# 111: Potty Train Your Tamagotchi (Repeat)

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2017-07-19
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat

## Summary

Natalie Silvanovich, a security engineer at Google Project Zero, discusses her reverse engineering of Tamagotchi devices, detailing how she dumped code from General Plus 6502-based hardware and created a development kit. She explains the technical challenges of working with mask ROM, undocumented processors, and the specific vulnerabilities in Tamagotchi 'figures' that allowed for code execution. Silvanovich also touches on her broader career in hardware and software security, including her work on Flash exploits and the 'Hardware Excuse Generator' tool.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat#t=6) Introduction to Tamagotchi Hacking
- [1:36](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat#t=96) Tamagotchi Evolution and NFC Features
- [5:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat#t=326) Reverse Engineering General Plus Hardware
- [10:38](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat#t=638) Dumping Code via Figure Vulnerabilities
- [13:51](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat#t=831) Debugging and Code Analysis
- [34:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat#t=2060) Tamagotchi Dev Kit and Assembly
- [29:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat#t=1788) Career Advice and Security Community
- [43:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2017-07-19-111-potty-train-your-tamagotchi-repeat#t=2611) Modern Tamagotchi and NFC Ecosystem

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Careers & education](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/engineering-careers-and-education)
- [Chips, FPGAs & semiconductors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/chips-and-fpgas)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Tamagotchi (product)
- General Plus (chip)
- IDA (tool)
- Saleae Logic Analyzer (tool)
- Arduino (tool)
- Bandai (company)
- Project Zero (company)
- Flash (product)
- Hardware Excuse Generator (product)
- NFC (chip)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [039 - Changing the Nature of Reality](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2020-09-13-039-changing-the-nature-of-reality) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [002 - Cheap And Easy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-08-30-002-cheap-and-easy) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [049 - Reversing Your Childhood One Game At a Time](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2021-07-11-049-reversing-your-childhood-one-game-at-a-time) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [004 - 0x0FF the Rails](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-10-13-004-0x0ff-the-rails) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)
- [001 - Success!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2017-08-15-001-success) (Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast)

## Citing this page

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