Vinh Tran
Graduate Student in Computer Engineering
Research
Application Security in Cybersecurity, Threat Actor Profile (APT32)
Biography
Vinh Tran is passionate and relentless security enthusiast with a focus on innovation and a commitment to outstanding customer service. Vinh possesses strong interpersonal and verbal/written communication skills with the ability to present complex technical concepts to non-technical audiences. He is an avid and quick learner who is dedicated to learning new technologies, seeking an opportunity to develop security expertise, and understanding of emerging threats in order to stop breaches.
Activities
- CTF Team Leader – Brandy-Soaked Flamingos (2022 – Current): HTB CyberApocalypse2023, Nahamcon2022, and GlacierCTF2022.
- Gamified CTF platforms: TryHackMe, HackTheBox, OverTheWire, and PicoCTF.
- Mi-dera-ctf (2022 – Current) (WriteUp): Develops a capture-the-flag challenge using MITRE Caldera (Autonomous Threat Emulated platform). This involves (1) simulating of the misconfiguration in the application that allows attackers to perform privileges escalation to take control of a system and (2) integrating MITRE Caldera intro the home-lab environment to simulate threat actors on a local network to test IDS/IPS functionality.
Skills
Certifications: CompTIA Security+ (Mar. 2023), AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner Certification (Jan. 2023)
Proficient: Linux, Python, Bash Scripting, Metasploit, Burp Suite, Nmap, Splunk, Wireshark, OWASP Top 10, Capture-the-flag (CTF).
Competent: Windows OS, Network Security, SIEM, IDS/IPS, Vulnerability Scanner, Firewalls, Amazon Web Services, MITRE Caldera, VirtualBox, docker container.
Education
- MS in Computer Engineering (expected 2025), University of Massachusetts Lowell
- Fullstack Academy Cybersecurity Analytics Bootcamp (Jan. 2023)
- BS (2022) Information Technology, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Experiences
- RAMP Mentor (Summer 2024)
- Research Assistant in CACT (Summer 2022~Current): SysCon2023 paper, SysCon2024 paper
- Lead Cybersecurity Analyst Intern (Sep. 2021 – Aug. 2022)
- Team Leader, Sergeant, Power Generator Mechanic, US. Army Reserve (Jan. 2016 – Sep. 2022)
Selected Publications
- V. Tran, K. Quinn, F. Norceide, E. Aoki, K. Chandra, and C. Thompson, Acoustic feature analysis of directional sound from parametric array speakers with application to mitigate attacks on voice-activated systems, Session 1pPA, Physical Acoustics: Cyber Threats and Acoustical Systems.
Honors & Awards
- Dean’s List, UMass Lowell
- Army Achievement Medal for the Highest Standards of Military Service (2021, 2018)
- Army Achievement Medal for Distinguished Honor Graduate (2017)