Hi, This is Brian Cao. I go by both Haoying and Brian. Welcome to my website!
Hi, This is Brian Cao. I go by both Haoying and Brian. Welcome to my website!
I am currently a CS student at University of Michigan. The main area of my focus is cybersecurity and hacking.
Besides that I am also interested in Linux, computer hardware, and Free Software. The goal I have for this website is for it to become a place for me to record my journey as I become a professional. This will include things like the various writeups I did for hacking challenges, updates on my homelab project, as well as tips for passing various certifications.
My interest with cybersecurity started about the same time when I started using Linux. When I installed Ubuntu on my old MacBook, I was able to quickly master the command line. As I dive deeper into Linux, I started to follow Mental Outlaw, a Linux Youtuber as well as a cybersecurity professional. He often posted videos on how to improve one's personal OPSEC, as well as various news on cybersecurity incidents, from which I learned how often do companies get hacked due to bad security practices and policies.
I then started learning cybersecurity through Websites like TryHackMe, where I found myself to be more interested in the Red Team area. I found myself doing various hacking challenges and pwning and rooting boxes left and right. I decided to complete the eJPT, a penetration testing certification for beginners but at the same time put heavy emphasis on penetration methodology. After 3 month of study and the exam itself that involved a penetration of a network, I definitely felt like I have learned a lot about cybersecurity.
As good as eJPT is as an beginner's certification, it is still lacking in many areas. I closest future goal would be to obtain the OSCP certification, which is a more in depth certification with a reputation for being one of the hardest, but I have faith in myself to do fine. Even if I don't, it's ok. That's just a step in the process in my journey, and plus, hardship and struggle is what makes everything great.