Blog

  • The mystery 50p coin I found

    • General
    • by Jacob Riggs
    • 13-09-2022
    4.61 of 125 votes

    Over 50 years ago a coin entered circulation. A coin that once belonged to a man named Sean Creamer. Engraved on the faces of this coin are the wordsThis once belonged to Sean Creamer 58 Henry St Limerick — worth £5 to me if returned Today this mystery coin resides with me, after what I suspect has been a very

  • Shark Tank success 'LARQ' sent me a free water bottle

    • General
    • by Jacob Riggs
    • 27-08-2022
    4.74 of 173 votes

    Last week I fell into the abyss of watching random YouTube videos and at one point landed on a video featuring LARQ, the highest valuation company to ever pitch on the popular US television show Shark Tank. The product line they were offering was simple – self-cleaning water bottles that use UV light to purify water. Intrigued to find out

  • UK ISPs prohibit ethical security research activities

    • General
    • by Jacob Riggs
    • 26-08-2022
    4.75 of 131 votes

    All major UK ISPs seem to stipulate contractual terms which specifically prohibit their customers from employing the use of their home broadband service for security testing activities, regardless of the lawful basis for those activities (such as when penetration testing and bug bounty engagements are authorised). Below are the relevant extracts I pulled from those associated policies. If you're a

  • The Royal Mint sent me a limited edition gold coin

    • General
    • by Jacob Riggs
    • 25-07-2022
    4.85 of 163 votes

    For some voluntary cybersecurity related work I did, The Royal Mint sent me a limited edition 22 carat gold coin which commemorates the life and legacy of the great mathematician and codebreaker Alan Turing. This included bespoke packaging that contained a small 'Innovation in Science' series booklet detailing Turing's remarkable achievements, and featured one of his most famous quotes: We

  • How to access and trade on darknet markets

    4.77 of 120 votes

    Welcome to my first counter-economics walkthrough, featuring the darknet. The darknet is not just a domain for illicit activities, it also serves as a space that offers unparalleled opportunities for discourse, free market trade, and collective and communal discovery. It’s occupied by people from all walks of our complex and layered lives - from outright criminals and troublemakers, to journalists,

  • How I found a vulnerability giving me infinite CPE credits

    4.86 of 142 votes

    This is my write-up on a vulnerability I identified which allowed me to credit my ISACA CISM certification with unlimited CPE credits. During my day off I was looking at ways to earn myself some CPE credits towards my CISM certification. For context, 1 hour of eligible activities translates to the accrual of 1 CPE credit, and for my CISM certification,