Psychology B.S. student and hobbyist hacker who reads markets and makes music.

Me in my room, lit by LED strips, in front of a tapestry
Boston, MABorn 2006

Mind, machines, markets & music

Mind

How people perceive, think, and get fooled, and what awareness and the self actually are.

Topics
PerceptionCognitionConsciousnessSense of selfDecision-makingPersuasion
Also interested in
  • Philosophy

    • Futurism
    • Morality
    • Theology
    • Ontology
    A Sacred Theory
  • Economics

    • The K-shaped economy
    • Generational wealth gaps
    • Technofeudalism, shaped in part by geopolitics
    The K Economy & AI
  • Physics

    • Space
    • Entropy, order, and chaos
    • Math
    • Anatomy
  • Politics

    • Pro-market, with regulation
    • Basic needs as a springboard
    • Moderate economically, liberal socially
    • Leaders over rulers

What I Built

Hellhound

Type
Desktop appOpen source
Stack
ReactViteElectron

Scores social engineering text, like phishing sims, SMS pretexts, and call scripts, against a fixed rubric: emotional pressure, persuasion principles, personalization, language quality, and cognitive load. Compares messages and whole campaigns to spot patterns. Runs fully offline with no AI model.

WhoHacker

Type
QuizTaxonomy
Levels
BeginnerAdvanced

A quiz that tags your hacking specialization as an Archetype (where you hack) and a Style (how you hack), like Web Operator. Built on my posts Offensive Security Archetypes and Technical Hacking is Social. The advanced level also shows where your skills are concentrated.

Pond

Type
Training gameOpen source
Modes
VishingSpear phishingMass phishing

Hack The Box style labs for social engineering. You talk, write and pretext your way past AI-played targets, each with their own personality and suspicions, to capture a flag. Everything is fictional and simulated; nothing is sent anywhere.

Labs

What I Write

My Setup

ThinkPad T480

Linux
CPU
Intel Core i5-8350U4 cores, 8 threads
Memory
16 GB
Storage
256 GB NVMe SSDFull-disk encrypted (LUKS)
Graphics
Intel UHD 620

Dell Inspiron 14 2-in-1

Windows
CPU
Intel Core i7-1355U13th gen, 10 cores
Memory
16 GBLPDDR5, soldered
Storage
1 TB NVMe SSD
Graphics
Intel Iris Xe

iPhone 6s

palera1n, rootless, run from Fedora
Jailbroken

iPhone 17

Mobile

Workflow

  • Research

    I work the question through until the facts hold up.

    Models

    • GeminiBroad search
    • PerplexityDeeper, niche research
    • GrokReasoning check

    Apps

    • RedditFirsthand threads and community knowledge
  • Develop

    One doc per project holds the plan, my notes, and the draft.

    Models

    • ClaudePlans the work and drafts
    • ChatGPTScripts and structure

    Apps

    • NotionThe project doc
    • TelegramEncrypted chat and bot automation
  • Publish

    The finished piece goes out as a write-up or a repo.

    Models

    • Muse AIAutomation

    Apps

    • ParagraphWrite-ups
    • GitHubCode and repos
    • Meta Business SuitePost analytics

Where I’m Headed

  1. Started my psychology degreeUMass Boston
  2. Pivoted to securityFrom UX plans to hands-on tech
  3. NowTechnical internshipTargeting security
  4. GraduatePsychology B.S., 2028
  5. SOC analystFirst full-time role
  6. Red teamLong-term goal

Hit Me Up

Open to technical internships, collaborations, and conversations.

Email derricklast08@gmail.com