Thursday, May 11, 2017

Adam Walker

Greetings everyone!

Welcome to my blog. My name is Adam Walker and I am excited to try what the kids call these days "blogging". Personally, I have never been a fan of owning a diary, or any sort of writing in general -- I am a complete math and science geek -- but this looks to be a riveting experience. Now, let me tell you a little bit more about myself. I am a senior at BASIS Scottsdale looking to document my experience during my research over my last trimester. I enjoy listening to any type of music, but my favorite would probably be grunge/rock/alternative. Speaking of music, I love to play guitar, and have been playing since 8 years ago. I have never not enjoyed guitar to give you an idea of how much I love it. Moving away from the arts now, I enjoy mechanical work on my car, a 2012 black Mustang (a car I am most proud of) and scrimmaging with friends in soccer.



Now as much as I would like to tell you everything that happens in my life, my blog will focus on one specific topic, my senior research project -- cYbeR you not secure? How to be safe in an online world. In this project, I will be working under Serial Technology Entrepreneur Mr. Mark Vange to work on the internet presence of a virtual reality flight simulator. To put that in simple terms, how a video game will interact with the internet. To the side of that, and what my project actually is about, I will be researching and compiling the best methods to be secure on the internet so that the average person like you or me can be the most safe online. In the end, I will have a guideline that will help determine what measures you have to take to be safe online depending on what your main purpose for going online is.



Phew! I hope this all makes sense. It just seems to go in one ear and out the other when I try to explain it to people. In about a week and a half from the day this was posted, it will be my first day actually working on this project. Exciting times! Feel free to comment on any future posts regarding my projects or this one, if you are feeling up to it. I hope you have a wonderful day. This is Adam signing off.



19 comments:

  1. Hey Adam, this project seems perfect for you. Just out of curiosity, do you know anything more about this flight simulator? If you're looking at how it interacts with the internet, is there some way for us to be a part of your research by being a test subject (interacting on the internet)? a.k.a. I wanna turn dangit

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    1. Hello Luke! Thanks for commenting on my blog. To my knowledge, this project is still in the stages of early development. If you'd like to see a video of the game in action, here is a link: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markvange/treasury/position:810483797/?entityUrn=urn%3Ali%3Afs_treasuryMedia%3A(ACoAAAAVdnABfZK09xUyxX_VtuE3M1NDTBJlFuQ%2C51203459). The game is called Fighter Base. It is a WWII-era Massive Multiplayer flight combat simulator to be specific. As for you guys, my followers and readers, I do not know of a way you guys will be able to play the game while I work on it. If there is a way, I will post it in my blog -- a most exciting idea don't you think?

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  2. Hi Adam!Your project sounds really cool. Since I'm not at all familiar with video games, I'm a little confused with what the virtual reality flight simulator is. Is it a video game that interacts with the internet? How exactly does a video game interact with the internet?

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    1. Hi Nichole, thanks for commenting! Yes, it is a video game that interacts with the internet. When a video game interacts with the internet, it means it will have some form on online interaction. Whether that be connecting with other people or servers hosting events, being online is the only way to access such things.

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  3. Hi Adam! As someone who has gotten their fair share of viruses, I think your blog may be the most helpful one for me to read. I am grateful that I get to be your Senior Project Liaison! When did your interest for cyber security begin? Are there measures you currently take to be safe online?

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    1. Hello Ms. Conner! My interest in cybersecurity probably stemmed from two things as I see it; the first was my first time building a desktop. Going through all the steps and preparing the OS seemed to drag me into all the necessary processes needed to begin using my PC as an actual functioning computer, such as downloading all the correct drivers for the components as well as other basic programs like Google Chrome. The second was my visit to the university I will end up going to, Embry-Riddle. Seeing there "hacker" lab, essentially a room dedicated to their cybersecurity program, made me all giddy and excited that I knew this was what I wanted to do in the future.

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  4. Hey Adam! Your project sounds very interesting! I've never gotten a virus before, and hopefully with the help of your project, I never will have to worry about getting one. How do you plan on using your experiences with the video game to compile a list of how to remain secure online?

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    1. Hi Urmi! As most video games do in modern times, they will have some feature that requires access to the internet. When a video game has access to the internet, the person will be required to have some sort of account so they can be identified online. Most games will be linked to your main account, like Steam or PSN. These have valuable and private information like your credit card number. This is why it is vital to have a secure way to access the internet. If not, people could take advantage of the vulnerabilities and gain access to such information. This is how I will compile information about remaining secure online through this video game since I will be dealing with this video games' online presence.

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  5. Hi Adam! I love your project. Question for you, how will you be using what you discover through this project as a way to improve the flight simulator's safety for the user?

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    1. Hey Liam! Now, what my research is actually on is how the average person like you or me can be safe online. I will be using knowledge that I learn during the building of this project to create a method my research can be accomplished through. Of course, I will be trying to make the flight simulator as safe as possible online, so we will have to find out how once I really start to work on the project. Thanks for commenting!

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  6. Hey Adam! This sounds like a really cool project, and I can't wait to see what you come up with as far as guidelines for safe internet. My question is how the cybersecurity and the flight simulator are related, it was a little confusing for me to understand.

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    1. I don't know why it says unknown, but I'm Zachary Schawelson.

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    2. Hey Zacahary! So when you read my next post, you will find out that my work has changed a little, but I will still answer your question. The flight simulator will have a website. On this website, people will sign in under accounts that may be linked to more valuable information you may have like passwords which you don't want getting out. The cyber-security part will deal with the best ways to protect against that. I hope this clears up you confusion. I'm glad you asked since you were confused. If you have any more questions in the future, feel free to ask.

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  7. Hi Adam! That was a great introduction, I am looking forward for your research. One question, what motivated you to choose this topic.

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    1. Thanks for commenting Joshua. I have always been into computers, but my interest in cyber-security came from my first visit to the university I want to attend, Embry-Riddle. This was the first time I was introduced the idea of cyber-security as a degree. I was just astonished when I entered their "hacker" lab that I knew that was what I wanted to do in the future.

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  8. Hi Adam! As an avid browser of the online space, this project piqued my interest, and I'm quite interested in your future guideline for internet safety; however, I do have a question. What methods for internet safety will you be focusing on, as, in my experience at least, recording trackers through the use of extensions is much more effective than practices like reporting abuse.

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    1. Hello William! I can see that you are not the average person when it comes to this topic, and I am glad to have you on board as I document my experience. In regards to your question, your experience spoke correctly, I will be changing up my methods for this project as you will read in my next post. Testing plug-ins which are essentially internal extensions to the base code will be a much better and powerful way to gain data for my research. Of course, reporting abuse is always useful. I appreciate your level of knowledge in this topic and am looking forward to any future discussions I may have with you. Thanks for commenting!

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  9. Hey Adam! I am very excited to see where you go with this project! It seems like a very strong idea and you also seem to be very interested. I cannot wait to see how this journey goes!

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  10. Hey Adam, sorry about the wait I am still trying to get used to this whole commenting thing. I think your research project is extremely interesting and I cannot wait to follow you through this journey.

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