"From Bodybuilding to Breaking Code: My Web3 Security Journey Begins"

💭 I never thought building an AI fitness app would lead me here.

After training a co-founder of Ethereum(identity withheld) many the conversations we would have was not tech centric, but expanding your level of consciousness that impacts the whole. As I spent my afternoons in the coaching space, thinking of the positive impact I would make for clients , I challenged myself to build a fitness solution to make a greater impact. I got back to web development particularly web3 (DeFI/DeSci)in order to build swolbot. The development space back in the day was mostly overran by rubyOnRails, PHP and the frontend was just with Mootools, JQuery (Remember John Resig ?)and other IIFE invoked libraries, then JS fever took over with the advent of the JS Library war (on going)…. so after getting the wiff of what smart contracts do, I did my first pass with FreeCodeCamps solidity course with Patrick Collins from cyrfin. Now doing my 2nd pass with cyfrin updraft to get the SSCD+ credential. So..

my story in a nutshell:

• I was in insurance for 10 years, competitive bodybuilder who pushed my body to its limits.

• I became a fitness coach & trainer, helping others do the same.

• I built Swolbot, an AI-powered coaching tool to help people get jacked.(using OpenAI and the MERN stack)

But along the way, I made a huge realization…

Even the strongest app is weak if it isn’t secure.

The more I built, the more I saw how vulnerable digital systems really are.
One overlooked smart contract exploit can drain millions.
One poorly secured API can expose sensitive user data.
One mistake can break everything.

That’s when I knew: It was time to switch gears.

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My New Mission: Becoming the Most Sought-After Web3 Security Researcher

I’m now going all-in on cybersecurity and Web3 security.

🔎 What I’m Learning:
✅ Smart contract security (Solidity, Cyfrin Updraft, audits)- Starting my cyfrinUpdraft from scratch to bulk up the github.
✅ Cybersecurity fundamentals (Security+, network security)- Get an old machine and use it for Kali.
✅ Bug bounties & ethical hacking (learning how to break things before attackers do)

This isn’t just about a career switch—it’s about being a force for good and protecting the future of decentralized systems.

I’ll be documenting everything:

• The security exploits I study

• The vulnerabilities I uncover

• The lessons I learn along the way

• How i’m balancing staying in shape

• Building MVPs along the way.

• Getting my Comptia security+

• Taking my @cyfrinUpdraft (lessons from Patrick Collins and the Updraft team)SSCD+… yo Vitto Rivabella

• Interviews and takeaways

If you’re in Web3, cybersecurity, AI or development, let’s connect. I’m here to build, break, and secure. I’m quickly building web3journey.fun in order to share with you all.

🔗 Follow me on this journey—because every system is only as strong as its weakest link.

#CyberSecurity #Web3Security #SmartContractAuditing #LearningInPublic #HackerMindset