Last week I was debugging an API integration. The server returned a Base64-encoded error message buried in a JSON response. Simple enough — paste it into a decoder, read the message, fix the bug. Except every Base64 tool I tried made the experience painful. The first site loaded 47 tracking scripts… Read more →
Security, DevOps & Trading Tech — Practical Guides
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Docker CVE-2026-34040: How a 1MB Request Bypasses Your AuthZ Plugin
Last week I got a Slack ping from a friend: “Did you see the Docker AuthZ thing?” I hadn’t. Twenty minutes later I was patching every Docker host I manage — and you should too. CVE-2026-34040 (CVSS 8.8) is a high-severity flaw in Docker Engine that lets an attacker bypass authorization… Read more →
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Kubernetes Security Best Practices by Ian Lewis
TL;DR: Kubernetes is powerful but inherently complex, and securing it requires a proactive, layered approach. From RBAC to Pod Security Standards, and tools like Falco and Prometheus, this guide covers production-tested strategies to harden your Kubernetes clusters. A security-first mindset isn’t optional—it’s a necessity for DevSecOps teams. Quick Answer: Kubernetes security… Read more →
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TrueNAS Setup Guide: Enterprise Security at Home
TL;DR: TrueNAS is a powerful storage solution for homelabs, offering enterprise-grade features like ZFS, encryption, and snapshots. This guide walks you through setting up TrueNAS securely, from hardware selection to implementing firewalls and VPNs. By following these steps, you’ll ensure your data is safe, accessible, and future-proof. Quick Answer: TrueNAS is… Read more →
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Track Congress Trades with Python & Free SEC Data
Last month I noticed something odd: a senator sold $2M in hotel stocks three days before a travel industry report tanked the sector. Coincidence? Maybe. But it got me wondering — is there an easy way to track what members of Congress are buying and selling? Quick Answer: You can track… Read more →
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OpenClaw Setup: Zero to Autonomous AI Mastery
Setting up OpenClaw is easy. Setting it up right so your AI agent actually does useful work autonomously takes some know-how. Quick Answer: OpenClaw is a self-hosted AI agent orchestration system that runs on TrueNAS. This guide walks you through installing OpenClaw from scratch, configuring LLM backends, setting up automated workflows,… Read more →
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GitOps vs GitHub Actions: Security-First in Production
Last month I migrated two production clusters from GitHub Actions-only deployments to a hybrid GitOps setup with ArgoCD. The trigger? A misconfigured workflow secret that exposed an AWS key for 11 minutes before our scanner caught it. Nothing happened — this time. But it made me rethink how we handle… Read more →
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Secure TrueNAS Plex Setup for Your Homelab
Learn how to set up Plex on TrueNAS with enterprise-grade security practices tailored for home use. Protect your data while enjoying smooth media streaming. Quick Answer: To securely run Plex on TrueNAS, create a dedicated jail or VM with isolated networking, mount your media datasets read-only, configure a reverse proxy with… Read more →
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Stop Ngrok Tunnels: Enterprise Security at Home
Learn how to securely stop Ngrok tunnels using enterprise-grade practices scaled down for homelab environments. Protect your home network with these practical tips. Quick Answer: Instead of exposing your homelab services through ngrok tunnels, use Cloudflare Tunnels with Zero Trust policies or WireGuard/Tailscale VPN for enterprise-grade security. These alternatives provide encrypted… Read more →
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CSS Gradient Builder: Fixing Annoyances of Existing Tools
Last Tuesday I needed a conic gradient. Not a linear one, not a radial one — specifically a conic gradient for a loading spinner I was building. I opened three different gradient generators. None of them supported conic gradients. The ones that did were buried under ads, tracking scripts, and… Read more →