Warcodes: Attacking ICS through industrial barcode scanners
Several days ago I came across an interesting entry in the curious ‘ICS Future News’ blog run by Patrick Coyle. Before anyone becomes alarmed, the description of this blog is crystal clear about its contents: “News about control system security incidents that you might see in the not too distant future. Any similarity to real people, places or things is purely imaginary.” IOActive provides research-fueled security services, so when we analyze cutting-edge technologies the goal is to stay one step ahead of malicious actors…
Internet of Planes: Hacking Millionaires’ Jet Cabins
The push to incorporate remote management capabilities into products has swept across a number of industries. A good example of this is the famous Internet of Things (IoT), where modern home devices from crockpots to thermostats can be managed remotely from a tablet or smartphone. One of the biggest problems associated with this new feature is a lack of security. Unfortunately, nobody is surprised when a new, widespread vulnerability appears in the IoT world. However, the situation becomes a bit more concerning when similar technologies appear in the aviation sector….
SCADA and Mobile Security in the IoT Era
Two years ago, we assessed 20 mobile applications that worked with ICS software and hardware. At that time, mobile technologies were widespread, but Internet of Things (IoT) mania was only starting. Our research concluded the combination of SCADA systems and mobile applications had the potential to be a very dangerous and vulnerable cocktail. In the introduction of our paper, we stated “convenience often wins over security. Nowadays, you can monitor (or even control!) your ICS from a brand-new Android [device].” Today, no one is surprised at the appearance of an…
Remotely Disabling a Wireless Burglar Alarm
Countless movies feature hackers remotely turning off security systems in order to infiltrate buildings without being noticed. But how realistic are these depictions? Time to find out. Today we’re releasing information on a critical security vulnerability in a wireless home security system from SimpliSafe. This system consists of two core components, a keypad and a base station. These may be combined with a wide array of sensors ranging from smoke detectors to magnet switches to motion detectors to create a complete home security system. The system is marketed…