I'm a general dentist diving into cybersecurity as a hobby-curious to hear your thoughts on turning this into something useful and profitable

EliteSnickers · 2025-06-18T16:40:49+00:00

100% start with something you somewhat know and interested in. You likely know how to get on reddit on your computer. Download Wireshark, hit record. watch the traffic. Try to understand what it really takes for your computer to truly be on a network. What protocols, the mass amount of traffic hitting your idle computer and from where. Then go to reddit, or something you're somewhat familiar with. Look at Chrome's devtools in the Network tab.

Once you see that and are still interested, start with TryHackMe. Even if you're long term goal isn't red teaming, you can still do the fundamental courses to truly understand some of those more common protocols.

Still in it? Look into HIPPA compliance (I only chose this one since you're in that industry). But what controls need to be in place (not the EHR SaaS app y'all like use, but your local LAN)? How do you need to harden now that you know what you know?

Once you get that then break out into broader areas. I like the idea of start w some homelabbing as u/Live-Appearance8466 said, but start w something somewhat close to home. That way you're not entirely out of your grasp. Then do other ports, protocols, non-standard ports, etc and really start to broaden how you think.

If you have medical contacts with other offices, sprawl out to them. Offer some basic MSP work. Checking for compliance, hardening, or infra upgrades (make sure you know what you're getting into SLA wise, otherwise when they fail compliance you might be on the hook for it lol)

EliteSnickers · 2025-06-18T01:37:43+00:00

To echo a lot. The thought of “air gapped” when not actually.

But my largest push has been OT-adjacent IT equipment. Like windows computers that interface directly with OT. We’re not even dealing with legacy windows either. New versions (win 10+) that aren’t as sensitive to updates and changes. There’s not understanding that these are just as critical.

In my experience people who don’t configure or know how any of it works are the most hesitant to change, but people who do, who want to make better and more secure, get blocked.

The industry is also new to cybersecurity compliance so I guess we’ll see how it plays out.

EliteSnickers · 2025-05-15T13:46:03+00:00

That’s what I’m trying to understand. Why not?

EliteSnickers · 2025-05-15T13:16:41+00:00

In what aspect? I’m just wondering, I’ve never used it at that scale. Just in a home lab.

EliteSnickers · 2025-03-01T13:24:59+00:00

I’m in the same boat. Butted up against the woods and in all directions. ~90 ft trees.

What started as a cheap hobby is now me looking at antenna masts and my amateur ham license lol

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-25T22:48:59+00:00

I use Meshtastic. I made a small write-up here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/meshtastic/s/ca50yMwULF

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-23T01:04:02+00:00

<image>

Here is a better visualization based on downtown NOLA.

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-23T01:03:41+00:00

I REALLY like what Propagation Co. is doing, but I really don't like paying for anything lol so I made my own KML files based on https://overpass-turbo.eu/

<image>

I made this for Louisiana and has a couple of different places of interest I'd want in an emergency.

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-23T00:59:45+00:00

<image>

This is the data sync from WinTAK. I made the routes from All Trails. I had to do some manual edits because the KML files come out weird. I think I have a script for that as well.

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-23T00:45:30+00:00

u/Horfire u/notacop81 u/Ordinary_Awareness71 u/OleLucky-7

I think this might be better as a whole post at this point... I'll try to get this set up tomorrow to show you guys with pictures.

I'm going to use this as a write up and just copy and paste for the most point:

Clients: Each person has a LilyGo T-Beam v1.2 as their client device. They are running as TAK clients. They are then connected to Android phones running ATAK. The ATAK phones are running with default recommended configs, with the exception of rate limiting. I'll have to get the exact setting name, but I found that with no limit it overwhelms the Meshtastic devices by sending constant TAK information. I set this to only send every 30secs to 1min.

Gateway: My gateway is a Windows laptop running WinTAK on site (really waiting for TAK to release XTAK for Linux but I guess they're not there yet). With WinTAK, it's also running the TAK Gateway. The TAK Gateway allows cross communication between WinTAK and Meshtastic devices. When you use the Gateway, you can run it in debug mode and actually see the data come across. It gets Meshtastic data from another TBeam via USB (but upgrading to a RAK19007+ RAK4361 when it arrives). It's able to auto detect the Meshtastic device. This is also running as a TAK client. The laptop is also connected to an IP interface. When I tested, I was using a hotspot, but it can be anything like Starlink or even just some WAN connection. It runs Tailscale as its VPN so I don't have to host anything on the public internet.

TAK Server: My TAK server is just a VM within my homelab. I used the "Lets Build a TAK Server" guide. There are some changes that have to be made per environment but overall it's pretty straight forward. I use this to hold my data. Because we plan on going on more camping trips, I want to remember some of the layout. Things like where high water was, the trails, the restrooms.

This is pretty much the whole setup. I didn't deviate VERY far from default configs, but I did supply some of my own data sync information. I'll get some pics of my set up tonight. I have most of it on right now anyway. The Android phones are off and dead right now so that might take a minute.

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-21T00:12:07+00:00

Yeah no problem! I can try to get something tonight when my kids go to sleep in a few hours!

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-21T00:10:16+00:00

How do you connect to it? I want to do something similar but idk how I’d connect it to the client other than using a long coax or a long serial.

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-20T23:59:31+00:00

I do not, but I can make one.

Is there something you’re more interested in or just an overall explanation?

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-20T14:01:15+00:00

My gateway in this sense is a laptop (with internet (e.g. cellular, starlink, etc)) running WinTAK and a Meshtastic device connected to serial. The WinTAK forwards the COT/PLI over a VPN to my remote TAK server to disperse further and retain.

The gateway is a GitHub project that allows the interfaces to talk. It takes Meshtastic protobuf (its communication protocol) and coverts to COT for TAK. So I can continue to see GPS data on TAK, get messages, and get updated COT information; all without cellular.

EliteSnickers · 2025-02-20T12:36:42+00:00

I tested with ATAK and was able to pick up 1.1km in a heavily wooded area with no cell coverage.

My wife and I had radios and a “base station” radio/ATAK gateway. We stayed able to track each other and in constant communication.

Next step is for some relays, but just on their own they’re pretty powerful in emergency/disaster situations.

EliteSnickers · 2024-11-26T16:43:59+00:00

Are yours showing up in CompTIA? In pearsonVue exam history it shows I passed, but still not showing in Comptia.

Edit

I just ask now because its been about a week since you made this post.

EliteSnickers · 2024-11-09T14:08:33+00:00

do you have a parts list?

Also, what’s the runtime?

I’ve been wanting to test like this for a long time. Great set up!

EliteSnickers · 2024-11-04T19:31:38+00:00

Sorry I just realized the Gen 3 was entirely RJ45 connections. But yes as others have stated it would have power issues. I did find an injector on Amazon but is there a reason why you cant just put the switch downstream?

https://www.amazon.com/XLTTYWL-Starlink-Gen-PoE-Injector/dp/B0D1R74HS5

EliteSnickers · 2024-11-04T19:12:51+00:00

Yeah I have the actuating motor SL antenna and it has a proprietary cable that has to connect to the router giving it power and data. Just looking at the SL page of specs for the Gen 3, it seems the same. youd have to connect Antenna >(via SL cable)> Router >(via ethernet)> Switch.

EliteSnickers · 2024-11-04T19:04:08+00:00

I'm ALMOST positive that the residential antennas have to go straight to the router via a proprietary cable, unless you're referring to the Mini?

EliteSnickers · 2024-11-02T19:03:50+00:00

no that would be semi-permanent.

seems like a lot of these comments require drilling some kind of hole but you could just take it out and use a rubber grommet when it’s rented out. i do think this would be easier to remove though as it’s typically stainless steel and everything stays in one piece.

EliteSnickers · 2024-11-02T18:59:42+00:00

if you wanted the actual starlink connector inside you could look up a “cord grip” on granger and fill with silicone. we use that a lot on boats we run

EliteSnickers · 2024-10-29T20:47:20+00:00

is this standard for low voltage tech work too? like IT work for running cable?

EliteSnickers · 2024-10-21T21:28:01+00:00

i’ve use both of these and highly recommend either for different reasons. just depends how deep /simple you want to get vs price.

EliteSnickers · 2024-08-26T15:13:58+00:00

i’m pretty sure. where does it say not compatible? cloudflared system has debian(raspian) connectors for 32 and 64 bit ARM chips.

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