Reddit mentions of CanaKit Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Starter Kit - 4GB RAM

> I’m not op’s son, but I’m looking into cyber security. How would you suggest that I start?

First, please be aware that these two scholarship programs exist:

CyberCorps: Scholarships for Service ^(Sponsored by the National Science Foundation)

https://www.sfs.opm.gov/

NSA's Stokes Scholarship program:

https://www.intelligencecareers.gov/icstudents.html

Both of those scholarships will pay essentially full-ride scholarship plus stipends, guaranteed internships and guaranteed employment.
They do require minimum GPA performance levels, and may require specific degree programs or institutions.

You will be required to work for a US Government Agency for a period of service in exchange for this free education.


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The US Navy, Army and Air Force all have large technology & cyber warfare operations. Four years of service in the Military, which includes four years of experience earns you 4 years of university.

If you don't know anything about GI Bill, I encourage you to at least understand what it means and what it can pay for.

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If you want to apply directly into a university program, I strongly encourage you to engage the nerds at /r/netsec or /r/ITCareerQuestions for a professional opinion of the degree you are considering applying to, as it relates to careers in Information Security / Cyber Security.

There are LOTS of immature, low-quality undergraduate degrees that say "Cyber Security" in the degree title.

Please understand: the hard core technical stuff that they throw large buckets of cash at is really, seriously, deeply technical. If that's what you wanna do, you need a seriously technical degree to do it, and honestly the array of things you need to learn BARELY fit into an undergraduate program.

I generally do not advocate for Masters degrees immediately after Undergrad to enter the IT workforce.

But for some job roles in CyberSecurity, it can be a good play.

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Seriously: a good computer science or computer engineering degree can be a PERFECTLY valid point of entry into CyberSecurity.
For that matter, a good Information Systems degree can work just fine as well.


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Two things you can do right now, like tonight:

Join this: https://developers.redhat.com/ (click the login link up top right to create a new account)
Then, download this: https://developers.redhat.com/products/rhel/download

Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) is probably the most popular/common distribution of Linux you will find in the workplace.

Install Linux as a VM using Hyper-V or VirtualBox on your home computer.

Then enroll in this:

https://www.edx.org/course/fundamentals-of-red-hat-enterprise-linux

That will get you rolling on one of the most powerful weapons you can have as a budding young technology professional: Linux Operations knowledge.

Second thing. Buy one of these for Christmas: Raspberry Pi 4 / 4GB Kit @$99

A Raspberry Pi is a tiny computer that uses what is basically a cell phone CPU to power a Linux OS.

There are MILLIONS of cool thigns you can do with a RasPi.

/r/raspberry_pi will make your head explode with possibilities.

Do something cool. Play with Linux. Explore Linux. Get comfortable with Linux.
Feel it's power. Let it flow through you. Linux can help you become more powerful than you can imagine.

https://www.amazon.com/CanaKit-Raspberry-Pi-Starter-Kit/dp/B07V5JTMV9/

^ that's the best pi you can get, and it's what I have. Highly recommended.

The pi zero is about half the price once you factor in the charger/hdmi/usb-hub/memory-card. If you buy on amazon. https://www.amazon.com/Raspberry-Pi-Zero-Wireless-model/dp/B06XFZC3BX

If you're willing to buy from pihut or adafruit it's a fair bit cheaper, even accounting for shipping. https://www.adafruit.com/product/3400

If you have zero experience then I suggest paying more and getting the pi4, or a pi3. Because working with the operating system will be less annoying.