Software Development
Connecting Java, Spring Boot, Thymeleaf, HTML, CSS and JavaScript into one working application.
> ABOUT_PATHWAAYS
Learning cybersecurity by building real systems.
My name is Nadia, and I am a Cybersecurity Engineering student at Iowa State University pursuing a minor in Computer Science.
I created Pathwaays as an experimental environment where I could apply what I was learning through an actual publicly deployed web application.
01 // WHY_PATHWAAYS
An experiment that became a complete system.
Pathwaays began as a basic Java password-strength checker. I wanted to take that small program beyond the development console and turn it into something that people could interact with through a real website.
Developing the project introduced me to the complete path between application code and a public website: frontend development, backend routing, cloud infrastructure, domain configuration, HTTPS, reverse proxies and application security.
02 // SECURITY_EXPERIMENTATION
Studying security through implementation.
Pathwaays gives me a controlled environment for exploring web-security concepts and studying risks represented in the OWASP Top 10.
The project has allowed me to work with input validation, Content Security Policy, HTTPS, security headers, dependency management and responsible server configuration. It is an educational project rather than a professional penetration-testing service.
03 // WHAT_I_LEARNED
More than a frontend.
Cloud Infrastructure
Deploying and operating the application on an AWS EC2 instance with a stable public address.
Web Security
Applying HTTPS, security headers, CSP, input limitations and safer server configuration.
04 // CONTINUING_THE_PROJECT
Pathwaays is still evolving.
The website will continue to grow as I learn new cybersecurity and software-engineering concepts. Future tools and experiments will be added as I develop, test and understand them.
View the system blueprint