Benson Kamotho Njiru

About

Cybersecurity student with hands-on enterprise infrastructure experience across Linux and Windows environments. Focused on network security engineering, vulnerability assessment, firewall deployment, and secure system hardening.

Experience

• ICT Trainee
  State Department for Housing and Urban Development
  May 2025 – Aug 2025

Education

• BSc. Computer Security and Forensics
  Meru University of Science and Technology
  Computer Security and Forensics · Aug 2022 – Oct 2026

Skills

• Linux
• Kali Linux
• Windows
• OWASP Top 10
• Metasploit
• Firewalls
• Routing
• Switching
• Nessus
• Openvas
• tryhackme
• Snort
• Eve-Ng
• Picoctf
• Cyberdefenders
• Metactf

Projects

• Cybersecurity Competitions & CTFs
  TryHackMe, PicoCTF, CyberDefenders

  Compete globally across TryHackMe, PicoCTF, and CyberDefenders, solving web exploitation, reverse engineering, and digital forensics challenges. Led a four-member team to 1st Place at the Cyberweek Africa 2025 Hackathon.

• Penetration Testing Simulation
  Kali Linux, Nmap, Metasploit, Nikto

  Conducted comprehensive vulnerability assessments on virtual network environments using Kali Linux offensive toolsets. Identified critical security flaws and system misconfigurations, translating raw data into a structured remediation report with prioritized risk-mitigation strategies.

• Network Security & IDS Deployment
  EVE-NG, Huawei Talent Hub, Cisco, Fortinet, Snort

  Designed and deployed segmented enterprise architectures using EVE-NG and Huawei Talent Hub, implementing robust Cisco VLAN schemes and multi-zone Fortinet firewall policies. Configured and tuned a Snort IDS sensor to monitor transit traffic across target network segments, achieving a 99% detection rate for simulated intrusion vectors.

• ML-Powered Phishing Analysis Web App
  React, PostgreSQL, Scikit-learn, XGBoost, FastAPI, Git

  Engineered a responsive web application designed to intercept and detect sophisticated phishing campaigns that bypass standard email gateway filters. Integrated machine learning classification models and Threat Intelligence APIs to analyze raw email artifacts and generate comprehensive user risk profiles.

Courses & certifications

• Cisco Ethical Hacker · Cyber Shujaa · 2026
• Huawei HCIA – Security · Huawei ICT Academy · 2026
• Certified Associate Penetration Tester (CAPT) · Hackviser · 2026
• MetaCTF Certificate · MetaCTF 2025 · 2025
• Cisco CyberOps Associate · Cisco Networking Academy · 2025
• Advent of Cyber 2025 · TryHackMe · 2025
• Introduction to Threat Landscape · Fortinet Training Institute · 2024
• Email Security · Udemy · 2024
• Operating Systems · Cisco Networking Academy · 2024

🗣️ Languages

• English · Fluent
• kiswahili · Native

🏆 Achievements & awards

• Cyber Shujaa CEH · 2026

  Graduated with Distinction from Cyber Shujaa programme, demonstrating competency in ethical hacking methodologies and tools.

• 1st Place - Cyberweek Africa 2025 Hackathon · 2025

  Led a team of four to victory out of university competitors continent-wide by coordinating technical tasks under tight deadlines, earning a KES 100,000 grand prize.

⚽ Extracurricular activities

• Inline Skating

🎯 Hobbies & interests

• CTFs
• Bug Bounty