Why?

# Why?

**90%**¹ of my computer networking knowledge is **self-taught** through debugging while trying to solve a specific problem. I did not _formally_ study to be a "networking engineer" and as a result I _defer_ to anyone who does have more knowledge/experience. I feel that learning by hitting my head against the "**brick wall**" (_having to figure things out because they are "blockers") has been _good_ in some respects because my knowledge is highly _practical_. The _downside_, however_, of my knowledge is that I feel it is _inadequate_ to the task I am about to undertake: managing a [home](https://github.com/dwyl/home) [network](https://github.com/dwyl/home/issues/33) where physical access security will be "crackable" if insufficient safeguards are in place.

The need to rapidly _refresh_ my networking knowledge in a _systematic_ way (_documenting everything I know and highlighting any gaps that require further learning_) is _very real_.

I have approximately 2 months until the [`@home`](https://github.com/dwyl/home) network goes "live" at which point we will be invite our "trusted" friends to visit (_both in person and remotely_) to test it.

One of the _biggest_ advantages we have going for us [`@home`](https://github.com/dwyl/home) is that we are doing _everything_ 100% Open Source. This means that _anyone_ can scrutinise our code/configuration and _remotely_ pen-test our network. (_combined with a "bug bounty" program, or just the "warm and fuzzy" feeling of helping to make the world better, we expect our network to be hardened over time_)

> ¹ I say 90% of my knowledge is self-taught because the other 10% which feel is more "theoretical" I acquired while studying for the [CIW](https://www.ciwcertified.com/ciw-certifications/web-security-series/web-security-specialist) certification where I had to [_rote-learn_](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rote_learning) several areas that I've never had to _use_ in practice and just take up space in my brain. 😉

# What?

Learn the essentials of computer networking from TCPI-IP, to Addressing, packets, switches, firewalls etc. How to protect (harden) a network against intrusion while still having a public facing interface.

# Who?

People who are curious and want to learn about how to secure their network.

# How?

+ [ ] Hacker Curriculum: How Hackers Learn Networking:
https://www.computer.org/csdl/mags/ds/2007/10/mds2007100002.html