Comments on: Flying malware: the Virus Copter http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Fri, 24 May 2013 14:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Sigivald http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1603537 Sigivald Mon, 10 Dec 2012 20:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1603537 How do you imagine that working? Without insecure wireless (which you wouldn't really need a drone to get at, just a can antenna) at the target, you have... what? The drone commandeering a keyboard? Plugging into ethernet? While hoping you don't lose <i>your</i> control link when it goes indoors? It'd be orders of magnitude easier to simply lie ("social engineer") your way in. How do you imagine that working?

Without insecure wireless (which you wouldn’t really need a drone to get at, just a can antenna) at the target, you have… what?

The drone commandeering a keyboard? Plugging into ethernet? While hoping you don’t lose your control link when it goes indoors?

It’d be orders of magnitude easier to simply lie (“social engineer”) your way in.

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1603312 Cowicide Mon, 10 Dec 2012 18:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1603312 How about money laundering? Check out my previous link you obviously didn't see. How about money laundering? Check out my previous link you obviously didn’t see.

]]> By: TheOven http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1603287 TheOven Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:39:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1603287  Seems to me that any organisation that is large enough to change, or have laws changed, is unlikely to ever allow itself the actual moniker of "criminal".  Seems to me that any organisation that is large enough to change, or have laws changed, is unlikely to ever allow itself the actual moniker of “criminal”.

]]> By: TheOven http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1603279 TheOven Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:33:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1603279  I believe it's technical name is extortion.  I believe it’s technical name is extortion.

]]> By: OtherMichael http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1603228 OtherMichael Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1603228 Not that I'm <em>jealous</em> or anything. Holy flipping hells, I'm a <em>computer programmer</em>, how awesome is that?!!! There's bleeps and bloops, and blinking lights, and all sorts of cool stuff (although I must admit, there's no way the whining sound of a laser printer can compare to the chugging out of green-bar paper). There ain't no cheap flying cars, but we are living in the future, it's pretty well distributed [in my first world] -- we're just blinded by its ubiquity. Not that I’m jealous or anything. Holy flipping hells, I’m a computer programmer, how awesome is that?!!! There’s bleeps and bloops, and blinking lights, and all sorts of cool stuff (although I must admit, there’s no way the whining sound of a laser printer can compare to the chugging out of green-bar paper).

There ain’t no cheap flying cars, but we are living in the future, it’s pretty well distributed [in my first world] — we’re just blinded by its ubiquity.

]]> By: OtherMichael http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1603226 OtherMichael Mon, 10 Dec 2012 16:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1603226 When you say "I work on a radio telescope" is that the physical location of your office, or more of an abstraction of your job focus? I'm seriously hoping for the former. But either way: sweet! When you say “I work on a radio telescope” is that the physical location of your office, or more of an abstraction of your job focus?

I’m seriously hoping for the former. But either way: sweet!

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1603148 nixiebunny Mon, 10 Dec 2012 15:25:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1603148 I work on a radio telescope, and it's connected to the Internet. I sometimes wonder about that, and in fact I once had a spectrometer-control computer I installed there get pwned through an old FTP vulnerability. But our computer guy has a good line of defense these days, with a whitelist and access attempt reporting. We also have an operator on site at all times who would notice if something went awry. I work on a radio telescope, and it’s connected to the Internet. I sometimes wonder about that, and in fact I once had a spectrometer-control computer I installed there get pwned through an old FTP vulnerability.

But our computer guy has a good line of defense these days, with a whitelist and access attempt reporting. We also have an operator on site at all times who would notice if something went awry.

]]> By: George Gamble http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1603081 George Gamble Mon, 10 Dec 2012 12:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1603081 Awesome.  We can only hope that all the copters get equipped with mini gun turrets! Awesome.  We can only hope that all the copters get equipped with mini gun turrets!

]]> By: Nonameworks http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602987 Nonameworks Mon, 10 Dec 2012 05:16:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602987 Of course the "Olympics of the Mind" comes to mind.  A challenging competition for school kids, they learned to innovate, design, problem solve, create, work hard, have fun, and maybe even be recognized and rewarded for the above.  For a couple decades now they have been "Odyssey of the Mind" thanks to the IOC.  Maybe they need to get permission from the Greeks?  Or pay homage to Homer?  Or money to Greece?  (On second thought, maybe the IOC owes Greece something for intellectual property use of their brand?) Of course the “Olympics of the Mind” comes to mind.  A challenging competition for school kids, they learned to innovate, design, problem solve, create, work hard, have fun, and maybe even be recognized and rewarded for the above. 
For a couple decades now they have been “Odyssey of the Mind” thanks to the IOC.  Maybe they need to get permission from the Greeks?  Or pay homage to Homer?  Or money to Greece?  (On second thought, maybe the IOC owes Greece something for intellectual property use of their brand?)

]]> By: Asmodeus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602978 Asmodeus Mon, 10 Dec 2012 04:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602978 Just because some NFL owners are bigoted or because the IOC is aggressively defending their I.P. beyond the point of good business practice and good sense, doesn't make them criminals. I prefer to keep the term organized crime syndicate for groups that are collaborating to break the law, rather than collaborating to do things we might find distasteful. Just because some NFL owners are bigoted or because the IOC is aggressively defending their I.P. beyond the point of good business practice and good sense, doesn’t make them criminals. I prefer to keep the term organized crime syndicate for groups that are collaborating to break the law, rather than collaborating to do things we might find distasteful.

]]> By: lishevita http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602956 lishevita Mon, 10 Dec 2012 03:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602956 Thanks! :) Thanks! :)

]]> By: sudoLoki http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602950 sudoLoki Mon, 10 Dec 2012 02:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602950  Absolutely, Shodan is fun for finding IP cameras and network printers but much less valuable for targeted attacks. I subscribed to your blog, some interesting reading :)  Absolutely, Shodan is fun for finding IP cameras and network printers but much less valuable for targeted attacks. I subscribed to your blog, some interesting reading :)

]]> By: Cowicide http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602947 Cowicide Mon, 10 Dec 2012 02:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602947 <blockquote>National Football League</blockquote>Maybe not terrorists, but supporting them helps to support many bigoted, science-denying, assholes. That's for sure... http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/30/dave_zirin_on_bad_sports_how

National Football League

Maybe not terrorists, but supporting them helps to support many bigoted, science-denying, assholes. That’s for sure…

http://www.democracynow.org/2010/7/30/dave_zirin_on_bad_sports_how

]]> By: lishevita http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602941 lishevita Mon, 10 Dec 2012 02:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602941 Yes, I think exactly that. And yes, I was also thinking about the Shodan searches which can show you so many interesting things. One of the things about Shodan is that you can see what sorts of devices are sitting out there on the 'Net all naked and available for pwnage. But, I think that the *real* threat has less to do with that sort of "I found an open machine by chance" thing and far more to do with organized attacks on machines in specific industries and/or specific geographic locations. Yes, I think exactly that. And yes, I was also thinking about the Shodan searches which can show you so many interesting things. One of the things about Shodan is that you can see what sorts of devices are sitting out there on the ‘Net all naked and available for pwnage. But, I think that the *real* threat has less to do with that sort of “I found an open machine by chance” thing and far more to do with organized attacks on machines in specific industries and/or specific geographic locations.

]]> By: sudoLoki http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602915 sudoLoki Mon, 10 Dec 2012 01:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602915  Do you think IPV6 will have an impact on this by giving essentially every Internet facing device a unique address? Already five minutes using Shodan can (theoretically of course) get me access to a huge number of systems that aren't mine.  Do you think IPV6 will have an impact on this by giving essentially every Internet facing device a unique address? Already five minutes using Shodan can (theoretically of course) get me access to a huge number of systems that aren’t mine.

]]> By: sudoLoki http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602913 sudoLoki Mon, 10 Dec 2012 00:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602913 I was about to reply with a few reasons I don't think this would be likely but the more I thought about it the more possibilities I came up with. The on board flight computers wouldn't be powerful enough to be used in an attack but I could see a drone being used as a delivery platform for a disposable drop box. I was about to reply with a few reasons I don’t think this would be likely but the more I thought about it the more possibilities I came up with. The on board flight computers wouldn’t be powerful enough to be used in an attack but I could see a drone being used as a delivery platform for a disposable drop box.

]]> By: lishevita http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602872 lishevita Sun, 09 Dec 2012 23:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602872 For the last couple of weeks I've had a series of conversations in which I've tried to convince people that they need to be more concerned about the security of the software and firmware that runs machines other than laptops and servers. Think CNC routers, printers, mining trucks, drones, industrial robots. We have just seen the very beginning of the malware threats to the great array of devices on the "Internet of Things". For the last couple of weeks I’ve had a series of conversations in which I’ve tried to convince people that they need to be more concerned about the security of the software and firmware that runs machines other than laptops and servers. Think CNC routers, printers, mining trucks, drones, industrial robots. We have just seen the very beginning of the malware threats to the great array of devices on the “Internet of Things”.

]]> By: Asmodeus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602860 Asmodeus Sun, 09 Dec 2012 23:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602860 and yet being a dick is not a criminal activity.  and yet being a dick is not a criminal activity. 

]]> By: Chris Orbz http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602849 Chris Orbz Sun, 09 Dec 2012 22:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602849 Everyone's only talking about this relative to future iterations of this event... I'm wondering how many hackers are now contemplating using cheap modified drones to take over computers/networks that they're having trouble remotely accessing and can physically access with a drone but wouldn't be able to in-person. Everyone’s only talking about this relative to future iterations of this event… I’m wondering how many hackers are now contemplating using cheap modified drones to take over computers/networks that they’re having trouble remotely accessing and can physically access with a drone but wouldn’t be able to in-person.

]]> By: ocker3 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602831 ocker3 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 21:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602831  The examples of the IOC being dicks about other people using the word Olympics are many and varied, for example they've gone after a group of knitters who watched the olympics and worked on themed projects, the logic of which baffles me. Why would you go after people who are encouraging others to watch your broadcasts??  The examples of the IOC being dicks about other people using the word Olympics are many and varied, for example they’ve gone after a group of knitters who watched the olympics and worked on themed projects, the logic of which baffles me. Why would you go after people who are encouraging others to watch your broadcasts??

]]> By: niktemadur http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602756 niktemadur Sun, 09 Dec 2012 19:58:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602756 The Virus Copter, damn.  Insidious and awesome at once. The Virus Copter, damn.  Insidious and awesome at once.

]]> By: Cory Doctorow http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602717 Cory Doctorow Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602717  Naw, they're just all crime syndicates. I'm not kidding.  Naw, they’re just all crime syndicates. I’m not kidding.

]]> By: Asmodeus http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602712 Asmodeus Sun, 09 Dec 2012 18:38:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602712 Ah yes the organized crime syndicate known as the International Olympic Committee, much like the terrorist organization known as the National Football League, and the supranational revenge and extortion confederacy known as the Union of European Football Associations. Ah yes the organized crime syndicate known as the International Olympic Committee, much like the terrorist organization known as the National Football League, and the supranational revenge and extortion confederacy known as the Union of European Football Associations.

]]> By: Andrew Singleton http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602660 Andrew Singleton Sun, 09 Dec 2012 17:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602660 Weapons will never be used, especially now that the links are shown to be insecure even against other drones. Weapons will never be used, especially now that the links are shown to be insecure even against other drones.

]]> By: nixiebunny http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602631 nixiebunny Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:14:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602631 FIRST Robotics has the same problem. The problem is the use of WiFi to control machines. They had some yahoo with a laptop bring down the competition network during their big finale. Designing your remote-control gizmo to use a dirt-simple comm link instead of a standard wireless network is slightly more inconvenient, but it eliminates an entire class of trouble.  FIRST Robotics has the same problem. The problem is the use of WiFi to control machines. They had some yahoo with a laptop bring down the competition network during their big finale.

Designing your remote-control gizmo to use a dirt-simple comm link instead of a standard wireless network is slightly more inconvenient, but it eliminates an entire class of trouble. 

]]> By: millie fink http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602610 millie fink Sun, 09 Dec 2012 15:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602610 "Drones, after all, are stranger than technothrillers." The drones are out there. “Drones, after all, are stranger than technothrillers.”

The drones are out there.

]]> By: vonbobo http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602589 vonbobo Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:53:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602589 all your drones are belong to us http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/12/08/drone_fars_1_244x183.jpg all your drones are belong to us
http://i.i.com.com/cnwk.1d/i/tim/2011/12/08/drone_fars_1_244x183.jpg

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602582 oasisob1 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602582 Optional responses: A: One can only hope. B: I for one, welcome, etc. C: Christ, what assholes. Optional responses:

A: One can only hope.

B: I for one, welcome, etc.

C: Christ, what assholes.

]]> By: Xploder http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602579 Xploder Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602579  And before you know it, the Berserkers will have TAKEN OVER!!!!!one  And before you know it, the Berserkers will have TAKEN OVER!!!!!one

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2012/12/09/flying-malware-the-virus-copt.html#comment-1602575 oasisob1 Sun, 09 Dec 2012 14:20:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199288#comment-1602575 That's how you win a fucking competition! The next competition will be 10 times as interesting; everyone will have to include defensive software, wireless link encryption, and for those bold enough, attack software. The crazy ones will go ahead and add actual weaponry. That’s how you win a fucking competition! The next competition will be 10 times as interesting; everyone will have to include defensive software, wireless link encryption, and for those bold enough, attack software. The crazy ones will go ahead and add actual weaponry.

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