due to equipment malfunction can delay product deliveries and hurt customer trust. Natural disasters like floods or earthquakes can disrupt transportation networks and production capabilities. The 2011 earthquake in Japan, for instance, caused significant delays and losses to many global supply chains. Changes in government policies, civil unrest, or trade restrictions can impact supply chain operations. The U.S.-China trade war, with its imposition of tariffs, has affected numerous companies that rely on imported goods. Increasing dependency on technology exposes supply chains to cyberattacks. A significant breach in a supplier's system can result in data leaks, operational halts, and severe financial implications. A manufacturing facility that showcases the complexities of supply chains. Understanding these risks is the first step in developing effective strategies to mitigate them. Strategies for Risk Mitigation in Supply Chains To minimize risks in the supply chain, businesses can implement several actionable strategies. 1. Diversification of Suppliers Relying on a single supplier can be a significant risk. When possible, businesses should diversify their supplier base. By sourcing materials from multiple suppliers, companies can reduce their dependence on a single entity. For instance, if a primary supplier faces disruptions, an alternative supplier can help maintain operations. In practice, this might involve establishing relationships with suppliers in various geographical areas, thereby minimizing the risk associated with regional disruptions. For example, if a US-based company sources raw materials principally from one country, adding suppliers from another continent can help secure materials even when one source is unreliable. 2. Implementing Robust Inventory Management Effective inventory management can act as a buffer during disruptions. Companies should adopt just-in-case inventory strategies, maintaining an appropriate level of stock to guard against uncertainties. Utilizing inventory management software can help businesses effectively track stock levels, accurately forecast demand, and optimize reorder points. This strategy allows for swift responsiveness to market changes. According to a study by the Institute for Supply Management, maintaining a strategic inventory can decrease the risk of supply chain disruptions by nearly 30%. An inventory management system that helps businesses track stock levels. 3. Enhancing Visibility with Technology Utilizing technology can significantly enhance visibility across the supply chain. Real-time data tracking enables companies to monitor various elements, such as shipment statuses or production timelines. Advanced tools, such as blockchain, can help businesses to securely authenticate goods and track their journey from origin to destination. For example, IBM's Food Trust project uses blockchain technology to trace the journey of food products. This transparency not only mitigates risks but also boosts consumer trust and loyalty. 4. Establishing Strong Relationships with Partners Building robust relationships with suppliers and partners can help businesses navigate disruptions more effectively. Open communication and collaboration can foster mutual understanding and flexibility. Regular meetings, joint planning sessions, and shared risks among partners encourage a united approach to managing challenges. A study by the Harvard Business Review found that companies with strong collaborative relationships experience 35% fewer disruptions. A logistics center illustrates the importance of collaboration in supply chain management. 5. Conducting Regular Risk Assessments Periodic risk assessments should be an integral part of supply chain management. Companies should evaluate potential risks regularly and update their mitigation strategies accordingly. Assessments can identify new risks arising from changing market conditions, supply landscape, or technological advancements. Utilizing risk assessment tools and engaging in scenario planning can prepare organizations for various challenges. Embracing Supply Chain Security In addition to physical and operational risks, businesses must pay close attention to cyber risks. Supply chain security is critical for preventing data breaches and operational disruptions. Companies can implement various security measures, such as multi-factor authentication and regular system audits, to safeguard against threats. Moreover, training employees on cybersecurity best practices can significantly minimize the risks of human error, one of the leading causes of security breaches. For more information on enhancing your supply chain security , consider attending our course. Leveraging Data Analytics for Proactive Management Data analytics plays a pivotal role in risk management. By analyzing trends, patterns, and forecasts, companies can make informed decisions that enhance both responsiveness and resilience. For instance, predictive analytics can keep operations flowing smoothly. By analyzing historical data, businesses can identify correlations between supply disruptions and specific variables, such as weather patterns or geopolitical events. Leveraging analytics enables companies to stay ahead of emerging issues, rather than merely reacting to them. Implementing advanced dashboards for real-time data monitoring can facilitate this proactive approach. Building a Resilient Supply Chain Culture Ultimately, cultivating a culture of resilience within the organization can significantly enhance risk mitigation strategies. Encouraging team members to contribute ideas and solutions about supply chain risks cultivates innovation and responsiveness. Regular training sessions on risk management, crisis response, and scenario planning can keep teams prepared for challenges. The more empowered and knowledgeable employees are about risks, the more effectively they can respond to potential disruptions. Training employees at all levels of an organization ensures a collective understanding of supply chain risks and best practices for mitigating them. Final Thoughts Mitigating risks in supply chains is a multifaceted endeavor that requires active management, strategic planning, and technological innovation. From diversifying suppliers to enhancing transparency through technology, businesses can strengthen their resilience. As the global landscape continues to evolve, being prepared for uncertainties is essential in maintaining operational efficiency and competitiveness. By investing in conversations about risk management and implementing robust strategies, your business can thrive amid disruptions and uncertainties. Building a resilient supply chain isn’t just about surviving; it's about coming out stronger and more adaptable in an ever-changing world.

In our increasingly digital world, cyber incidents can happen to anyone at any time. From small businesses to large corporations, no one is immune to the threats posed by malicious actors. However, effectively handling these incidents is crucial to mitigate damage and maintain trust. In this blog post, we will explore practical steps to handle cyber incidents effectively, helping you to prepare and respond when the unexpected occurs. Understanding Incident Response Before diving into the steps to handle a cyber incident, it is essential to understand what incident response means. Incident response refers to the approach and procedures used to manage the aftermath of a security breach or cyber attack. The goal of incident response is to limit the impact of the incident, recover quickly, and ensure that such incidents do not happen again. According to a report by IBM, the average cost of a data breach in 2022 was around $4.35 million. However, with a well-defined incident response plan, organizations can potentially save a significant amount of money while also protecting sensitive information and maintaining customer loyalty. Server room with advanced technology for cybersecurity monitoring Steps to Create an Incident Response Plan Creating an effective incident response plan is the first critical step towards handling cyber incidents. Here are some steps to create a robust incident response plan: Fingering your key Incident Response Team members should include IT professionals, legal advisors, public relations staff, and senior management. Each member should be aware of their responsibilities during a cyber incident. Not all incidents are created equal. Develop a classification system that allows your team to assess the severity of incidents quickly. For example, categorize incidents as low, medium, or high based on their impact and urgency. Clear communication is essential during a cyber incident. Establish protocols to notify team members, stakeholders, and affected customers promptly. Decide in advance which channels and methods will be used for communication. Develop a checklist that outlines specific actions to take when an incident occurs. This list should include steps for containment, investigation, eradication, recovery, and post-incident analysis. Cyber threats evolve rapidly, so it is crucial to review and update your incident response plan regularly. Schedule periodic drills to ensure your team is prepared for real incidents. Analyzing data in response to a cyber incident Immediate Response Actions Once you have an incident response plan in place, it is important to know how to react immediately when a cyber incident occurs. Here are the steps to take: The first step is to recognize that an incident has occurred. Monitor systems continuously for unusual activity and take immediate action when suspicious behavior is detected. Once identified, contain the threat to prevent further damage. This may involve isolating affected systems, disabling network access, or shutting down compromised services. After containment, assess the scope of the incident. Determine what data or systems may have been affected and evaluate the potential impact on business operations. Depending on the severity, you may need to notify customers, partners, or regulatory bodies. Prompt and transparent communication is key to maintaining trust. Maintain thorough documentation of the incident from start to finish. Include timestamps, actions taken, and any communications regarding the incident. This documentation will be invaluable for post-incident analysis and reporting. Investigation and Eradication Once the immediate threat is contained, the next steps involve a more in-depth investigation and eradication of the threat: Analyze logs and system data to understand how the incident occurred. Identify vulnerabilities that were exploited and track the attacker's movements. Once the investigation is complete, ensure that all traces of the cyber threat are removed. This may involve patching vulnerabilities, reconfiguring systems, or even rebuilding affected environments. After eradicating the threat, restore services carefully. Make sure that your systems are secure and updated before bringing them back online. Share the results of your investigation with relevant stakeholders. Be transparent about what occurred and what measures are being taken to prevent a recurrence. Security analyst monitoring cybersecurity measures Recovery and Post-Incident Review After addressing the root cause of the incident, the focus must shift to recovery and learning from the experience: Activate your recovery plans to restore normal business operations as quickly as possible. Ensure backup systems are functional and data integrity is verified. Conduct a post-incident review to analyze what went well and what could be improved. Document lessons learned to refine your incident response plan. After the incident, reinforce your security measures based on the findings. This could include additional employee training, updated software tools, or enhanced network defenses. Schedule debriefing sessions with your incident response team to discuss the handling of the incident. Gather feedback and suggestions for further improvement. Cyber threats are constantly evolving. Encourage your team to stay informed about the latest trends in cybersecurity and participate in ongoing training. Taking proactive steps towards effective incident response can significantly enhance your organization’s resilience against cyber threats. If you're looking for expert guidance, you can learn more about SOC Analysis in our SOC Analyst NOW Course. Visit our course catalog here. Staying Prepared for Future Incidents Effective handling of cyber incidents requires a proactive approach. Here are some additional tips to ensure your organization is prepared for future threats: Conduct regular training sessions for all employees on cybersecurity best practices. An informed workforce is your first line of defense against potential cyber threats. Foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness in your organization. Encourage employees to report suspicious activity and engage in safe online practices. Implement advanced cybersecurity solutions that can help detect and prevent cyber threats. Keep your software and systems updated to minimize vulnerabilities. Form a dedicated incident response team within your organization. This allows for quicker and more effective responses when incidents occur. Consider collaborating with cybersecurity experts who can provide insights into best practices and offer assistance during incidents. By following these steps and creating a strong incident response framework, organizations can mitigate the damage caused by cyber incidents. As technology continues to evolve, so too should your preparedness and resilience. Remember, the key is not just to recover from an incident but to learn and strengthen your organization against future threats.

The shift to cloud computing represents a monumental change in how businesses manage their data and applications. This transformation provides numerous benefits, including scalability, flexibility, and cost efficiency. However, it also introduces significant security challenges. Securing cloud environments is crucial for protecting sensitive data and maintaining the trust of clients and stakeholders. This blog post will explore essential concepts and practical strategies for achieving robust cloud security. Understanding Cloud Security Cloud security refers to the set of policies, technologies, and controls deployed to safeguard data, applications, and infrastructure in cloud computing environments. As organizations migrate to the cloud, they must address various security concerns, including data breaches, loss of control over data, and compliance with regulations. According to a report by McAfee, 52% of companies experienced a security incident related to their cloud services in 2021. This statistic emphasizes the need for a proactive approach to cloud security. To effectively secure cloud environments, organizations should implement a comprehensive security framework that covers identity management, policy enforcement, data protection, and network security. A modern data center is crucial for cloud security. Key Components of Cloud Security Identity and Access Management (IAM) One of the fundamental aspects of cloud security is Identity and Access Management (IAM). IAM ensures that only authorized users have access to specific resources in the cloud. This involves setting up user accounts, roles, and permissions aligned with the principle of least privilege. For instance, in a corporate setting, an employee in the finance department should not have access to sensitive customer data in marketing. Organizations can leverage IAM tools to control user access effectively. Several cloud providers, such as AWS and Azure, offer built-in IAM capabilities, allowing businesses to automate access management. Regular audits of user permissions are also necessary to ensure compliance and reduce risks. Data Encryption Data encryption is a critical security measure to protect sensitive information stored in the cloud. Encryption converts readable data into a coded format, making it unreadable without the proper decryption key. This is especially important when dealing with Personally Identifiable Information (PII) or financial records. Businesses should consider encrypting both data at rest and data in transit. For example, when customers upload their credit card information in a secure web application, encryption ensures that the data is transmitted securely over the internet. Many cloud service providers offer built-in encryption tools, making it easier for organizations to implement this security measure. However, organizations must also take responsibility for managing encryption keys securely. Security features in a server room help protect cloud data. Compliance and Regulatory Standards Compliance with industry regulations is another vital aspect of cloud security. Different sectors have specific requirements that organizations must meet to protect customer data. For instance, companies handling healthcare data must comply with HIPAA regulations, while businesses in the financial sector must follow PCI DSS guidelines. Non-compliance can result in significant penalties and damage to an organization's reputation. It is essential for businesses to understand which regulations apply to them and to implement appropriate security measures to meet compliance requirements. Furthermore, regularly reviewing compliance measures and conducting security assessments can help organizations identify potential vulnerabilities. Incident Response Plan Having a well-defined incident response plan is critical for addressing potential security breaches swiftly. An incident response plan outlines specific roles, responsibilities, and procedures for responding to different types of security incidents. For example, if a data breach occurs, the response plan should include steps for notifying affected customers, securing data, and conducting a forensic analysis to determine how the breach happened. Organizations can enhance their incident response capabilities through drills and simulations to ensure all team members are familiar with the process. Preparing beforehand can significantly reduce the time it takes to respond to security incidents. Security Assessment and Monitoring Continuous monitoring and assessment of security posture is vital in a dynamic cloud environment. Organizations should regularly conduct security assessments to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses in their cloud infrastructure. Using security tools like vulnerability scanners and intrusion detection systems can help organizations maintain visibility into their cloud security status. This enables them to respond to threats proactively rather than reactively. Additionally, many cloud providers offer security monitoring solutions that help businesses detect and neutralize threats before they escalate. For instance, tools that provide alerts for unauthorized access or unusual activity can be invaluable in maintaining cloud security. Security monitoring tools display potential vulnerabilities in cloud environments. Best Practices for Securing Cloud Environments Adopt a Shared Responsibility Model In cloud computing, security is a shared responsibility between cloud service providers and their clients. While providers typically ensure the security of the infrastructure, clients are responsible for securing their data and applications hosted in the cloud. Organizations must clearly understand where their responsibilities lie and implement measures to fulfill them effectively. Engaging in discussions with cloud providers about their security protocols can help organizations enhance their overall security posture. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource. This significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, as compromising one factor (e.g., password) alone is not sufficient. For example, an organization can require users to enter a verification code sent to their mobile device, in addition to their password. This helps ensure that only authenticated users can access sensitive information. Train Employees on Security Awareness Employee training is crucial to maintaining cloud security. Even the best security measures can be ineffective if employees are not aware of security best practices. Regular training sessions should cover topics such as recognizing phishing attempts, securing their accounts with strong passwords, and understanding the organization's security policies. Encouraging a culture of security awareness can significantly reduce the likelihood of human error leading to security incidents. Regularly Update and Patch Systems Keeping systems up to date is vital in securing cloud environments. Cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. Organizations should implement a patch management strategy to ensure timely updates are applied. A proactive approach includes scheduling regular reviews of cloud systems and applications to identify and resolve vulnerabilities before they can be exploited. Conduct Penetration Testing Penetration testing simulates cyber attacks on your system to identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses. Conducting regular penetration tests helps organizations assess their security posture and improve security measures where necessary. By treating penetration testing as an integral part of the security lifecycle, organizations can also identify gaps in their incident response plan, allowing them to bolster their defenses further. Final Thoughts Securing cloud environments is a multifaceted challenge that requires a proactive and well-rounded approach. By understanding key concepts such as IAM, data encryption, compliance standards, incident response, and security monitoring, organizations can build a robust security framework. Taking part in cloud security courses can also provide you with the knowledge needed to protect your cloud assets effectively. The ever-evolving landscape of cybersecurity demands continuous learning and adaptation. Implementing best practices, investing in training, and regularly assessing security measures will help organizations stay ahead of potential threats and protect sensitive information.

I highlight the simple established style of writing that you may use for communicating in the SOC. This is English for SOC Analysts. Numbers ten and below are written out in sentences, whereas numbers 11 and higher are written as numerals. The conjunctions "And," "But," "So," & others shouldn't start a sentence. Consider while speaking to management starting your sentences with verbs that show action. Verbs show professional seasoning. Clear and concise is the goal in the workplace. While outside of the workplace, writing in ambiguity is often preferred because of the presence of children, at work communication is mission critical, time is of utmost importance, and confusion cannot be afforded. Your management will sometimes use artistic writing at their discretion. It is beneficial to be read only . The active voice is direct and bold, whereas the passive voice lacks spine. The dog bit the man  is stronger than The man was bitten by the dog . Prefer He decided  to A decision was made . Write in a positive voice and not allure to the shadows. Say It is warm  rather than It is not cold . Say He remembered  instead of He did not forget . The reader seeks clarity. Place the emphatic word last. I conclude this behavior is malicious is better than This is malicious behavior. The last word is the word they'll remember. Revise your conclusions ruthlessly. Remove words that are not needed. Listen for rhythm, clarity, and prize truth. Rewrite until what remains is critical. Trust your nouns and verbs. Adjectives are not the substance. "The thing did what" is better than "The massively large and grainy thing did what" Avoid unwonted words. They call attention to the writer, not the writing. Write in simple terms, and use repetiton rarely and only with purpose. Restraint is the mark of mastery. Artistic writing serves a purpose in your informal messages. Style emerges when grammar serves thought, not ego. Write in a way that comes naturally, but not carelessly. Let your personality shine through your precision. Never lose the reader in your effort to be seen. Avoid cliches and metaphors like the plauge. Some of my network writes seemingly carelessly while they begin practicing stylistic concise writing. While it's not always possible to stop your thoughts, it is possible to divert your writing. I've found that people do best and learn fastest when they write to a public audience. I have a training ground of ~150 people who know me personally, and they know how I am, and I don't worry about what they think. No matter what thought crosses my mind they've probably already tuned it out. It helps to practice in public with an audience but choose that training ground wisely. English for SOC Analysts

Neurocracked From the case files of Sam Laurie Lin’s messages stopped two days ago. That alone would’ve been enough to worry me. But her last one didn’t just end the conversation - it detonated it. It came through a forgotten relay node, buried deep in a deprecated meshnet. Obsolete, officially. But someone had reactivated it. Just once. Attached was a single line of text and an image. The text looked like a URL - except it ended in something strange: .onion I didn’t recognize it at first. But after some frantic searching, I learned what it was. A .onion address. Part of the Tor Network - The Onion Router. Built for anonymity. Used to access hidden services that don’t exist on the surface web. Something was wrong. Lin wasn’t just sending encrypted logs or damaged firmware anymore. She was hiding. And whatever she found forced her to use the darkest corner of the net to say goodbye. The address she sent was: http://tumf35filxbibhae4wipeetwwordf6ph6cntcpjsnc7ajxr2e2rylrqd.onion Along with it… an image. I froze when I saw it. Neurocracked. Not because of what it showed, but because of how  it showed it. The symbols - arranged like a puzzle. Familiar. Angular. Ancient. It was a Pigpen Cipher . Freemason code. The kind only used by people trying to bury secrets in plain sight. I stayed up all night coding a Pigpen decoder. Once I had the translation, I cross-referenced it with the .onion address, and fed both into an off-grid VPN sandbox running a hardened Tor client. What I found wasn’t a forum. It wasn’t rebels or rogue coders. It was a marketplace . But not for drugs. Not for weapons. For minds. Welcome to Cerberus Hive The interface was too clean. Too smooth. No broken links, no spam. Welcome, Subscriber. Initiating Session…LICENSED ACCESS KEY ACCEPTED BrainOS ™ Retainer Suite 3.5 :: Synaptic Lease Manager Synaptic Lease. As in: renting out your thoughts. This wasn’t a piracy hub. This was a customer portal. For something far more organized than a hacking group. They were running BrainOS-as-a-Service. A black-market platform offering remote exploits  for compromised brain implants. Subscription plans let you choose your level of control: Tier 1: Emotional nudges. Tier 2: Decision overrides. Tier 3: Full cognitive command—with rollback. All automated. All legal-proof. All monetized. They called the feature: Echo Control. And it was live . Their FAQ bragged about 2.1 million active deployments. I skimmed the reviews: “Used it during my merger negotiation. Subject signed. No resistance. 10/10.” “Tried the empathy patch trigger on a therapist. Beautiful. She cried, then forgot everything.” They weren’t hackers. They were venture criminals . They'd monetized mind control like a startup. Worse Than We Thought Cerberus Hive wasn’t even writing the malware themselves anymore. They’d partnered with third-party training vendors . Unsanctioned. Desperate. The kind who still had backdoor access to BrainOS™ module repositories via pirated access tokens. Cerberus paid affiliates to embed their exploit framework into education modules. They called it “payload-as-a-plugin.” You embed their code in a learning module, ship it to civilians, and collect a percentage when they’re hijacked. It was a  multi-level marketing for mind control . ... and why would Lin use a Freemason cipher? CTF CHALLENGE 004: THE MARKETPLACE You’ve recovered the hidden .onion address to the Cerberus Hive marketplace. Your mission: Connect to the address and find the MD5 hash flag. You may use: Getting started with the darkweb Pigpen Decoder Submit your flag as: CTF{MD5_HASH}

The Rosetta Stone provided the key to deciphering ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics. The priestly decree inscribed on the stone was written in three languages in 196 BC. Two of the texts, in Greek and ancient demotic script, are easily translated, which allowed experts to work out the meaning of the third, hieroglyphic text. Jean-Francois Champollion, the French scholar who finally interpreted the Rosetta Stone. He worked with Young for a time, but soon overshadowed him. Champollion published his detailed findings in 1824. Pierre Francois Bouchard was a 28-year-old engineer lieutenant in Napoleon's army in Egypt in 1799. The French emperor put Bouchard in charge of rebuilding an old fort in the Nile delta near the town of Rosetta (modern-day Rashid). In mid-July that year, he happened to find among the rubble a large dark stone over 1 metre (3 feet 4 inches) long made of granodiorite, a tough stone from eastern Egypt, and had an inscription in three languages cut into one of its sides. Bouchard was intrigued: the big stele was obviously important, and he immediately drew it to the attention of his colleagues - and to Napoleon himself. Sir Thomas Young, the British scientist whose breadth of knowledge and obsessive curiosity led him to tackle the challenge of deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs in 1813 What Bouchard had stumbled upon was, in fact, one of the most precious archaeological finds ever discovered. The stone had probably been used 300 years earlier by Egyptian Mameluke builders in the construction of the fort. They would have had no idea what it was or what was written on it. They had almost certainly salvaged it from a collapsed ancient Egyptian temple at the nearby ruins of Sais on the Nile. The unfortunate Bouchard was later captured by the British, who threw Napoleon and his French army out of Egypt, but by this time, experts, first French and then British, were enthusing about the new discovery they called the Rosetta Stone. They were quick to discern that it had some kind of decree on it inscribed in three languages - Egyptian hieroglyphics at the top, Egyptian demotic script in the middle, and ancient Greek at the bottom. If the words in the three scripts meant the same, they knew this could be the key to interpreting the previously indecipherable hieroglyphic script of ancient Egypt. The Rosetta Stone, with hieroglyphic text at the top, demotic in the center and Greek at the bottom. The hieroglyphic cartouche (signature) of the Egyptian pharaoh Ptolemy V is highlighted. Bouchard had unearthed an inscription dating back to 196 BC, an uneasy year for Egypt. Ptolemy V had become pharaoh when he was only five years old, in 204 BC, after his parents were murdered. He was now 13, and his country was in a turbulent state. Parts of Egypt were in rebellion, and the decree inscribed on the stone reveals the extent to which the royal family depended on the priesthood for its own and the country's welfare. On the Rosetta Stone, the priests promise that in return for the king's gift of grain and silver to Egypt's temples, they will ensure that the king's birthday and coronation days will be the occasion for annual festivities. The value of the stone went much further than this trifling piece of dynastic history. It was to open the door to the written record of one of the world's most sensational cultures. All of those anonymous monuments and tombs in Giza, Saqqara, Luxor, and the other great ancient Egyptian sites were soon to disclose their personalities. It took two decades of Anglo-French research and rivalry for the revelations to become a reality. However, the discord started in Egypt, where the victorious British had a frantic tussle with the French over the stone's ownership. According to one story, the defeated French army commander was found to have hidden the stone inside several carpets in his baggage as he left for France. The stone was transported to England on a captured French frigate, HMS Egyptienne, and placed in the British Museum. Copies of its inscription were widely circulated at home and abroad, and an intellectual struggle between Britain and France followed. The two key protagonists were Thomas Young in London and Jean-François Champollion in Grenoble. Young in particular worked very hard on what were called the 'cartouches', clearly framed phrases in the hieroglyphs that were thought to denote the names of the kings of Egypt. He managed to discover that a cartouche on the Rosetta Stone contained the symbols that spelled the name "Ptolemy". Both Young and Champolion made important contributions to the final deciphering of the hieroglyphs, but it was Champolion's publication of what amounted to a hieroglyphic dictionary in 1822 that was the springboard from which Egyptologists were able to understand the writing in Egyptian tombs and temples. These texts revealed the stories of the dynasties, the kings, and the high officials. The rivalry between the two men took on international dimensions when visitors to the British Museum complained about the size of their portraits on display. In the early 1970s, there were protests from French visitors to the Museum that the portrait of Young was larger than Champollion's and from British visitors that Champollion's was bigger, although apparently both pictures were exactly the same size. Champollion's notebook reflects his painstaking work in deciphering the Egyptian hieroglyphs. His study of each symbol unlocked the forgotten language of the Pharaohs of Ancient Egypt. That's the spot.