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What did you learn in 2017 - A review

Annual Review Security Learning 2017

Null/OWASP/G4H combined monthly meet - Dec 2017

Akash Mahajan

Follow up of my talk from Jan 2017

What did we cover in that talk?

  • Our reasons for learning
  • Getting started with listing out what we want to learn
  • Creating a timeline using Google Calendar

On a piece of paper

  • Note down the answers to the following questions
  • Please remember there are no wrong answers

Nobody has to to show this to me or anyone else, so be honest!

So what did you learn this year related to tech and Security?

  • I learnt things like Docker and Kubernetes
  • I learnt a bit of Golang programming
  • I learnt a proper JavaScript frontend framework/lib VueJS

What are the factors that enabled learning?

  • I started using containers for development and deployments
  • Me and my wife decided to take an introductory book on Golang and follow it
  • I like to build simple Python applications which are typically designed in a RESTful manner. Learning a proper JS framework meant no longer having to write the HTML code for it

What are the things you wanted to but didn't learn?

  • Static Malware Analysis
  • Writing assembly

What came in the way of not learning?

  • Mostly because I didn't care enough
  • I didn't have any goal oriented outcomes planned

Goal oriented outcomes such as

  • To build good looking webapps I learn VueJS (FOMO)
  • To do the development properly I learnt how to use containers for Python flask (Because cool kids)
  • To spend quality time with my wife 2 hours per week of Golang programming (My sneaky plan was her to learn logic the way I understand it)

Some theories why this really happens

If we were a planet

  • We would be littered with projects half done
  • Usually the half that is done is the easy one

Mainly because we all believe in having infinite amount of time

  • That we will get to doing the work some day

But when we don't plan our time

  • It passes really quickly

Time and Tide wait for none

  • The old adage is still true

What could be done differently?

No real alternative to practice

  • Good old fashioned hard work is required sometimes

According to smart people on Wikipedia

Applying the right amount of heat makes for one delicious outcome

Right amount of heat

You should know that distractions are not helpful

  • In this day and age they are many and very frequent

Focus is the key

Not knowing what to focus on, makes things foggy

  • Especially the part about "how something will get done"
  • A fundamental mistake made by people is to answer how something will get done, before being clear on what needs to be done

When what needs to be done is clear, the fog melts away

  • Clarity encourages hard work

It is tempting to go alone

  • But the reality is, there is a reason you haven't started learning all the things you wanted to learn.
  • Mental discipline is a tough ask

Buddies can make the workload easier to manage

  • Doesn't matter if it is for a scary ride in an amusement park or learning something equally scary

Getting any ideas?

You need to become comfortable with fear of failure

Failure is bound to happen

<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/HrydPrw0zphAs" width="480" height="278" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>

via GIPHY

The question is, what happens next

<iframe src="https://giphy.com/embed/ylclh9UEymjfy" width="480" height="270" frameBorder="0" class="giphy-embed" allowFullScreen></iframe>

via GIPHY

Principles of Learning (My version)

Your prior knowledge can help or hinder learning

How you organise knowledge influences how you will learn and apply

Your motivation plays a crucial role

  • Especially when facing an uphill climb

To develop mastery, you must

  1. acquire various skills
  2. practice integrating them and
  3. most importantly know when to apply what you have learned

Always do Goal directed practice

  • This should become muscle memory

To become self directed learner, you must

  • learn to monitor
  • adjust your approach to learning

I assert that it is fun learning as a community

I invite you to start 2018 by learning as a community at null/OWASP/G4H