> Initializing Lichkip's Digital Fortress...
Domain Expansion: Zero-Day Realm
Confused about whether to pursue Security+ or CCNA? I break down the key differences between these two industry-leading certifications, including career paths, salary expectations, exam difficulty, and my personal experience earning both. Find out which certification aligns with your cybersecurity goals.
Step-by-step walkthrough of the TryHackMe Blaster room. Learn how to bypass Windows User Account Control (UAC) using CVE-2019-1388, escalate privileges from a standard user to SYSTEM, and establish persistence using Metasploit's web delivery module.
Complete walkthrough of the TryHackMe Blue room. Learn how to exploit the infamous MS17-010 EternalBlue vulnerability using Metasploit, perform privilege escalation, crack password hashes, and capture flags on a vulnerable Windows machine.
A comprehensive deep-dive into how cyberattacks actually work, the underground economy powering cybercrime, and what it takes to become a security researcher. Learn about real-world exploits, attack chains, and how to protect yourself.
Hands-on project building a complete network intrusion detection environment. Learn how to deploy Snort IDS, integrate it with Splunk SIEM, write custom detection rules for attacks like SQL injection and port scans, and analyze threats using Splunk's powerful dashboards.
Master the Linux commands every cybersecurity professional needs to know. From file system navigation to network analysis, these essential commands will form the foundation of your cyber toolkit.
Ramen + Caffeine + Cyber
I'm Lichkip, a student and IT Systems Officer with a few years of IT support and system administration experience under my belt. I'm currently on a mission to break into the cybersecurity field, and this blog is part of that journey.
I've got this vision of myself at 3 AM in a Security Operations Center, fueled by caffeine, working through critical alerts and finding solutions to keep systems secure. On the flip side, I'm equally drawn to the red team world. The idea of persistently penetrating networks, thinking like an adversary, and finding creative ways past defenses really gives me that adrenaline rush that keeps my interest flowing in this growing field.
I created this blog to document my cybersecurity exploration and share what I am/will be learning along the way. You'll def() find a good mix of content here: technical how-to guides on cybersecurity tools I'm experimenting with, my takes on current cyber news and trends that peeps should know about, TryHackMe and HackTheBox walkthroughs showing my thought process when "r00ting the mainframe" on different boxes, and the occasional pic about an amazing ramen spot I discovered (because even us arm-chair warriors need to eat!).
Tbh, I'm a beginner. But, I'm learning something new every single day and I have big aspirations. I've earned my CCNA, CompTIA Security+, and CompTIA A+, and I'm currently working toward my PNPT from TCM Security. But I'm not stopping there - certifications are just stepping stones on this path (and arguably money sinks lol).
Beyond blog posts, I'm planning to expand this site to host a portfolio of my personal projects and cybersecurity work. I want this to be a living document of my growth from IT professional to cybersecurity practitioner.
Whether you're a seasoned pro, a fellow beginner, or just curious about cybersecurity, I'm glad you're here. Persistence is key if you want to grow (and if you want to maintain access).
"Every expert was once a beginner who refused to give up."
The skills listed below represent what I've worked on in the past, what I'm currently learning, and what I plan to master as I continue my journey into cybersecurity. This is a living document of my technical growth and hands-on experience.