During my time in the field, I’ve seen a lot of different network configurations. Some networks I see are thoughtfully designed, others not so much. I have noticed that the majority of the deployments I have witnessed have under utilized many of the features that make the equipment worth the price tag in the first place. Why spend thousands of dollars on enterprise networking equipment if you aren’t going to use the knobs and dials that you paid for? There are many examples of this, but today I wanted to bring attention to one that I find especially useful. Multiple… Read more: MVRP Overview

It can be frustrating fighting multicast flooding issues because they are largely invisible and can cause widespread issues. The intent of this guide is to give you a few tips on how to make implementing a basic IGMP configuration as simple as possible. I want to preface this guide by letting you know that I am just showing the basics here that have showed tremendous results in less than ideal situations. DISCLAIMER:This is not meant to be a complete, flawless, in-depth guide, just sharing the basics that might help in a time crunch. Here is the simple explanation of what… Read more: ArubaCX IGMP Configuration Guide

Things You Will Need: Hardware: RTL-SDR Bundle – This affordable software-defined radio bundle is essential for capturing satellite signals. You can get it here on Amazon. Software: SDR Application – You’ll need a software-defined radio application to tune into the satellite frequencies. I used SDR++, which is user-friendly and powerful. You can download it here. Audio Recorder (WAV format support) – This will be used to capture and save audio from the satellites. Most SDR applications, like SDR++, already have built-in functionality for audio recording. SatDump – This software helps decode satellite signals and convert them into images or data.… Read more: Receiving Pictures from Space with Sound: Tuning Into Weather Satellites

During a deployment of blue light phones at a university, one of the units got damaged and needed replacing. Somehow, I ended up with a broken Talkaphone VoIP 600 sitting next to my desk. That’s when a thought crossed my mind: wouldn’t it be hilarious to use an emergency phone to order pizza? With that idea in mind, I rushed home to see if I could revive the unit. Unfortunately, the circuit board was fried, and the components were far too small for me to attempt soldering by hand. Luckily, I happened to chat with someone on the engineering team… Read more: Dialing Up Dinner: Hacking a Blue Light Phone to Order Pizza

Things have been a bit busy lately; so I figured I would leave some pictures of what I have been working on recently.  These are emergency blue light stations! Bluelight emergency phones, commonly seen in areas like campuses and parking garages, are essential safety stations equipped with highly visible blue lights for quick access during emergencies.  These phones use a cellular router and an Analog Telephone Adapter (Last Picture) for reliable communication. The cellular router connects the phone (Keypad in first picture) to the mobile network, while the ATA converts the keypad’s analog signal for digital transmission. This setup enables… Read more: Emergency BlueLight Stations

While studying for the PenTest+ exam, I discovered a couple helpful resources that could benefit others preparing for the same test.  When I study for CompTIA exams I always find myself researching what to expect on the exam, Wasting time worrying about how difficult the test may be instead of studying for the exam like I originally intended to.   My first piece of advice for preparing for the Pentest+, or any certification exam is to relax.  You can’t effectively study for the exam if you are constantly worried about failing.  Failing is part of any meaningful journey, and this is… Read more: CompTIA Pentest+: What to Expect and How to Prepare

In the realm of Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP), effective communication with Fire Panels is paramount for ensuring the safety and security of premises. Central to this endeavor are modulation techniques like Frequency Shift Keying (FSK) and Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF), which play a crucial role in transmitting alarm signals and control commands. In this blog post, we’ll explore the fundamentals of FSK and DTMF modulation techniques and how they contribute to enhancing VOIP communication for Fire Panels, particularly in the context of industry-standard protocols like SIA and Contact ID. Understanding FSK and DTMF: FSK modulation involves varying the frequency of… Read more: Enhancing VOIP Communication for Fire Panels: Leveraging FSK and DTMF Modulation Techniques

It is 12/20/22 and there is only 4 days of Advent of Cyber 2022 left. I have enjoyed the time I have spent so far with the challenges. The challenges have gotten harder over the month, and I have learned so much. Since the last update I posted there has been 10 more challenges, including exploiting web applications, memory forensics, packet analysis and even a little bit of hardware hacking using Saleae. My favorite challenge day so far was 13. On day 13 the challenge was to use Wireshark to look through a packet capture and use filters to find… Read more: Only 4 Days left!