How Hack: The Self-Taught CTO’s Journey Through Cybersecurity and Coding

Frédéric F., a self-taught CTO, shares his unconventional journey into software engineering and cybersecurity—without expensive schools or elite mentors. Instead, he relied on:
– Ugly tutorials
– 500 errors
– All-night debugging sessions (e.g., “error mirth hl7 cannot parse message”)
– MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses)
– Personal projects
– Self-code reviews
– AI-generated backends

His mantra: “The day I stop learning, I’ve lost.”

You Should Know:

1. Debugging Like a Pro

• Linux Commands for Log Analysis:

  grep -i "error" /var/log/syslog  Search for errors in system logs
  journalctl -xe --no-pager | tail -n 50  Check recent systemd logs
  dmesg | grep -i "fail"  Kernel error diagnostics
  

• Windows Event Logs:

  Get-EventLog -LogName Application -EntryType Error -Newest 10  Fetch recent errors
  

2. Automating Backend Development with AI

• Use GPT-Engineer to scaffold a backend:

  git clone https://github.com/AntonOsika/gpt-engineer.git
  cd gpt-engineer
  pip install -e .
  echo "Create a Flask REST API with JWT auth" > prompt.txt
  gpt-engineer prompt.txt
  

3. Self-Code Review (Roasting Your Own Code)

• Static Analysis Tools:

  pylint your_script.py  Python code review
  bandit -r .  Security-focused Python scanner
  

• Git Hook for Pre-Commit Checks:

  .git/hooks/pre-commit
  !/bin/sh
  pylint $(git diff --cached --name-only --diff-filter=ACM | grep '.py$')
  

4. Cybersecurity Skill Sharpening

• Practice HL7 (Healthcare) Security:

  Simulate HL7 message parsing errors
  echo "MSH|^~\&|SENDER|RECEIVER|APP|FACILITY|202404260000||ADT^A01|MSGID|P|2.7" | mirthconnect-cli --test
  

• Try CTF Challenges:

  Install CTF tools
  sudo apt install binwalk steghide john the ripper
  

What Undercode Say:

The path to mastery in IT, cybersecurity, or software engineering isn’t paved with diplomas—it’s built on relentless curiosity. Key takeaways:
1. Logs Are Your Best Friend: Use grep, journalctl, and `dmesg` to dissect failures.
2. AI Accelerates Development: Tools like GPT-Engineer can bootstrap projects.
3. Self-Review Is Non-Negotiable: Linters (pylint, bandit) catch vulnerabilities early.
4. Cybersecurity Requires Hands-On Practice: HL7, CTFs, and real-world debugging forge expertise.

Expected Output:

A CTO who thrives on continuous learning, leveraging:

• Linux commands for diagnostics
• AI-driven automation
• Rigorous self-review
• Cybersecurity drills

No LinkedIn fluff—just code, errors, and growth.

References:

Reported By: Frederic Fabregue – Hackers Feeds
Extra Hub: Undercode MoN
Basic Verification: Pass ✅

Join Our Cyber World:

💬 Whatsapp | 💬 Telegram