01 / SECURITY
Penetration Testing
External website reviews, wireless assessments and security testing for systems you own or are authorised to test.
Quotation on request
Independent technical operator · Eastborough
Security is a mindset.
Mine never switches off.
Penetration testing, cyber consultancy, network troubleshooting and specialist digital solutions. If it's got a password, an IP address or a blinking light, Dave has probably got an opinion on it.
Explore my services →Talk to DaveFounder-led expertiseFlexible approachAvailable for projects
What I do
Technical solutions.
Commercially minded.
A practical, independent service for individuals and businesses who need their technology sorted without all the corporate carry-on.
02 / ADVICE
Cyber Consultancy
Practical security advice, password policy reviews, incident triage and explaining what the IT department is actually saying.
By the hour or by the problem
03 / NETWORKS
Wi-Fi & Network Rescue
Wireless dead zones, forgotten router settings, confusing cables and networks that were apparently set up by somebody else.
Home and small business
04 / WEB
Web & Domain Services
Domain names, DNS records, redirects, basic hosting and getting a website to appear where it should.
Fixed-price jobs considered
05 / TRAINING
Security Awareness
Informal briefings on scams, suspicious links and why the office password shouldn't be written on the router.
In-person or remote
06 / OTHER
Special Projects
Got an unusual technology problem? Dave is willing to discuss almost anything, subject to legality, permission and a sensible deposit.
Discretion assured*
Field notes
Work from the workshop.
Dave believes every technical problem deserves a proper investigation, and ideally a photo of the equipment before anyone touches it.
FIELD NOTE / 001
The Vanishing Website
A local business couldn't reach its homepage. Dave started with the domain, followed the DNS response and checked where the browser was actually being sent.
FIELD NOTE / 002
The Router With Two Networks
Two Wi-Fi names, one broadband line and a printer nobody could find. An afternoon with IP addresses, leases and a network diagram.
FIELD NOTE / 003
Something in the Logs
Repeated requests hit an old page after it had been moved. Dave compared timestamps, response codes and user agents before drawing conclusions.
The man behind the keyboard
David Mercer.
Known professionally as Dodgy Dave.
Dave is an independent operator based in Eastborough. He's fascinated by how technology works, especially when it doesn't. His working philosophy is that most problems can be solved with patience, a command prompt and a strong cup of tea.
He offers advice and hands-on help to clients who prefer speaking directly to the person doing the work.
“I'm not saying I know everything. I'm saying I've usually got a theory.”
Get in touch
Have a technical problem?
Describe the issue, tell Dave what you've already tried and give him a chance to say “interesting”.
Website: dodgydave.com
Email enquiries: coming soon
Do not send passwords, private records or access credentials. A working mailbox will be published once its delivery settings have been verified.