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Don’t hide your abilities to avoid bullies

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized November 19, 2012cissp, excel, mizzou, PE

There’s a disturbing story on Slashdot today: Kids are playing dumb to avoid being bullied.

I have two things to say. I was bullied when I was a kid. In seventh grade, it was me against the world (or at least the entire school), and the problem followed me, though not as intensely, through two more schools, until sometime in my sophomore year.

But it gets better. Trust me on that. Some of the losers who picked on me never graduated high school. Some spent time in jail. Some couldn’t get a date if their lives depended on it now. Their lives peaked right around age 18. Meanwhile, things are pretty good for me, largely because each time I’ve been told to pass a long test if I want to keep my job, I’ve been able to do it.

Dave Farquhar

David Farquhar is a computer security professional, entrepreneur, and author. He has written professionally about computers since 1991, so he was writing about retro computers when they were still new. He has been working in IT professionally since 1994 and has specialized in vulnerability management since 2013. He holds Security+ and CISSP certifications. Today he blogs five times a week, mostly about retro computers and retro gaming covering the time period from 1975 to 2000.

dfarq.homeip.net

Is it better to be a consultant or an employee?

Dave Farquhar Careers October 16, 2012May 18, 2022christmas, cissp, cissp exam, home depot, mercenary

I ran into a former supervisor from many years ago at the local Home Depot this evening. We had a pleasant discussion. It reminded me of a question I asked, right around the time he and I last talked. I asked whether it’s better to be a consultant or an employee.

Here’s what I would say to my 2005 self if I could, somehow. I present it here since I know someone else must have the same question.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

CISSP vs. CASP vs. CEH

Dave Farquhar security October 3, 2012November 24, 2018antivirus, CEH, certifications, cissp, datacenter, DBA, firewall, IDS

One of my coworkers invited me to watch a webinar with him today that promised to compare CompTIA’s new high-end certification with the CISSP.

I was skeptical at first, especially when I heard it was an 80-question, 150-minute test. But by the end, I mostly liked what I heard.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

The phone in the server rack

Dave Farquhar War Stories October 2, 2012cisco, cissp, datacenter, VOIP

I spent about four years of my life working in a datacenter, administering a system comprised of about 200 computers supporting 20,000 users. I have some stories.

The facility had a lot of rules, some of them extremely petty. One of them involved telephones.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Certifications are a scam! A rebuttal

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized September 25, 2012December 5, 2015certifications, cissp, discipline, firewall, pdf files, RF, unix

I overheard a couple of people talking a few weeks ago, and one said, flat out, “Certifications are a scam!”

As one who has two security certifications (Security+ and CISSP), I disagree. Now that I’ve had my first post-CISSP professional review, I disagree even more strongly.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Hey! That’s your teammate.

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized September 16, 2012cissp

I don’t remember much about playing baseball in the fifth grade. I was an outfielder, but I don’t remember if I played left or right field that year. I don’t remember if I hit at the top of the order, or if I hit sixth.

My main memory of that year is one specific incident. I don’t remember the context, but either during or after a game, one of the players was hassling another player.

“Hey!” I heard my dad’s booming voice yell. “He’s your teammate.” Dad didn’t have to add the words, “cut it out,” because the bully understood. Dad’s stern rebuke, plus the glares from the coaches put an end to it.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

I’m tempted by this Nook deal

Dave Farquhar Hardware July 19, 2012July 19, 2012CBK, cissp, kmart, Nook Simple Touch, pdf files

Kmart is selling the Nook Simple Touch–the e-ink, black-and-white version–for $70, which is nearly 30% off. I’m tempted. Very tempted. Tempted even to buy one and just use it as–drum roll–an e-reader.

Disappointed in me?

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

Social networks can be good or bad for your career

Dave Farquhar Uncategorized July 16, 2012AIX, cissp, LinkedIn, profiles, technical writer, unix

HR departments and recruiters are watching you on Linkedin and other social networks. That’s an opportunity and a warning. Read more

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

New digs

Dave Farquhar Personal July 4, 2012christmas, cissp, unix

Tuesday was my first day on the new job. Who starts a new job the day before a holiday? Me. Hey, I tried to start one the day after Christmas one year. This is completely in character.

The new job uses the pieces of the CISSP I wasn’t using. It’s a stretch. Stretching is good. My new boss handed me a schedule for the next six weeks, with objectives for each week. It’s good to go in knowing what’s expected. He also said I’ll be doing a little Unix work. I was glad to hear that.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net

A data classification study question

Dave Farquhar security July 3, 2012CISM, cissp, Information Assurance

I was in a meeting last week where two CISSPs were battling wits, and one challenged the other with a question. I elbowed my boss and said that’s a great CISSP or CISM study question. He agreed. So I’ll repeat it here, with explanation.

Dave Farquhar

dfarq.homeip.net