Think Positive Cyber

Lessons from the Trail

Hiking up Cowles Mountain in 35 minutes was a rewarding challenge—much like tackling cybersecurity vulnerabilities. The trek reminded me that endurance, strategy, and preparation matter, whether scaling a peak or defending networks against attacks.

After reaching the summit, I headed to the San Carlos Library to continue my studies. Today’s focus: cryptographic attacks and password security. One of the most fascinating concepts is the birthday attack, which exploits hash collisions—like how in a room of 23 people, there’s a 50% chance two share a birthday. This principle shows why secure hash functions need large output sizes.

The SSL stripping attack is another pressing concern. Attackers can downgrade a secure HTTPS connection to HTTP, intercepting sensitive information. This highlights why we should always verify encrypted connections and avoid public Wi-Fi for sensitive tasks.

On the password security front, I explored brute force and spraying attacks. Using weak or common passwords like “123456” invites disaster. Security best practices, like SHA-256 hashing and multi-factor authentication, can thwart these threats.

These lessons parallel faith and resilience. In Lutheran thought, faith is a foundation, much like cryptography secures our digital world. Just as hashing protects credentials, spiritual discipline strengthens conviction. Security flaws often arise from weak implementations, mirroring how lapses in faith lead to vulnerabilities in life.

I’m continuing my cybersecurity journey with Professor Messer’s Security+ series. Next, I’ll study Indicators of Compromise—analyzing attack footprints to enhance detection.

🔗 For spiritual reflection, I also recommend reading this devotional booklet. (Mirror) Cybersecurity and faith both demand awareness, preparation, and unwavering commitment.