🧠 Hacking My Journey into Cybersecurity – Byte by Byte | Part 1

Welcome to CyberIIon Sentry

Hey there, and welcome to CyberIIon Sentry — where I’m hacking my journey into cybersecurity, byte by byte. This blog (and YouTube series) is a personal chronicle of how I fell in love with tech, where it all started, and how I’m diving deep into cybersecurity. If you’re someone breaking into the field, maybe you’ll see parts of your own story in mine.

🎮 The Commodore 64 and Fraction Fever

My tech journey started in childhood, thanks to my dad bringing home a Commodore 64. One game still sticks in my memory: Fraction Fever. You played as a pogo stick-riding robot, hopping on platforms labeled with fractions. The mission? Find and jump on equivalent fractions. It was pixelated edutainment at its finest — colorful visuals, classic 8-bit sound effects, and a stealthy math lesson packed in.

🕹️ Leveling Up with the NES and Arcade Life

Later, a friend introduced me to the Nintendo Entertainment System. Naturally, I had to get one too. I dove headfirst into The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros., and tons of other legendary titles. That era turned me into a true gamer. When I wasn’t at home, I was in the arcades, mastering games like Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat.

🧑‍💻 My First PC and Cracking Codes in the BBS Era

Fast forward to high school: my dad bought a shiny new Gateway PC, and while he was hesitant to let me near it, I eventually earned his trust. I later got my own PC — a hand-me-down from someone upgrading. This is where I really started exploring. I played Doom, Wolfenstein, Rise of the Triad, and Duke Nukem.

I was active on BBS (Bulletin Board Systems) and FTP sites, digging up secrets for my favorite games. I became “that guy” — the one who knew how to pull off babalities and friendships in MK2 before anyone else believed they were real. I even pulled off Fulgore’s No Mercy in Killer Instinct and showcased Shang Tsung's soul steal in the arcade. Those were the golden days.

💻 Discovering HTML, Coding, and Leading Online Communities

In the mid to late ’90s, I felt a pull toward IT. I joined a technical school focused on hardware and hands-on labs. One class introduced me to HTML, and just like that, I was hooked. I’d go home every night and experiment — building templates, designing pages, and pushing my creativity.

At the time, I was also leading a large EverQuest guild. I built a custom website with JavaScript animations, including a homepage featuring a kneeling warrior staring into a rippling water reflection — all animated by code. I even created message boards for raid coordination and guild communication.

By the midpoint of the course, I had already completed my final project. When the instructor took a week off, the substitute asked me to help teach the class and assist other students. It felt like I had found my thing.

📉 When the Program Glitched

But halfway through, things changed. The school I was attending announced it would be shutting down. They transferred us to a different institution, but I struggled there. The new instructor’s teaching didn’t align with the assignments, and I couldn’t get a straight answer. The only students thriving were already working in the field. Eventually, I dropped out. Life happened, and I shelved that dream — for a while.

📺 What’s Next?

This wraps up Part 1 of my journey — from childhood curiosity to early tech education. In Part 2, I’ll share how I got reintroduced to technology, this time through networking and cybersecurity, and how that spark reignited the passion.

If you're on a similar path or just love retro gaming, coding, or cyber stuff — stay tuned. Follow along on YouTube and here on the blog as I continue documenting this byte-by-byte adventure.

Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4