From Web Dev to Cybersecurity: My Journey So Far

Introduction: 🏗️ From Building Websites to 🛡️ Protecting Them

When I embarked on my journey in web development, my ambition was clear: to build impressive websites, establish a robust career, and enjoy the process.

Unexpectedly, I ventured into cybersecurity, where my focus shifted from merely enhancing aesthetics to ensuring systems remain unbreachable.

Cybersecurity wasn't part of my initial plan, but upon realizing how vulnerable systems can be, I had an epiphany:

💡 If hackers can master system breaches, why shouldn't I master defending against them?

Now, I'm on the path to becoming a Security Analyst, and I can confidently say—this field is both daunting and exhilarating.

🌐 Why I Started with Web Development (and What I Liked About It) 💻

For many entering the tech industry, web development is the ideal starting point. I reveled in the process of creating something from scratch and watching it come to life.

✔️ Coding was like solving puzzles—identifying errors, debugging issues, and ensuring everything worked seamlessly.✔️ I was captivated by the visual aspect of web development. You write some HTML & CSS, and boom—a website materializes.✔️ It promised a stable career path with abundant opportunities.

Yet, one thing persistently intrigued me: security.

As I learned to build websites, I became increasingly aware of their vulnerabilities.

🔹 SQL injections can allow attackers to steal user data.

🔹 XSS (Cross-Site Scripting) can enable hackers to execute malicious scripts.

🔹 Weak passwords make it easy for accounts to be compromised.

I started questioning: If I’m creating websites, how do I ensure their security?

This curiosity propelled me directly into the realm of cybersecurity.

My first venture into web design: a self-made site using only HTML and CSS, showcasing creativity with its elegant floral theme.

🧟‍♂️ How a Zombie Game Introduced Me to 🔐 Cybersecurity

Believe it or not, my introduction to cybersecurity happened during a gaming session.

I was playing an online zombie survival game, and our group somehow started talking about careers. I casually mentioned that I was switching to web development, and someone said:

"If you like web dev, you should check out cybersecurity. "

I had never considered cybersecurity before. But I was intrigued, so I looked it up.

🔹 What I found blew my mind:

• ✔️ Cybercrime costs the world nearly $8 trillion per year.

• ✔️ Every 39 seconds, there’s a cyberattack happening somewhere.

• ✔️ More than 65% of individuals use the same passwords across different sites, making them vulnerable. I'm also guilty of this because it's simpler to remember a single password, but I now utilize a password manager.

Suddenly, this wasn’t just “cool tech stuff” anymore. It was a real, urgent problem.

Then, I discovered TryHackMe—a hands-on cybersecurity training platform.

Within an hour of trying my first challenge, I was hooked. 🚀

Showcasing my TryHackMe accomplishments: Networking Nerd, Webbed, World Wide Web, cat linux.txt, and Skilled Navigator badges earned so far!

Embrace this journey! 🌟 Cybersecurity is not just a career; it's a chance to make a difference in the digital world. You’ve got this! 💪

What Cybersecurity REALLY Is 🔒 (And What “Thinking Like a Hacker” Means 🕵️‍♂️)

At first, cybersecurity sounded vague. I kept hearing phrases like:

🔹 "Think like a hacker!"

🔹 "Protect against cyber threats!"

But what does that actually mean?

💡 Here’s the reality of cybersecurity:

• ✔️ Hackers aren’t just people in hoodies typing furiously in the dark. Many are part of organized crime groups, stealing data, selling information, and scamming people.

• ✔️ Most hacks don’t happen through “genius” attacks. They happen because of human error—weak passwords, phishing emails, clicking bad links.

• ✔️ Cybersecurity professionals think like hackers so they can stop real attacks. That means:

  • ✅ Learning how attacks work (so we can defend against them).

  • ✅ Finding vulnerabilities before criminals do.

  • ✅ Helping companies secure their data so they don’t get breached.

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One of the biggest eye-openers?

🔹 Over 90% of cyberattacks start with phishing. Hackers don’t need to "break in"—they just trick people into giving them access.

That’s why cybersecurity is so important. If we know how hackers operate, we can stop them.

How Web Development 🌐 Helped Me Transition Into Cybersecurity 🔐

Cybersecurity can seem overwhelming. But learning web development first actually gave me a huge advantage.

💡 Here’s why my coding background helped:

• ✔️ Understanding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript made it easier to spot website vulnerabilities.

• ✔️ I already knew basic networking concepts from working in tech support.

• ✔️ Debugging in web dev taught me problem-solving, which is crucial in cybersecurity.

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However, cybersecurity is a completely different mindset from development.

🔹 As a developer, I asked: “How do I build this?”

🔹 As a cybersecurity analyst, I ask: “How do I break this?”

Learning cybersecurity made me hyper-aware of online risks. Now, I see:

• 🚨 How often people fall for scams.

• 🚨 How vulnerable small businesses are.

• 🚨 How little the average person knows about staying safe online.

Cybersecurity isn’t just interesting—it’s necessary.

Top 10 data breaches in the USA (2023-2024): Discord leads with over 4 billion records compromised, followed by significant breaches in the Real Estate Wealth Network and Zenlayer.

What’s Next? My Plans in Cybersecurity 🔐💻

Now that I’ve officially shifted gears, my focus is:

• ✔️ Building my cybersecurity portfolio.

• ✔️ Earning my Security Analyst Certificate through TryHackMe.

• ✔️ Creating more interactive security guides (like my Cyber Safe Practices Guide!).

• ✔️ Applying for cybersecurity jobs to officially start my career.

Every day, I’m learning just how much there is to know in this field. 📚💻🔐✨

💭🔒 Considering Cybersecurity? Here’s How to Begin! 🚀

If you’re curious about cybersecurity, here’s my advice:

• 🔹 Watch "A Day in the Life" videos on YouTube. See what cybersecurity analysts actually do.

• 🔹 Try hands-on learning. Platforms like TryHackMe and Hack The Box let you practice hacking legally.

• 🔹 Don’t get overwhelmed. Cybersecurity has a lot to learn, but you don’t need to master everything at once.

• 🔹 If you love problem-solving, puzzles, and tech, you’ll probably love cybersecurity.

Conclusion: Cybersecurity Represents the Future—And I Am Prepared for It 🔒🌐

When I started learning web development, I never thought I’d fall in love with cybersecurity. But the more I learned, the more I realized:

💡 Technology is advancing, but so are hackers.

For every new security measure, cybercriminals find a new way to break it. That’s why this field is so important—and why I want to be part of it.

Cybersecurity gives me the challenge, excitement, and purpose I was looking for.

So, if you’ve ever thought about jumping into cybersecurity, take that first step. You never know where it might lead. 🚀