Let’s Talk Cybersecurity, Education, and Some Weird Stuff in Between

Hi, I’m Rowdy. If you’ve stumbled across this blog, you’re probably curious about cybersecurity, education, or maybe just wondering what kind of trouble someone with a name like mine is getting into on the internet.

A Little About Me

I’ve been working in IT for nearly a decade—everything from desktop support to systems administration to keeping entire networks from catching fire (figuratively… and once, almost literally). I’ve spent a lot of time in education-focused environments, which has given me a front-row seat to how schools and colleges are struggling (and sometimes succeeding) to keep up with the constantly shifting world of cyber threats.

I’m passionate about this space because it really matters. We’re not just protecting data—we’re protecting students, educators, and the future of digital learning.

The Next Chapter: HTB CPTS

Right now, I’m focused on earning the Hack The Box CPTS certification. Why? Because I want to push my offensive security skills further and dive deeper into real-world penetration testing.

The CPTS is no joke—it’s a practical certification that forces you to prove your chops in a simulated environment. There’s no multiple choice here—just a VPN, a vulnerable system, and a clock ticking down while you try to exploit it like a pro. I’ll be documenting my progress, lessons learned, and probably a few “I can’t believe I missed that” moments along the way.

Strange But True: Cybersecurity in Education

One of the biggest reasons I started this blog is to document some of the bizarre, concerning, and sometimes downright unbelievable cybersecurity issues happening in the education world.

We’ve got:

• AI bots enrolling as fake students to scam financial aid systems.

• Surveillance tools “monitoring” students for mental health issues but instead violating their privacy.

• Ransomware gangs targeting K-12 districts with budgets smaller than their vending machine contracts.

It’s a strange frontier—and it’s only getting stranger.

What to Expect Here

This blog is going to be a mix of:

• My journey through advanced security training (like CPTS and beyond)

• Weird and noteworthy finds from cybersecurity in schools

• Tips, tools, and stories for anyone trying to make sense of the madness

If you’re into cybersecurity, care about education, or just like watching someone try to ethically hack their way into learning environments without getting fired—stick around. It’s going to get interesting.