Wildcats Tech

Popular IT Careers in Alabama:

Job Market Trends:

• 🔥 High Demand: IT jobs growing 13% faster than average (2020-2030)
• 💰 Great Pay: Median IT salary $97,430 vs. $45,760 for all occupations
• 📈 Hot Areas: Cybersecurity, Cloud Computing, AI/ML, Data Science
• 🏠 Remote Work: Many IT jobs can be done remotely
• 🌐 Alabama Growth: Huntsville and Birmingham tech hubs expanding rapidly

CompTIA Certification Path:

Essential Soft Skills for IT:

Resume Tips for IT Students:

• Skills Section: List programming languages, OS familiarity, tools you know
• Projects: Include class projects, personal projects, GitHub repos
• Certifications: List any completed or in-progress certifications
• CTSO Involvement: List leadership roles in FBLA, SkillsUSA, TSA
• Action Verbs: Use "developed," "designed," "implemented," "troubleshot"
• Quantify: "Built website with 500+ daily visitors" vs "Built a website"

Interview Preparation:

• Research the company and role beforehand
• Prepare STAR stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result)
• Practice technical questions (e.g., "Explain what an IP address is")
• Ask thoughtful questions about the role and company
• Follow up with a thank-you email within 24 hours

Essential Computer Components:

How They Work Together:

1. PSU provides power to all components
2. CPU reads instructions from RAM
3. CPU processes instructions
4. Results stored in RAM or written to Storage
5. GPU renders output to Monitor
6. Motherboard coordinates all communication

Input Devices:

• Keyboard: Types - Mechanical, Membrane, Wireless
• Mouse: Types - Wired, Wireless, Trackpad, Trackball
• Scanner: Converts physical documents to digital
• Webcam: Video input for meetings, recording
• Microphone: Audio input

Output Devices:

• Monitor: Specs - Resolution (1080p, 1440p, 4K), Refresh Rate (60Hz, 144Hz)
• Speakers/Headphones: Audio output
• Printer: Types - Inkjet (color), Laser (fast, B&W), 3D

Common Ports & Connections:

Troubleshooting Common Hardware Issues:

• Device not recognized: Check connections, try different port, update drivers
• Monitor no signal: Check cable connection, verify input source, test cable
• Computer won't turn on: Check power cable, test outlet, inspect PSU
• Keyboard/mouse not working: Check batteries (wireless), try different port, check drivers

Operating Systems (OS):

Application Software:

• Productivity: Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, LibreOffice
• Creative: Adobe Photoshop, GIMP, Blender
• Communication: Zoom, Discord, Slack, Teams
• Development: VS Code, IntelliJ, Eclipse
• Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari

Software Licenses:

Number Systems in Computing:

Conversion Examples:

Binary to Decimal:
1010 = (1×8) + (0×4) + (1×2) + (0×1) = 10

Decimal to Binary:
13 = 8 + 4 + 1 = 1101

Hexadecimal to Decimal:
2F = (2×16) + (15×1) = 47

Decimal to Hexadecimal:
255 = (15×16) + (15×1) = FF

ASCII & Unicode:

• ASCII: American Standard Code for Information Interchange
• Assigns numbers to characters: A=65, B=66, a=97, 0=48
• 128 characters total (English only)
• Unicode: Extended character set for all languages
• Includes emojis, symbols, 150,000+ characters
• UTF-8 is most common Unicode encoding

Traditional Computing:

• Software installed locally on your computer
• Files stored on your hard drive
• Processing done by your CPU/RAM
• Examples: Microsoft Word installed, local photo storage

Cloud Computing:

• Software runs on remote servers (via internet)
• Files stored on remote servers
• Processing done by cloud provider's computers
• Examples: Google Docs, Dropbox, Netflix, Gmail

Pros & Cons:

Virtual Machines (VMs):

• Software that simulates a complete computer
• Run multiple OS on one physical machine
• Used for testing, isolation, cloud servers
• Tools: VirtualBox, VMware, Hyper-V

CLI vs GUI:

Essential Network Components:

Network Types:

Internet Service Types:

• DSL: Through phone lines, 1-100 Mbps, widely available
• Cable: Through TV cables, 100-1000 Mbps, shared with neighbors
• Fiber: Through fiber optic cables, 500-10,000 Mbps, fastest but limited availability
• Satellite: From space, 12-100 Mbps, high latency, rural areas
• 5G Home Internet: Cellular, 50-300 Mbps, new option

IP Addresses:

• IPv4: 192.168.1.1 (4 numbers, 0-255)
• IPv6: 2001:0db8:85a3:0000:0000:8a2e:0370:7334 (longer, more addresses)
• Public IP: Your address on the internet (assigned by ISP)
• Private IP: Your address on local network (e.g., 192.168.x.x)

MAC Address:

• Physical hardware address (e.g., 00:1B:44:11:3A:B7)
• Unique to each network adapter
• Can't change (well, can be spoofed but that's advanced)

DNS (Domain Name System):

• Translates domain names to IP addresses
• Example: google.com → 142.250.185.46
• Like a phonebook for the internet
• DNS servers: Google (8.8.8.8), Cloudflare (1.1.1.1)

DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol):

• Automatically assigns IP addresses to devices
• Router typically runs DHCP server
• When you connect to WiFi, DHCP gives you an IP

How connecting to WiFi works:
1. Device: "Can I join this network?"
2. Router (DHCP): "Sure! Your IP is 192.168.1.105"
3. Device: "What's the gateway?"
4. Router: "I'm the gateway at 192.168.1.1"
5. Device: "What's the DNS server?"
6. Router: "Use 8.8.8.8 for DNS"
7. Device: "Thanks!" [connected]

Essential Protocols:

Troubleshooting Connectivity:

Digital Footprint:

• Everything you do online leaves a trace
• Posts, comments, likes, searches - all tracked
• Future employers, colleges check social media!
• Think before you post - it's permanent

Protecting PII (Personally Identifiable Information):

• Never share: SSN, full birthdate, home address, passwords
• Be careful sharing: Phone number, school name, full name
• Privacy settings: Make social media accounts private
• Location data: Turn off geo-tagging on photos

Cyberbullying:

• Using tech to harass, threaten, embarrass others
• Don't engage - block, report, tell adult
• Save evidence (screenshots)
• It's NEVER okay - not funny, not harmless

Mobile Device Security:

• Screen lock: Use PIN, pattern, or biometric
• App permissions: Only give what's needed
• Public WiFi: Don't access banking/sensitive info
• Updates: Keep OS and apps updated
• Lost phone: Enable "Find My Device"

Netiquette (Internet Etiquette):

• Be respectful - remember real people behind screens
• Don't type in ALL CAPS (it's shouting!)
• Think before hitting send
• Give credit for others' work
• Respect privacy - don't share others' info

The CIA Triad:

Common Malware Types:

Cryptography & Encryption:

• Encryption: Converting data to unreadable format
• Decryption: Converting back to readable format
• Symmetric: Same key encrypts and decrypts (faster)
• Asymmetric: Public key encrypts, private key decrypts (more secure)
• Uses: HTTPS, email, messaging, file storage

Authentication vs Authorization:

• Authentication: Proving who you are (login)
• Authorization: What you're allowed to do (permissions)
• Example: Badge gets you in building (auth), key card gets you in server room (authz)

Authentication Methods:

Password Best Practices:

• Length: Minimum 12 characters, longer is better
• Complexity: Mix uppercase, lowercase, numbers, symbols
• Unique: Different password for each account
• Avoid: Dictionary words, personal info, patterns
• Passphrases: "CorrectHorseBatteryStaple" > "P@ssw0rd!"
• Password Manager: Use Bitwarden, 1Password, LastPass
• Change when: Known breach, shared accidentally, old (1-2 years)

Additional Security Practices:

• Firewalls: Block unauthorized network access
• Antivirus: Scan for and remove malware
• Updates: Install OS and software updates promptly
• Backups: 3-2-1 rule (3 copies, 2 different media, 1 offsite)
• VPN: Encrypt connection on public WiFi
• Physical Security: Lock screen, secure devices, shred documents

Important Privacy Laws:

Intellectual Property:

• Copyright: Protects creative works (books, music, art, code)
• Trademark: Protects brand names, logos
• Patent: Protects inventions
• Fair Use: Limited use for education, criticism, parody
• Plagiarism: Using others' work without credit - DON'T DO IT!

Responsible AI Use:

• Bias: AI can inherit biases from training data
• Transparency: Be clear when AI is used
• Accountability: Humans responsible for AI decisions
• Privacy: Don't feed sensitive data to AI
• Academic: Disclose AI assistance, don't claim AI work as your own

Compliance Standards:

• NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology - cybersecurity framework
• ISO 27001: International standard for information security
• PCI DSS: Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard
• SOC 2: Security, availability, processing integrity controls