anuragrai.cv

Anurag Rai / Const Coccinelle / Dark-Matter7232

Learning cybersecurity from zero, in the open.

Hey, I'm Anurag Rai: a 20-year-old Computer Science undergrad, Linux geek, audiophile, and tinkerer. For the last few years I have been comfortable in systems work, terminals, and small Unix-style utilities. I am now pivoting into cybersecurity. I have no prior security experience and I am not going to pretend otherwise. I do not know what most of this field looks like yet. What I do have is a goal, the patience to read, and a willingness to fail labs in public until things start to click. This site is the honest log of that beginning.

Cybersecurity beginnerLinux-firstLearning in the openWindows + WSL workflow

Current Focus

What I am actually doing each day right now.

  • Working through the PortSwigger Web Security Academy from the very beginning

  • Learning HTTP, the browser security model, and how web requests really flow

  • Getting fluent with Burp Suite as my daily tool

  • Writing down what I learn, including the things I get wrong

Reading Shelf

Reading keeps me steady and curious when code gets chaotic.

  • 1. The Last GirlNadia Murad

    This made me aware of the Yazidi genocide and how politics and religion shape real lives.

  • 2. Bhagavad-Gita As It IsA.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada

    I respect its impact, but this interpretation did not sit right with me, and I still prefer a more orthodox reading of the source text.

  • 3. The Kite RunnerKhaled Hosseini

    This book broke me, Hassan's suffering and his unwavering loyalty changed how I think about love, dignity, and pain.

  • 4. The Book ThiefMarkus Zusak

    I read this in 9th grade and, without a library card, had a friend keep borrowing it for me until I finished, I recommend it to everyone because it makes you live through Max and Liesel.

  • 5. Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the UniverseBenjamin Alire Saenz

    This book helped me understand myself better when I was going through a phase similar to Aristotle and Dante.

  • 6. Shiva TrilogyAmish Tripathi

    A fun read overall, and an interesting reinterpretation of our mythology.

Beyond The Keyboard

A few things that keep my perspective broad while I learn.

  • Badminton sessions to reset focus
  • Occasional gaming
  • Geopolitical history deep dives
  • Mechanical keyboards and sound profiles
  • Music and critical listening

2026 Build Roadmap

  1. Finish a structured foundations pass on HTTP, cookies and sessions, the browser security model, basic SQL, and JavaScript for exploitation, so that I can actually understand what the labs are asking of me.
  2. Clear every Apprentice-tier lab on the PortSwigger Web Security Academy, then start moving through Practitioner-tier labs, one vulnerability class at a time.
  3. Write a short post on the blog after every meaningful lab or topic, so the learning trail is public and so I can re-read my own confusion later.
  4. Sit the Burp Suite Certified Practitioner exam once the Practitioner labs feel routine, and treat any first-attempt failure as more information, not a verdict.

Toolkit And Workspace

Everyday setup choices behind my coding and systems work.

  • EditorsVS Code and Neovim
  • Shellszsh and PowerShell
  • Core environmentWindows with WSL for development
  • HardwareASUS Vivobook S16 OLED, Snapdragon X (ARM64), 16GB RAM, dual-display setup

Let's Connect

If you are also early in cybersecurity, or further along and willing to point a beginner in better directions, I would like to hear from you.