Security Testing Journal Entry | w/e Friday September 26 - "The Rapture Cometh" Ed.

Highlights for the week

Around the world, this was an eventful week. The 47th president of the US continues to walk a path towards authoritarianism that no one is challenging him on. The death of a conservative influencer has done more to divide people than to unify them in solidarity against political violence. Tons of new hacking incidents. And the makers of AI are looking to spin up data centers that will each require the electricity of a small city to run, and millions of gallons of water to keep cool. Resources our infrastructure is incapable of supporting, yet money that could go towards improving the quality of our country is being diverted to these endeavors. It's a fast-moving freight train on a downward-sloping greased track with no brakes, headed towards a cliff.

Then there were rumors that caught fire, spread by some priest in So. Africa, that the rapture was iminent and that we would be wise to take action and repent!

As for me: I had a "down" week. Just didn't feel the verve to do much of anything. I fought the good fight in my head to stay disciplined in my workouts, but as for job hunting and learning stuff .. there was just little to no wind in my sails. Perhaps it's low-t, or the unemployment effects of all these rejections, but I'm on the last month before things go tit's up and not even so much as a ping! from recruiters. Also, I got the "thank you, next" email from Spotify. I didn't think I had a chance, but it was worth a try. Not really broken up about it.

My son found pictures of me, back when I was in my 20s and full of promise. Still broke, but not nearly as traumatized by life. Can't remember if it was pre- or post-Andrea, but I just remember the good times. I want to be that happy again. I am not defined by my past. I am refined by it. And it's awesome to say I still have time to choose who I want to be.

What We’re Grateful For

1. Friends, referals, and good internet.
2. I get to be here, another day.
3. Family .. and a full 'fridge.
4. As always, great health.

What We Loved

1. This week was m'eh .. so not a lot to love. Cooking is always a blast!

What We Learned

1. Reading: WAHH Chapter 13 - [Status: Not started]
2. Hacking: New Weekly lesson with TCM - Foundational set up of lab for Active Directory. Module 9 is where it gets good. [Status: Done!]
3. Writing: Need to expand on fight scene between Mara and Dee. [Status: Not started]
4. Pen Testing (Bug Crowd): Continued Pen Test for items in scope for SR [Status: Closed]. Need a new PT.
5. Burp Suite: Bus. Logic flaws - [Status: Paused]; Did SSRF instead. [Status: Done!]
6. QA Day: Continued work [Status: In Progress]
7. Gandalf AI - hacked around and did not find out! Prompt injection attack for level 1: [Status: In Progress]

What We Longed For

1. As always .. a good job, making good money, with good people, doing cool sh**!
2. Miss being in love; being held; kissing; s-e-x

What We Loathed

1. Still sitting at 85% of no!