Cyber Nerd Surf

Learning in public, one log at a time.

Class notes, lab walkthroughs, and research — documented because explaining something in writing is the best test I know for whether I actually understand it.

Class & Lab Notes · Logs 01–05

May 13, 2025 · 3 min read

Log 01: Cyber… Security… Cybersecurity?

What does cybersecurity actually mean? Breaking down red teams, blue teams, purple teaming, and the entry-level roles worth knowing about.

May 20, 2025 · 3 min read

Log 02: DISSECTION — Hardware Made Simple

We opened up a 2014 Dell Optiplex in class. Here's everything inside it, what each component does, and what the ports on the outside are for.

May 27, 2025 · 2 min read

Log 03: From Input to Output — How the Hardware Really Works

Ever wonder how a computer actually understands what you're asking it to do? It all comes down to electricity, binary, and logic gates.

Jun 3, 2025 · 3 min read

Log 04: Operating Systems

What is an OS actually doing? Breaking down the userland, the kernel, the API layer, BIOS, HAL, and how Windows organizes your files.

Aug 14, 2025 · 4 min read

Log 05: Creating User Accounts in Windows

A hands-on lab walkthrough — creating and managing user accounts in Windows 11 Enterprise, then doing the same thing via PowerShell.

Cyber Nerd Surf · Research Series

Aug 28, 2025 · 3 min read

Cyber Nerd Surf: Log 01 — Encryption

Symmetric vs. asymmetric encryption, common algorithms, hardware security modules, and the Diffie-Hellman key exchange — explained simply.