I’m still waiting for my Network + voucher. Any updates on when it might be coming?

With Comptia rebranding the CASP+ exam to the SecurityX exam, (with the feedback being questionable at best, as per Login to view embedded media , Login to view embedded media , and Login to view embedded media ), and ITF being rebranded as Tech+ ( https://www.comptia.org/blog/comptia-tech-vs-comptia-itf-for-it-basics-whats-the-difference), is it time for the CompTIA A+ course to be rebranded CompTIA ITsupport+? or Support+?

I know the A+ has been around for ~30years, and has a history, but the A+ description doesn't really explain what the course does... with the other fundamentals being about Networking and Security, changing the A+ certification to be more descriptive of what the course covers, might make it more recognizable to HR recruiters and IT managers.

Just something to ponder

Hello CIN Team,

Firstly, thank you Stephen and Don for a fantastic TTT series. I really enjoyed it.

I finally got my hands on the instructor resources for this new version of Network+ and I was looking at the pacing guide. I'm interested in the 5 day pacing which is what my academy is delivering courses to. I noticed that the 5 day sheet in the pacing guide has you doing 20 hour per day for 5 days I also noted that there were around 160 short labs for the learners to do which aren't part of the pacing. I thought the latest Sec+ (701) planner did a pretty good job of breaking things out into what to do in class and how to pace over 5 days. Does anyone have any recommendation on teaching over 5 days or is there a better planner in the works somewhere ?

Thanks
Rasheed

When students reach out and ask me for additional training materials, we often share Jason Dion in Udemy and Mike Meyers. Does anyone else have a go-to training program that they share that doesn't go against CompTIA guidelines?

I have been teaching CASP for many years and am looking forward to the Train the Trainer for CSAP in its newer name SecurityX, I add labs and activities for managers on this course, what do you include when delivering a CASP+ course for added value.

Suno Revolutionizes Music Creation for Analytical People Like You and Me​

Suno is an AI-powered music creation platform that offers significant potential for businesses across various industries. This innovative tool streamlines content creation, reduces costs and provides unique branding opportunities. Left-brainers can use Suno. After all, the music Suno gives you comes from your prompts.

Getting Started with Suno​

Start by creating your account.

• Visit suno.ai
• Click “Sign Up”
• Choose from Discord, Google, or Microsoft login options
• Complete the registration process
• Access your new Suno dashboard

Songs I Created​

Can you believe a left-brainer like me actually created music? My Suno screen name is Zeus Lives in California.

With the prompt “A synthesizer-driven song to go with scuba diving video in the Caribbean. Slow, mysterious and refreshing. Mix in water sounds,” I created at two instrumentals, Vacation (Time to Turn Off Your Phone) at https://suno.com/song/cac22c27-fd70-4ec8-a5fc-92c7003ee78c and Dive In (You Know You Want to be Here) at https://suno.com/song/365ee095-78bf-4068-8a15-bf45e69a9d93.

With the prompt “A bright and slow techno pop song about viewing aurora borealis alone at midnight. Spatial, mysterious and galactic,” I created two instrumentals, Bright Midnight Lights, at https://suno.com/song/a0e3d033-1aa3-4ab4-9d72-1a98439accb6 and Midnight Lights at My Piano, at https://suno.com/song/1532f546-36c8-4acc-b433-71e2520df0fc.

With the prompt, “A loud, powerful rock n roll song about racing classic cars and one of the drivers crashes. Dual guitars. Strong male singer. Loud guitar solo,” I created two rockers. The first one is Thunder Road (Feel it in My Bones) at https://suno.com/song/5563e8e0-8728-465e-a859-2a5030d87bb6 and Twisted Metal Again on Thunder Road, at https://suno.com/song/5413eebf-f5cd-4f71-b640-279a21d5a653.

Why Two at a Time?​

Suno receives your prompt and generates two songs. Although you get 50 credits per day, each prompt creates two songs at 5 credits each. Let me save you the math. Five prompts per day gets you 10 songs per day.

Creating Your First 5 Songs​

• Click “Create” on the dashboard
• Enter a description for your desired song
• Toggle “Instrumental” if lyrics aren’t needed
• Click “Create” to generate two song versions
• Provide feedback using thumbs up/down icons
• Repeat four more times

You Can Maximize Suno to Meet Your Tastes​

Customizing Music Style​

• Include specific genre keywords in your description (e.g., “upbeat corporate pop”)
• Experiment with style combinations (e.g., “modern jazz fusion for product launch”)
• Utilize Suno’s extensive style list to align with your brand identity

Tailoring Vocal Characteristics​

• Describe desired voice traits in your prompt (e.g., “professional male voice for company anthem”)
• Use descriptive terms like “authoritative,” “friendly,” or “energetic” to match your brand voice
• Adjust prompts based on results to fine-tune the output

Business Applications​

• Marketing and Advertising: Create custom jingles or background music for commercials and social media content
• Brand Identity: Develop a unique sonic brand with consistent musical themes across all touchpoints
• Content Creation: Generate background music for corporate videos, podcasts, or presentations
• Event Planning: Produce custom music for corporate events, product launches, or trade shows
• Customer Experience: Create on-hold music or in-store playlists that align with your brand

Cost-Effective Solution​

• Free tier: Up to 10 songs per day
• Paid subscriptions: Increased daily song limits for higher volume needs

Best Practices for Business Users​

• Consistency: Develop a “musical style guide” to ensure all Suno-generated content aligns with your brand
• Experimentation: Test different prompts and styles to find the perfect fit for your business needs
• Feedback Loop: Regularly gather input from team members and customers to refine your music strategy
• Legal Considerations: Understand Suno’s licensing terms to ensure proper usage in commercial applications
• Integration: Incorporate Suno-generated music into your existing content creation workflow

By leveraging Suno’s AI-driven music creation capabilities, you can enhance your brand presence, streamline content production, and create unique customer experiences. As with any new technology, the key to success lies in strategic implementation and continuous optimization to align with your specific business goals.

More​

AI ain’t so tough. See https://cybersafetynet.net/category/ai/ to help understand and use Artificial intelligence.

Hello,

I previously used the following link to access the CASP+ CAS-003 TTT series:
https://gateway.on24.com/wcc/eh/1119137/category/8762/casp-ttt/

Recently, I tried to access it and received an error message saying, "This page no longer exists." Is there a way for me to access this series? Although it was a previous version, I found some videos particularly helpful and would like to refer to them.

Thank you,
Sukanya

Hello,

I am using the following link to access the PenTest+ PT0-002 TTT series:
https://gateway.on24.com/wcc/eh/1119137/category/100352/pentest-pt0-002-ttt

However, when I clicked on the link for session 4, it directed me to session 3 instead. Could you please fix this issue?

Thanks,
Sukanya

I've found that students often struggle with practical applications of pentesting tools. One way I make this easier is by using Kali Linux labs to demonstrate real-world scenarios. For example, I set up a vulnerable machine using Metasploitable and have students practice using Nmap for network discovery and Metasploit for exploitation. I also encourage them to experiment with EvilPDF for embedding payloads into PDFs, which ties in nicely with social engineering topics. Does anyone have tips on simulating phishing attacks for teaching purposes?

The CompTIA EMEACon is coming up this month in London October 21-22! I hope to see a lot of CINners at the event! It is going to be a great time!

I am very excited to present with fellow CINner @Kwabena Fred on Monday, October 21st. Fred and I will present "Certification Roadmap: Career Progression and Intersections." We will discuss the various career pathways and how certifications will cross pathways. This is going to be a fun talk!

If you would like to hear more about the new CompTIA Expert series of certifications and their implications for instructors, I will also present a session on them on Monday afternoon. Be sure to check out the session "Product Roadmap: Expert Certifications."

Are you attending? Let's Sync up!

In session #5 of the DataX TTT series, 'Neural Networks" were discussed.

Neural Networks are computational models that mimic the complex functions of the human brain.

Greetings. Over the past year, I redeveloped a few of our IT courses using TestOut (ITF+, A+, Network+, and Security+). We plan on moving these over to the new CertMaster Perform when they become available, such as with Network+ and Tech+.

The major concern I've had, and still have, is that the simulations in the courseware are the exact same as the custom quiz labs. I am finding that students go through the simulations in the courseware, score the labs, copy the steps provided, then take the custom quiz lab (we call them lab assignments) and use the steps provided. I don't understand why CompTIA doesn't make the custom quiz labs different from the simulations.

I am at a loss. I even had a student tell me they were the same and it was a waste of their time to practice, copy the steps, and then complete it again for a grade.

sorry because I never learn math very serious during my school time. anyone could help me ?

When the ssh command is executed, with either 1, 2, or 3 -v switches, it outputs various debug messages. Does anyone know a resource that will provide an explanation for the debug messages that appear in the output?

Hi Guys, I/we are in a bit of a bind as I am due to start delivering this course from the 23rd of this month.

With the courseware date being pushed back to yesterday (04/07 UK) from its intended August release date the time for prep was going to be ok, but after its no show yesterday I am a little concerned, especially as I do not have access to the pre-release materials to prepare myself with.

The reason time is so tight is that I fly out on our honeymoon tomorrow afternoon and do not return until the day before I am due to deliver it, all would have been fine, but now......


Can we please have an update as to when it is actually going live, or can someone who has the pre-release PDF so I can read it on the flight please share it

Thank you

Certified CompTIA Network+ N10-009 instructor wanted to create and deliver a pre recorded instructional video designed to prepare the student for the exam. Also accepting material already built. If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit your resume/CV along with copies of relevant certifications to [email protected] or [email protected]

As part of Objective 2.4 (analyzing indicators of malicious activity), collision attacks on broken cryptographic algorithms, like SHA-1, are critical examples of tampering threats.

Key Takeaways:​

• Collision Attack: When two distinct inputs generate the same hash, indicating possible tampering or forgery.
• Broken SHA-1: SHA-1 is deprecated due to collision vulnerability, making it possible for attackers to create identical hashes for malicious files.

Practical Demo:​

1. Demonstration: Use the
   SHAttered
   website, which showcases a real-world collision attack on SHA-1. It provides two PDF files that generate the same SHA-1 hash, but contain different content.
2. Verification: Have students download the example files from
   SHAttered
   and use Python on https://github.com/OffensiveSoldier/Collision-attack/tree/main to hash them, demonstrating the collision.
3. Discussion: Analyze how collision attacks can be used in malicious activities, such as bypassing digital signatures or integrity checks.

I'm a UX Designer at CompTIA. I'm hoping to hear from instructors. What is your AI wish list for the CertMaster platform and courses?

1. How would you hope to be able to use it? In other words, what job would you hire AI to do for you in CertMaster? And why?
2. What job would your students hire AI to do for them in CertMaster? And why?
3. How have you already used AI to help you teach?
4. How are your students using AI currently to help them learn?
5. What, if any, negative effects of AI are you currently seeing, either for instructors or students?

Hello everyone! I don't know if this is the right channel to report this, but here goes anyway: through its blog, CompTIA published an interesting article about data-focused certifications: Data+, DataSys+ and DataX. The problem is that the section dedicated to publicizing the certification paths does not include the other certifications besides CompTIA Data+. It would be better to take a look... &;-D

Blog post link: https://www.comptia.org/blog/enhanc...s-with-the-comptia-data-pathway-certification
Link to the path disclosure: https://www.comptia.org/certifications/which-certification

I'm excited to share the RTFM (Red Team Field Manual) PDF! This resource is a fantastic quick reference for red team tactics, techniques, and procedures. It's invaluable for both beginners and seasoned pros in our field. If you're looking to enhance your toolkit, definitely check it out!

Three Mile Island: From Meltdown to Microsoft’s AI Power Play​

Remember Three Mile Island? That nuclear plant south of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania that gave us all a scare back in 1979? Well, it’s making a comeback, and this time it’s got Microsoft muscle (and money) in its corner.

A Brief History Lesson​

Three Mile Island was home to two nuclear reactors. In March 1979, Unit 2 suffered a partial meltdown, causing the worst commercial nuclear accident in U.S. history. While Unit 1 kept chugging along, it eventually closed in 2019 due to economic pressures. Producing electricity there was more expensive than other providers using cheaper natural gas.

New Owner, New Expectations​

Constellation Energy now owns three Mile Island. That’s not the only nuclear power plant Constellation owns. Here’s a partial list:

• South Texas Project Electric Generating Station (Texas)
• Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station (unit 1, Pennsylvania)
• Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station (Illinois)
• Byron Nuclear Generating Station (Illinois)
• Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant (Maryland)
• Clinton Nuclear Generating Station (Illinois)
• Dresden Generating Station (Illinois)
• Ginna Nuclear Generating Station (New York)
• James A. FitzPatrick Nuclear Power Plant (New York)
• LaSalle County Nuclear Generating Station (Illinois)
• Limerick Nuclear Power Plant (Pennsylvania)
• Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station (New York)
• Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station (Pennsylvania)
• Quad Cities Nuclear Generating Station (Illinois)
• Salem Nuclear Power Plant (New Jersey) (minority owner)

Enter Microsoft / Enter Microsoft Muscle / Enter Microsoft Money (whichever heading you prefer)​

Microsoft, in its quest to power the AI revolution, needs electricity. They need electricity to a) power the servers running and supporting CoPilot, and b) provide cooling in the server rooms housing those servers. The servers create heat. The rooms have to stay cool. They need industrial strength air conditioning.

How Much Power Can Three Mile Island Generate?​

Microsoft’s deal with Constellation is for a whopping 835 megawatts of electricity. That’s enough to power about 800,000 homes. All this electricity will come from Three Mile Island and go towards powering Microsoft’s AI ambitions. They’re diving headfirst into the AI pool, and they need a lot of energy to keep those servers cool and running.

Summary​

AI servers are creating more electricity demand than what our current infrastructure can supply. Expect more stories like this to come, to keep AI alive.

More​

AI ain’t so tough. See https://cybersafetynet.net/category/ai/ to help understand and use Artificial intelligence.

I am pleased to announce we are ready to launch the Cloud+ CV0-004 TTT series! Join us and special guest Michael Schmitz as he leads the Cloud+ TTT series using the CompTIA CertMaster Learn content. Michael will cover the exam objectives and provide hands-on examples as you strengthen your fundamental cloud technology knowledge and proficiency in managing cloud environments.

Please note that this series is only four sessions! That is because a lot of what is covered should be refresher from Network+ and some of Security+. So please brush up those series so you can stay up with what is happening in the clouds!

What: CIN TTT Series Cloud+ CV0-004 4 sessions
When: Sept 24, 2024, 2:00 - 4:00 PM Central Daylight Time, Tuesday and Thursday
Who: Michael Schmitz
Where: ON24

REGISTER HERE

Message me for more information. We are gearing up for when these courses are approved through FLDOE. Fall time frame. Thanks!

Hello everyone.

I have been in a Zoom call with one of my students for almost two hours (insane!!!!). She is in my Canadian cohort in Calgary. I am in the USA. This woman clearly has a language barrier. English is not her first language; however, she studies hard, and she understands English and can talk in conversations. She has a heavy accent, and it takes her some time to get through the reading, but she just takes more time to read. We are trying to book her for the Core 1 CompTIA A+. We went to the special accommodations website as they directed, but when we get there, the only options available to request special accommodations for are if you have a cognitive or learning disability. I know they have allowed for it in the past. I had some students request and receive it for their AWS certifications and received it. I would think it would be the same scenario as well. It says so on the website for Pearson Vue.

Is it possible that someone who knows the rules can assist? How do we request accommodations for her? I fear without the accommodation, she will not pass. She is now a citizen of Canada, but she is from Pakistan. She received her Canadian citizenship two years ago. Can someone help me figure this out? The accommodations office is now closed. I have another possible student who has the same language barrier issues as well.

By the way, they said it could take 10 days. When my students did it, they got almost immediate approval once they proved English was not their first language. Is it really going to take them 10 days to figure out these women don't speak English well?

Thanks,

D Ross