The author got a rude awakening about the realities of Java reversing while prepping for the OSWE certification
While working through the now-retired HTB machine, Blocky, they found a classic IPPSEC video on the topic of Java reverse engineering
This inspired them to delve deeper into the world of Java reverse engineering and discover the secrets that can be hidden in a simple .jar file
They used various free tools, such as Jad and JD-GUI, to explore the inner workings of the archive and decompile the binary files into readable code
This process revealed hardcoded passwords, API keys, and logic flaws that could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to the target machine
The author emphasizes that understanding how developers leave behind clues, credentials, and vulnerabilities is a crucial skill for OSWE aspirants, and encourages readers to try Java reversing for themselves.