Ashwin Charathsandran
Student, Developer & Tech Enthusiast
I'm a computer science student who discovered a passion for cybersecurity, dedicated to building software that addresses real-world challenges. My interests range from web development to machine learning, with a strong emphasis on crafting elegant solutions through clean, efficient code.
Beyond The Computer
My Journey
Enterprise IT Support & Forensics
Provided support for a 30,000+ users during the Windows 11 migration and the adoption of modern device management. Delivered in-person and remote technical assistance for software and endpoint issues. Worked on a few forensics initiatives with smaller private clients.
Centralized Homelab Server
Upgraded the homelab to a Lenovo TD340 ThinkServer to increase performance and scalability. Implemented redundant monitoring, recovery, and update automations with smart alerts via Webhooks. Self-hosted services included DNS ad-blocking, AI inference, personal cloud, databases, and task automation.
Field Deployments: Large-Scale Networks
Worked as a field technician on enterprise-scale projects deploying guest entertainment systems, Wi-Fi, and wired Ethernet. Installed and maintained enterprise hardware and performed live upgrades to production network and guest infrastructure.
System Administration
Transitioned from a VPS to two small tower servers (OptiPlex 8010 and Lenovo). Evaluated Proxmox and TrueNAS, ultimately standardizing on bare-metal. Hosted media services (Plex/Jellyfin) and additional applications.
Full-Stack Development
Built applications with React and Next.js, including a fuel-efficiency tracker and portfolio sites. Developed expertise in component design, state management, responsive UI, SSR/SSG, and deployment. Established CI/CD workflows and Git best practices.
Backend & Security Foundations
Developed a PHP API for SMS alerts. Built a self-hosted image conversion service (initially Django, later Flask). Conducted security reviews of my personal site and remediated identified issues, reinforcing server-side fundamentals, REST design, and practical security practices.
Embedded Systems with Arduino
Prototyped motion-sensor camera solutions with basic object detection and built an SMS-alert security sensor. Integrated microcontrollers with IoT services, bridging hardware and software workflows.
Security Research
Used public datasets and OSINT to analyze exposed services and weak credentials in controlled environments. Studied legacy .asp vulnerabilities and misconfigured CCTV to understand operational risk. Focus areas included vulnerability awareness, brute-force risk mitigation, and ethical reconnaissance workflows.
Application Development
Created Java utilities such as file-encryption and screenshot tools and explored desktop GUI design. Developed system-level Java capabilities with a focus on secure-by-design principles and user experience.
Java Modding via Minecraft
Began programming through Java modding. Investigated exploit mechanics and subsequently developed anti-cheat measures, gaining early experience in reverse engineering, packet analysis, and game mechanics.