8 hours of advanced C projects: Cyber Security

8 hours of advanced C projects: Cyber Security

Write Tor clients, encryption libraries and safestring libraries. You will also learn Linux filesystem Security in depth

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The C programming language remains a cornerstone of cybersecurity, offering the power, efficiency, and control needed for advanced security applications. In this guide, we’ll explore a structured 8-hour learning journey through practical and advanced C projects tailored to cyber security. Each project delves into critical security concepts, equipping you with the skills to analyze vulnerabilities, secure systems, and detect malicious activities. Whether you’re aspiring to be a penetration tester, security engineer, or software developer, these projects are designed to enhance your understanding of both C programming and cybersecurity fundamentals.

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Hour 1: Packet Sniffer

Objective: Learn to capture and analyze network traffic using raw sockets in C.
Key Concepts:

• Raw sockets
• Network packets (TCP/IP headers)
• Data extraction and analysis

Description:
A packet sniffer is a tool that intercepts and logs network traffic. In this project, you'll write a program that listens to a specified network interface and captures packets, displaying details like IP addresses, protocols, and payload data. You'll gain insight into how attackers use similar tools for reconnaissance and how defenders analyze traffic for anomalies.

Steps:

1. Use socket() to create a raw socket for capturing traffic.
2. Bind the socket to a network interface.
3. Parse Ethernet, IP, and TCP/UDP headers.
4. Print extracted data, such as source/destination IPs and ports.

Expected Outcome:
A functioning program that prints detailed information about each captured packet. You'll understand how network communication works at a low level and how to extract meaningful insights from raw traffic.

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Hour 2: Basic Port Scanner

Objective: Develop a tool to scan open ports on a target machine.
Key Concepts:

• TCP/IP sockets
• Network reconnaissance
• Parallel processing with threads

Description:
A port scanner identifies open ports on a host, providing information about running services. Building a port scanner in C will introduce you to the basics of network scanning, a common technique used by attackers and defenders alike.

Steps:

1. Accept a target IP address and port range as input.
2. Use connect() to attempt connections to each port.
3. Implement multi-threading for faster scanning.
4. Display open ports and their potential services.

Expected Outcome:
A multithreaded port scanner that can quickly identify open ports on a target host. This project will enhance your understanding of network communication and basic penetration testing techniques.

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Hour 3: File Integrity Monitor

Objective: Build a tool to monitor file integrity using hashing.
Key Concepts:

• Hashing algorithms (e.g., MD5, SHA-256)
• File operations
• Change detection

Description:
File integrity monitoring ensures that files remain unaltered, a critical component of system security. In this project, you'll create a program that calculates and stores hash values for files and periodically checks for changes.

Steps:

1. Use a library like OpenSSL to calculate file hashes.
2. Store hash values in a database or file.
3. Periodically recalculate and compare hashes to detect changes.
4. Generate alerts for any discrepancies.

Expected Outcome:
A tool that can monitor directories and detect unauthorized file modifications. This project introduces you to hashing and its role in maintaining data integrity.

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Hour 4: Simple Keylogger

Objective: Write a program to capture and log keystrokes.
Key Concepts:

• Keyboard input interception
• System-level programming
• Ethical use of security tools

Description:
Keyloggers are commonly used in both malicious and legitimate contexts to monitor user input. This project will teach you about system-level programming and the importance of responsible and ethical use of such tools.

Steps:

1. Use system APIs to intercept keyboard events.
2. Log keystrokes to a file securely.
3. Implement basic obfuscation to hide the program’s process.
4. Ensure the program runs only with appropriate permissions.

Expected Outcome:
A functioning keylogger that logs keystrokes in real time. You’ll gain an understanding of how attackers exploit such tools and the defenses required to detect or block them.

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Hour 5: Encrypted Chat Application

Objective: Create a secure chat application with end-to-end encryption.
Key Concepts:

• Socket programming
• Symmetric and asymmetric encryption
• Secure communication protocols

Description:
Communication security is vital in the digital age. In this project, you’ll develop a chat application where messages are encrypted before transmission and decrypted on receipt.

Steps:

1. Set up a basic chat server and client using sockets.
2. Use a library like OpenSSL for implementing encryption.
3. Exchange encryption keys securely (e.g., Diffie-Hellman key exchange).
4. Encrypt messages on the sender’s side and decrypt them on the receiver’s side.

Expected Outcome:
A simple chat program that ensures secure communication. You’ll learn how encryption works and how to apply it in real-world scenarios.

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Hour 6: Buffer Overflow Vulnerability Analysis

Objective: Simulate and exploit a buffer overflow vulnerability.
Key Concepts:

• Memory management
• Buffer overflow exploitation
• Secure coding practices

Description:
Buffer overflows are among the most critical vulnerabilities in software. This project involves creating a program with a deliberate buffer overflow and then exploiting it to execute arbitrary code.

Steps:

1. Write a program with a fixed-size buffer and no boundary checks.
2. Craft an input payload to overwrite the return address.
3. Execute a shell or redirect execution to malicious code.
4. Implement fixes to prevent the overflow, such as bounds checking and stack protection.

Expected Outcome:
A deeper understanding of memory vulnerabilities and how to defend against them. This hands-on experience highlights the importance of secure coding practices.

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Hour 7: Malware Scanner

Objective: Develop a program to detect malicious patterns in binary files.
Key Concepts:

• File scanning and analysis
• Signature-based detection
• Malware behavior patterns

Description:
Malware scanners detect malicious software by analyzing files for known patterns or behaviors. In this project, you’ll create a tool that scans files for specific byte sequences associated with malware.

Steps:

1. Define patterns or signatures for detection.
2. Open and read binary files.
3. Search for patterns using byte-level comparison.
4. Report findings and potential threats.

Expected Outcome:
A basic malware scanner that identifies files containing suspicious patterns. This project introduces signature-based detection and its limitations.

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Hour 8: Rootkit Detection Tool

Objective: Write a tool to detect rootkits on a Linux system.
Key Concepts:

• Process and kernel module analysis
• System anomaly detection
• Forensics and incident response

Description:
Rootkits are stealthy tools that enable attackers to maintain privileged access to a system. Detecting them requires analyzing processes, kernel modules, and system behavior for anomalies.

Steps:

1. List all running processes and kernel modules.
2. Compare against known legitimate entries.
3. Detect hidden files or processes using discrepancies in system calls.
4. Generate a detailed report of findings.

Expected Outcome:
A tool capable of detecting suspicious activities associated with rootkits. This project will deepen your understanding of system forensics and Linux internals.

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Conclusion

By the end of these eight hours, you’ll have a portfolio of advanced C-based cybersecurity projects, each addressing a key aspect of modern security challenges. From understanding vulnerabilities to building tools for secure communication and system monitoring, this journey will strengthen both your programming and security skills.

Next Steps:

• Share your projects on GitHub to showcase your skills.
• Study additional cybersecurity tools and concepts, such as intrusion detection systems and secure coding standards.
• Continue practicing with real-world challenges to further solidify your expertise.

Embrace the dual responsibility of cybersecurity: understanding potential threats while building robust defenses. Through projects like these, you’ll not only become a proficient C programmer but also a valuable asset in the fight against cybercrime