Embracing Cybersecurity: A Second Progress Report

Months have flown by since my last update in April. It’s now September 20th.


Back in April, I shared how I was shifting my focus from web development to cybersecurity. The months since have been a whirlwind of learning, challenges, and personal growth.

At Work

My day-to-day work has become an intensive course in cybersecurity, involving learning, hands-on practice, learning again, reading, and yet again feeling like an impostor.

Therefore, as expected, the transition hasn’t been without its hurdles. But even participating in this transition phase, attending a discovery workshop, which was usually a preferred activity back in the ‘web’ days, reinforced that I had somehow overstayed my welcome in that field, and that cybersecurity is more of a personal interest than anything else in the tech industry.

It’s a great feeling to be part of the ‘good guys’. Well, I always thought about it this way, but actually having a full-time focus on this is something that I missed from my early career. Feeling like I’m getting paid to practice my hobby is, once again, 15 years later, giving me the same fresh feeling.

Writing, it never stops

Writing continues be my favourite learning tool. And, I have some updates here as well:

Guides:
Cybersecurity for WordPress – Strengthen Your App Security with Layers of Defense: While there are maybe better tools for blogging nowadays, and I could’ve just made some static blog framework in a few hours, there’s something nostalgic about writing with this tool. I remember even now working with WordPress 2.3, both for personal projects and freelancing, and seeing it evolve, while staying basically the same. This is something we don’t often get to enjoy these days.

Mitigating Android RAT Threats: A Practical Guide for Mobile Developers

In-Depth Insights:

Articles:
Are Antivirus or Firewall Still Worth Installing in 2024? Yes, They Are.
The Downfall of Rapid Pace Development: When Developers Lose Sight of the End Product

Quantum (yet again):
Brace for Quantum: NIST Releases Post-Quantum Encryption Standards​

News
Handala’s Cyber Offensive: Allegations of Explosive Sabotage and Israeli-Mossad Involvement Amid Middle East Tensions
Geopolitical Cybernews Digest: Cyber Threats from Russia, North Korea, U.S., Saudi Arabia, France, Philippines, Ukraine, Belarus, and Colombia

Of course, there are more written there, though not as many as I wish. Time doesn’t feel like a friend anymore, and with the limited time available, sometimes I just read and never write.

Staying Up to Date

In cybersecurity, the landscape shifts rapidly. I’ve dedicated time each day to stay informed about the latest threats, vulnerabilities, and defensive strategies. This somehow feels better during the transition because even though I spend a lot of time outside work to read and research, I can honestly say I am very happy to do this a few hours a week in the work environment as well

Looking Ahead

Reflecting on these past months, I understand the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. I will get back, hopefully sooner.