London, UK -  Cyber security professional specialising in detection and response, blogging about technology, business, and life to scratch a writing itch from a previous life as a journalist

Recent blog posts

Raspberry Pi Home Hub: Project intro, requirements and objectives
 -  It’s a new year, and it’s time for a new project! Over the course of 2019 I’ll be building a Raspberry Pi Home Hub to display useful information like news, budget updates, energy usage, and more on a screen small enough to sit in the corner of my desk. I...
How to approach your morning routine like a software developer
 -  In the last few months I’ve cut more than 30 minutes from my morning routine, freeing up time to sleep a little longer. When I thought about how my mornings have changed, I realised I’ve naturally followed a process used by software developers. Don’t worry – this isn’t one of...
16 ways I embraced my interest in technology and engineering in 2018
 -  After working hard to transfer to a STEM career in 2017, I was inspired to explore my interest in technology and engineering in 2018. It wasn’t always easy, but I managed to fit in quite a few new experiences over the course of the year. The list below details the...
SQL JOINs: INNER JOIN, LEFT JOIN, RIGHT JOIN and FULL OUTER JOIN
 -  My next post on SQL takes a look at JOINs, which allow you to compare and merge two tables in various ways and determine the relationship between two sets of data. Here’s what INNER, LEFT, RIGHT, and FULL OUTER JOINs are and how to use them. Having gotten to grips...
Python tools for Windows forensics: Deleted files in the Recycle Bin
 -  In a previous post I began building a Python tool that gathers Windows forensic artefacts and parses them into a timeline. In that post I wrote a function that gathers Windows Prefetch application data – this time, let’s take a look at the Recycle Bin. What is the Recycle Bin...
Cyber skills gap: Raising awareness of cyber security opportunities
 -  We’re making progress in training the next generation of cyber security professionals, but for young people to take that training and learn the right skills in the first place they need to be aware of the opportunities available to them in the industry. I was asked to attend a SANS Cyber...
Formula 1 World Championship 2018 review – the closest race in years
 -  Not since Nico Rosberg’s victory in 2016 have we seen two drivers going head to head as closely as Hamilton and Vettel – and it’s been a lot longer since we’ve seen two teams fighting for both the drivers’ and constructors’ World Championships. Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes got there in...
Python tools for Windows forensics: Parsing Prefetch program data
 -  Bit by bit, I’m going to build a Python tool to scrape a Windows system disk image for common forensic artefacts and build a CSV timeline from the evidence gathered. In this first post, I’ll parse and add the data stored in Windows Prefetch files. On my recent SANS course...
Review – Threat Modeling: Designing for Security by Adam Shostack
 -  As I mentioned in my recent post about what I learnt in my first year as a cyber security consultant, I always keep an ebook handy on my phone so I can learn something new on long train journeys. Most recently, this has been Threat Modeling: Designing for Security. While my...
SANS FOR500: I’m now a GIAC Certified Forensic Examiner
 -  After a year in cyber security I was given the opportunity to take another SANS training course – FOR500: Windows Forensic Analysis. It was an informative and enjoyable class that culminated in another GIAC certification exam, which I passed this morning. Having completed SEC401: Security Essentials and SEC504: Hacker Tools,...

Thinking about

Digital journalism
Coincidentally, in the space of a week I encountered both Zach Seward's article about Quartz and Craig Mod's excellent podcasts with Tim Ferriss. Both evoked fond memories of my time in journalism and the buzz surrounding digital journalism and media in the 2010s

Interests

  • Cyber security
  • Tech
  • Python
  • PowerShell
  • JavaScript
  • F1
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Psychology
  • Philosophy
  • Exercise
  • Running
  • Gaming
  • Football
  • Music
  • Guitar