Security Testing Journal Entry | w/e Friday May 1, 2026 - “If we can look up, we can get up!!” Ed.

Highlights for the week

Let's kick off the week with the following acknowledgement: GOD IS GOOD! & CHRIST IS KING!

I expect to reach my goals. This week, this month, and certainly this year.

It's time to make the next 25 years count. Been doing it the hard way for far too long.

I hate that I wasn't able to go see Mom for her birthday, but after running the numbers, it will cost roughly $200 (USD) and a full day to see her for a pair of hours. That being said, there are far less tomorrows than yesterdays. Need to stop with the excuse "we don't have the money" and start making moves.

MONDAY

Affirmation: IF WE CAN LOOK UP, WE CAN GET UP!

Happiness is a full refrigerator.

Love this statement. Yes, life has handed us a crap sandwich. And yes, we are to blame. But God isn't through with us yet. I will find my purpose.

Have I mentioned that Mondays are notoriously bad for job hunting. 2 applications submitted, both IDGAF about. They seem ok, but wouldn't flinch if I get rejected.

TIL - read the code, don't overthink the solution. This is for the Android Hextree App solve, where I got tasked with looking for the flag by reading the code to understand how it works.

TUESDAY

Affirmation: GET READY! LOOK THE PART! STAY HUNGRY!

Had a tremendous day: solid workout followed by productive day with pen testing and the Hex Tree learning modules.

Wrote a bit for "Husb.: Time For Monsters" chapter. Things are getting good.

WEDNESDAY

Affirmation: IMPACT DRIVES INCOME!

Kicked off the morning with amazing pancakes and sausage. Thick, fluffy, and so delish!!

TIL - how to pull the android .apk file installed on a device. So .. friggin' .. cool!

THURSDAY

Affirmation: BUILD RELATIONSHIPS!

Need to work on getting out more, volunteer, and network.

FRIDAY

Affirmation: YOU DON'T JUST GO THROUGH IT, YOU GROW THROUGH IT!

Working on getting myself better and healing the boy within.

What We’re Grateful For

1. God is not through with me yet.
2. The wisdom I've been praying for has been in all the lessons learned from failing so much. God IS Good!!
3. Said earlier .. happiness is a full 'fridge.
4. Grateful for the love of the family and finally finding the YT channel to help heal the wounded boy within.

What We Loved

1. Wife has been on the bread-making kick with fabulous results.
2. Loved that wife has joined me at the gym in the mornings. Hoping she stays consistent.
3. Loved that the wisdom I've been praying for has been there the whole time, sadly in the form of failing so damn much.

What We Learned

TO DO

1. INNER WORK [Status: TO DO!!] Adding this entry to the list for future use.
2. Finish reading "Zorro" [Status: TO DO!!] Maybe this weekend we'll finish the section I'm on ... maybe
3. AI Pen Testing [Status: TO DO!!] Referred to an interesting framework to playwith ... courtesy of a connection on Linked In.
4. Android Pen Test - MFP [Status: TO DO!!] Need to find a AVD compatible with the app that can be rooted.

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IN PROGRESS

5. Android PT (Hextree) App Module: Advanced Reverse Engineering [Status: IN PROGRESS!] Working through the module. The demo app isn't side-loading onto the device.
6. "Husb" - Chapter "Time for Monsters, Pt. 1" - [Status: IN PROGRESS!] Lady Hecate/Cetus are gone. Amayra is now on earth. Six and Jessica need to find Diamondback.

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DONE

7. Web Pen Test - MFP [Status: DONE!] Completed a full sweep. Found some goodies but reported, and fixed, by another person (drats!). Mobile is the focus anyway
8. Cloud Security Fundamentals [Status: DONE!] Read the one .pdf. It was high-level and not complicated, but it didn't answer the "how" probably because AWS, GCP, and AZURE all require different approaches. As stated last week, the CCSP is expensive.
9. Android PT (Hextree) App Module: Reverse Engineering [Status: Done!] Learned how to reverse Engineer an app, pull it down from a device and decompile it with apk tools.
10. QA DAY: [Status: DONE!] Learned how to set up and use Playwright CLI. Need to watch the videos and get more info. Also managed to fix the failing login tests due to the DOM elements not being found. The AI "healed" the test in seconds. AMAZING!! It would have taken me half-a-day to troubleshoot and fix.

What We Longed For

1. A great job, working on cool things, with amazing people, for good pay and benefits. In other words, something like Google Mandiant Security Consultant.

What We Loathed

1. 2026 Job Market. Unemployed for 11 months without so much as a blip on the recruiter radar. 1 rejection note in the last two. It's all so awful.
2. AI Companies are going to drive this economy into the ground for the sake of greed and ambition.
3. Politicians on both sides are going to severe their own interests and drive this country into the dirt. And that's when the monsters will show up.