project_ideas

Learn a new programming language!
 - functional language like Racket, Erlang, Clojure
 - Python is so useful and easy to learn!


Install Linux.
 - easy: Ubuntu, Linux Mint, ElementaryOS <- super pretty
 - harder: Debian expert install, Arch Linux
 - stupid: Fedora, CentOS <- bad, out of date, tedious to work with
 - expert: FreeBSD / OpenBSD / NetBSD / DragonflyBSD

Learn Linux!
 - learn bash

Set Up a * Server (on the cloud! Digital Ocean has $100 free via github students)
 - ssh / sftp / git+ssh / svn+ssh
   - learn to tunnel and reverse tunnel
 - web
 - email
 - torrent
   - to distribute Linux ISOs of course
 - kerberos kdc
 - nfs
 - ftp <- don't actually
 - samba (cifs)

System Hardening - making a system secure
 - enable your firewall
 - https://security.berkeley.edu/node/143
 - https://wikis.utexas.edu/display/ISO/Redhat+Linux+Hardening+Checklist
 - find a checklist, it will explain

Cryptography
 - implement a crypto primitve: hash function, encryption function, etc.
   - AES, SHA256, scrypt - JUST FOR LEARNING
 - a Python programs that encrypts a file with a password
 - take a course online
   - Coursera Crypto by Dan Boneh - https://www.coursera.org/course/crypto
   - http://learncryptography.com/encryption/
   - http://stackoverflow.com/questions/14392387/most-common-encryption-algorithms
   - https://www.owasp.org/index.php/Guide_to_Cryptography#Cryptographic_Algorithms
   - crypto101.io, khan academy, google, etc.

Online Exercises
 - PicoCTF
 - Over the Wire
 - Smash the Stack
   - learn x86 assembly
   - // learn ARM assembly
 - Matasano Crypto Challenges
   - holy shit! http://cryptopals.com
 - hackerrank.com <- coding challenges (mostly algorithms)

Projects
 - write an app with 2 factor authentication
 - fingerprint scanner: use it
 - find a facial recognition library and authenticate your face!
 - use a camera to scan a retina and verify
 - build text with markov chains (GOOGLE PYTHON CLASS!!!)
 - write a reddit bot / or other program with an API
   - in Python!
   - github API
   - bart (train)
   - weather
   - ebay?
   - steam
     - notify you when games go on sale
     - stalk fellow gamers
   - notify of headline news of interest
     - based on keywords or other criteria
   - web scraper / crawler
   - XKCD!!!
 - write an IRC bot!!!
 - write an Android app
 - make a game... in Android! LOVE for lua, pygame in python3, Processing w java
 - make a personal website
   - django
   - flask - signs cookies with itsdangerous
   - ruby on rails
   - php D: T_T;;
   - go
     - with good authentication
       - store passwords well
       - try to hack it yourself!
 - set up a github account and start a project
   - or bitbucket
   - student discounts / developer packages
 - learn vim!
 - learn emacs...

Follow the News
 - netsec.reddit.com
 - cryptography.reddit.com
 - hacker news!
 - lobste.rs
 - @swiftonsecurity on twitter
 - @znjp on twitter
 - programming.reddit.com
 - programmorhumor.reddit.com
 - securityreactions.tumblr.com
 - kingjamesprogramming.tumblr.com
 - arstechnica
 - the only good article on Mustang News
   - Liam is quoted in it! 11/10

Read Books
 - every programmer needs a copy of K&R C
   - Kernighan and Ritchie, The C Programming Language