This repository is officially owned and maintained by kushmanmb-org.

To verify the authenticity and ownership of this repository:

1. GitHub Organization: This repository is hosted under the verified GitHub organization kushmanmb-org
2. Official Repository: https://github.com/kushmanmb-org/Cybersecurity-Roadmap
3. Maintainer Verification: All commits from official maintainers should be signed with verified GPG keys
4. Official Communications: All official communications regarding this project will come from verified organization members

Before cloning or using this repository, please verify:

• The repository URL matches: https://github.com/kushmanmb-org/Cybersecurity-Roadmap
• The organization name is correctly spelled: kushmanmb-org
• Check for the verified badge on the organization profile
• Review commit signatures for authenticity

1. Never commit sensitive data including:

   • Private keys (SSH, PGP, API keys)
   • Passwords or credentials
   • Personal information
   • Proprietary or confidential data

2. Use the provided .gitignore: This repository includes a comprehensive .gitignore file that protects against accidental commits of sensitive files

3. Verify downloaded content: Always verify the integrity of downloaded files and scripts

4. Keep your tools updated: Ensure all security and penetration testing tools are kept up to date

1. Sign your commits: Use GPG signing for all commits to verify your identity

   git config --global user.signingkey YOUR_GPG_KEY_ID
   git config --global commit.gpgsign true

2. Review before committing: Always review your changes before committing

   git diff
   git status

3. Use environment variables: Store sensitive configuration in environment variables, never in code

4. Security scanning: Run security scans on your contributions before submitting

If you discover a security vulnerability in this repository, please report it responsibly:

1. Do NOT open a public issue for security vulnerabilities

2. Do NOT disclose the vulnerability publicly until it has been addressed

3. Contact the maintainers through one of these secure channels:

   • Use GitHub's Security Advisory feature (preferred)
   • Email the repository maintainers directly through their GitHub profile

Please include the following information:

• Description: A clear description of the vulnerability
• Impact: The potential impact if exploited
• Steps to Reproduce: Detailed steps to reproduce the issue
• Affected Versions: Which versions are affected
• Suggested Fix: If you have suggestions for fixing the issue
• Your Contact Information: How we can reach you for follow-up

• Acknowledgment: We will acknowledge receipt within 48 hours
• Initial Assessment: We will provide an initial assessment within 7 days
• Updates: We will keep you informed of our progress
• Resolution: We aim to resolve critical vulnerabilities within 30 days
• Disclosure: Once fixed, we will coordinate public disclosure timing with you

The following types of information must never be committed to this repository:

• SSH private keys
• API keys and tokens
• Database credentials
• Cloud service credentials (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• OAuth tokens
• JWT secrets

• Production configuration files
• Environment files with secrets
• Backup files containing sensitive data
• Database dumps

• Personal identification information (PII)
• Email addresses (except in appropriate contexts)
• Phone numbers
• Physical addresses

• Penetration test results containing real vulnerabilities
• Exploit code for unpatched vulnerabilities
• Network diagrams of production systems
• Actual credentials from security assessments

All contributions must:

1. Pass automated security scanning
2. Be reviewed by at least one maintainer
3. Not introduce new security vulnerabilities
4. Follow secure coding practices
5. Include appropriate input validation
6. Use parameterized queries for database operations
7. Implement proper authentication and authorization

• Keep all dependencies up to date
• Regularly audit dependencies for known vulnerabilities
• Use npm audit, pip check, or equivalent tools
• Review dependency licenses for compliance

When working with security tools or sensitive operations:

1. Use isolated environments: Test in isolated/sandboxed environments
2. Limit scope: Only test on systems you have permission to test
3. Clean up: Remove any test artifacts or temporary files
4. Document carefully: Document your actions for audit purposes

• Git Secrets: Prevent committing secrets to git repositories
• TruffleHog: Find secrets accidentally committed to repositories
• GitGuardian: Monitor repositories for exposed secrets
• Gitleaks: Detect hardcoded secrets in git repositories

# Install git-secrets
git clone https://github.com/awslabs/git-secrets.git
cd git-secrets
make install

# Setup for this repository
cd /path/to/Cybersecurity-Roadmap
git secrets --install
git secrets --register-aws

This repository is intended for:

• Educational purposes
• Authorized security testing
• Improving cybersecurity knowledge

This repository is NOT intended for:

• Unauthorized access to systems
• Malicious activities
• Illegal purposes

Users of this repository are expected to:

• Follow responsible disclosure practices
• Respect privacy and confidentiality
• Comply with applicable laws and regulations
• Only test systems with explicit permission

This security policy may be updated periodically. Changes will be:

• Committed to this file with clear commit messages
• Announced in the repository's main README if significant
• Dated with the last update timestamp

Last Updated: February 12, 2026

We appreciate the security research community's efforts in:

• Responsible vulnerability disclosure
• Security tool development
• Educational resource sharing
• Collaborative security improvement

For security concerns, please use:

• GitHub Security Advisories (preferred)
• Repository Issues (for non-sensitive matters only)
• Direct message to verified organization members

Remember: Security is everyone's responsibility. Stay vigilant, stay secure.