Small projects and exercises that show what I can do now and how I am improving: practical work, experiments, and learning-focused deliverables.
Built a full-stack recreation of Duolingo’s “Match Madness” mini game using Python (Flask) and JavaScript (React.js), implementing real-time matching logic and dynamic data management for word definitions.
Built a multi-client chatroom using TCP and UDP protocols to demonstrate socket programming, message broadcasting, and client-server synchronization in real time.
Developed a small Python script using pynput to log keyboard events locally as part of learning ethical keylogging and cybersecurity concepts.
Hydroficient · ✅ Verified by Extern · ⏱️ In progress
Build, hack, and defend real IoT infrastructure, then hand your security playbook to an actual company. You’ll launch realistic cyberattacks, from spoofing and replay attacks to unauthorized shutoffs, and implement defenses like TLS and mTLS.
Computer Science new grad focused on learning, hands-on projects, and gaining real experience to grow a practical skillset.
I'm Maya Al Hourani. I am beginning my career and exploring opportunities to build practical skills and real projects. I am eager to learn, take on challenges, and develop work I can share in a growing portfolio.
Externships
Hydroficient IoT Cyber Defense Externship
In progress
Experience
IT & Systems Analyst
Copp's Buildall · Sep 2026
Helpline Staff
Western University - Office of the Registrar · September 2024 - May 2026
Head Coach
St Clair College - St Clair Saints Valorant Esports Team · May 2024 - May 2026
Education
Western University
BSc - Specialization in Computer Science, Minor in Software Engineering · Class of 2026
Skills
Built a full-stack recreation of Duolingo’s “Match Madness” mini game using Python (Flask) and JavaScript (React.js), implementing real-time matching logic and dynamic data management for word definitions.
Built a full-stack recreation of Duolingo’s “Match Madness” mini game using Python (Flask) and JavaScript (React.js), implementing real-time matching logic and dynamic data management for word definitions.
Built a multi-client chatroom using TCP and UDP protocols to demonstrate socket programming, message broadcasting, and client-server synchronization in real time.
Built a multi-client chatroom using TCP and UDP protocols to demonstrate socket programming, message broadcasting, and client-server synchronization in real time.
Developed a small Python script using pynput to log keyboard events locally as part of learning ethical keylogging and cybersecurity concepts.
Developed a small Python script using pynput to log keyboard events locally as part of learning ethical keylogging and cybersecurity concepts.
✅ Verified by Extern · ⏱️ In progress
Build, hack, and defend real IoT infrastructure, then hand your security playbook to an actual company. You’ll launch realistic cyberattacks, from spoofing and replay attacks to unauthorized shutoffs, and implement defenses like TLS and mTLS.
The externship simulated an operational IoT deployment for a marina and required hands-on offensive and defensive exercises against real device firmware and network flows. The work involved analyzing the deployed devices and their communications, enumerating vulnerabilities, and implementing standard protections such as TLS and mTLS. Deliverables included an attack log, a vulnerability inventory,
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I produced a detailed threat model for the Grand Marina system, including a PDF report and a visual threat-card that mapped assets and STRIDE-classified threats.
The project reviewed the Grand Marina system, identified assets and STRIDE-mapped threats, and produced a threat model PDF and a visual threat-card image as the deliverables.
The externship required mock IoT data work. I built a sensor log generator in Python, published Colab notebooks for functions, control flow, data-structure practice, and produced Pandas/JSON notebooks for cleaning and analysis.
I built a Python-based publisher and subscriber that sent plain-text JSON sensor readings through a local Mosquitto broker, intercepted traffic to capture messages and show no auth/encryption, and produced a vulnerability analysis with prioritized remediation (TLS, auth, ACLs, message validation).
The project secured the MQTT pipeline with TLS, ran four experiments (eavesdropper, certificate validation, speed, stress), and produced a written security assessment that documented blocked eavesdropping, certificate failures, measured latency overhead, and successful load results.
Situation: The project required a documented provisioning workflow for IoT devices. Task: Produce a provisioning policy and onboarding steps. Action: Wrote a Device Provisioning Policy with naming rules, certificate generation and installation steps, verification checks, and registry fields.…
During the externship I tested three defenses (timestamp freshness, sequence numbering, HMAC signing) against immediate, delayed, and tampered replay attacks, ran 12 experiments, and reported that only all three combined blocked every attack (100% coverage).
