-
IrisCTF Registration Opens Soon
I’m excited to announce that IrisCTF registration is opening soon! The team is working super hard on making this event happen and we’re really excited. As usual, I’ll be authoring the forensics, networks, and radio frequency challenges as these are my disciplines of expertise. We have a Twitter in the...
-
Gratitude
It’s Thanksgiving. I’m back in SoCal visiting my family and enjoying some time off from work, which frankly has been draining lately. I haven’t much to talk about today besides thanks to give: thanks to my family, friends, and teammates, to my teachers and mentors and everyone who’s helped me...
-
HTP!m 2023 Status Report
I’ve been meaning to get to writing this post for a while now. I was heavily burnt out in the final weeks of the project and had to take some weeks of rest afterwards, but I’m finally back with the status report of how “Hack the Planet! mini” (HTP!m) went....
-
No Post This Week
No post this week. I’m burnt out from HTP!m and getting plenty of well-needed rest. I’ll be authoring the event post-mortem next week, though. Until then, Happy hacking.
-
Devlog(s) Delayed
I’ve been super busy working on “HTP!m” and didn’t have time to spare to author a devlog this week, and am unlikely to have one next week. I’ll post again soon. Until then, happy hacking!
-
HTP!m Devlog 3: Soldering, PCBs, Firmware, Foundation, K8s, and Web Dev
I’m gonna be keeping this devlog short since I have a lot of work to do. Since the last devlog, we’ve made more progress on the project in a few tracks: we’ve made some great leaps in design and assembly of the electronics related to the set; we’re still working...
-
HTP!m Devlog 2: Set Planning, Soldering, Firmware, and Web Dev
It’s been a great week since the last devlog! I finished planning a rough outline of the set, got together with the team to teach them soldering and assemble some HTP!m MODCOREs together, wrote the protocol for the message packets being sent over I2C, and started working on the web...
-
HTP!m Devlog 1: Team Assembly, Learning, and Execution
A lot has happened since the last devlog! I got a lot done on the HTP!m CONTROL base unit before all the wiring and electronics. Plus, I finalized the HTP!m MODCORE PCB design, ordered them on Friday night, and they arrived on Tuesday. I’ve already assembled one and the others...
-
HTP!m Devlog 0: Planning, Logstics, Mockups, and Schematics
It’s been a while since I’ve written a blog post about any of my projects, but seeing as how HTP! and HTP!m are huge and complex interdisciplinary endeavours, I figured it might be interesting to author a devlog series on them. This is also a great way for me to...
-
"Hack the Planet! mini" is a Go!
I’m happy to announce that “Hack the Planet! mini” (HTP!m) is a go! This event will be going on at HackMerced’s Local Learn Day 2023 later this fall term. I’m in the process of planning, building, and eventually implementing the new model set and their associated challenges. Currently in the...
-
A Walk Through a Complete Digital Forensic Investigation
Last weekend, Zense at IIIT Bangalore held ZenseCTF. I was asked to be a guest challenge author for the event, so I spent some time authoring a series of three challenges that immersed players in a complete digital forensic investigation of a breached and infected web server. I’m glad that...
-
IrisCTF 2024 is a Go!
IrisSec is exited to announce that IrisCTF 2024 is a go! We’re going to be hosting our second CTF ever this upcoming January from 2023.01.06 @ 00:00 UTC to 2023.01.08 @ 00:00 UTC. We’re excited to bring back our organization team from last year, plus a few new members who...
-
I Gave a Talk About Computer Hacking to IIIT Bangalore
Last Sunday, I was invited to give a talk at IIIT Bangalore about computer hacking and hacker culture as well as how to learn and get involved. I was also asked to prepare a live demo for the audience, which really seemed to get them excited; for the demo, I...
-
An Honest Review of DEF CON 31
Last weekend, I had a great time in Las Vegas at DEF CON 31 meeting up with some of my teammates from IrisSec, meeting new people, giving out stickers, hacking, learning all sorts of new things, and dining at fancy restaurants with my partner. However, this is not to say...
-
How to Not Get Pwned at DEF CON
Now when I say DEF CON, I’m referring to the hacking convention held annually in Las Vegas, not the defense alert system used by the U.S. military. DEF CON is one of the most fun events I’ve ever been to, but it’s also easily the most dangerous. The bulk of...
-
Catching Up
Hey, it’s been a while. My last real post was over 4 months ago. If you’ll have me, I’d like to share the slice of my life that’s elapsed since the last time I tended to this blog. I bring to you tales of betrayal, drama, and hubris. I invite...