Sign in Subscribe

Tim Wilkes

Tim Wilkes is a UK-based Enterprise Architect with over 25 years of experience in electronics, Linux, Security, and Unix systems administration.

Setting Up a Raspberry Pi Cluster with ClusterHAT (Part 1: OS Installation & SSH Setup)

Learn how to install operating systems, configure SSH access, and prepare your Raspberry Pi ClusterHAT cluster for automation with Ansible and Kubernetes in this step-by-step guide.

Wood Burning Paste, Heat Guns, and a Lesson in Patience (for Finch HQ 🐦)

I used wood burning paste and a heat gun to make a sign for “Finch HQ” (and the cheeky “HMP Finch”). It worked - but skipping sanding and not using a nozzle meant uneven results and a long 10-minute burn time. Lessons learned and a rustic finish to show for it.

Making Tmux settings permanent with Home Assistant

Struggling to make tmux settings stick on Home Assistant OS? I found a simple workaround using a custom config file and init script. This guide shows how to persist tmux tweaks like keybindings, plugins, and UI changes on a Home Assistant Yellow.

Tinkering with the GeekMagic SmallTV: Firmware Recovery, Serial Hacks, and Home Assistant Integration

I pushed the GeekMagic SmallTV Ultra far beyond stock-tearing it down, accidentally bricking it during a firmware update, then reviving it with a CH340C serial mod. With Home Assistant integration, it became a powerful mini dashboard-until a current bug broke image updates.

My "Weird" Path to Infosec

Originally published on the Manchester Greyhats Blog on 2018-03-09 by

PHP Malware Examination Part 2

A deep dive into obfuscated PHP malware reveals a multi-class backdoor using XOR/Base64 decoding, remote command execution, and SEO spam generation. By unpacking its structure, we uncover hidden C2 communication, template injection, and keyword-driven sitemap abuse.

PHP Malware Examination

A real-world PHP malware analysis walkthrough. Starting with an obfuscated sample, this post peels back XOR encoding, character substitution, and hidden payloads to reveal a backdoor. Learn practical techniques for safely analysing and understanding malicious PHP code step by step.

🔄 Automatically Update Paperless-ngx with a Webhook (Portainer + Home Assistant)

Automate updates for your Paperless-ngx stack using Portainer webhooks and Home Assistant. This guide shows how to trigger container updates via REST commands for a fully hands-free, self-hosted document management system.

🔋 Stop Killing Your Laptop Battery: Automate Charging with Home Assistant

Stop overcharging your laptop and extend battery lifespan with Home Assistant automation. Use a smart plug, webhook triggers, and simple scripts to control charging between safe thresholds and protect your device long-term.

🌐 Clear Web vs Deep Web vs Dark Web: What’s the Real Difference?

The internet isn’t just what you see in your