# 259: Calculators Changed My Life

- Show: [Embedded.fm](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm)
- Published: 2018-09-07
- Length: 1h 12m
- Episode: 259
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life
- Listen: https://makingembeddedsystems.libsyn.com/259-calculators-changed-my-life

## Summary

Brandon Wilson, a software developer and security consultant, discusses his decades-long journey of hacking Texas Instruments graphing calculators, starting from middle school. He details the technical evolution of TI's security measures, including the use of Z80 and Motorola 68K processors, flash unlock exploits, and the eventual factorization of 512-bit RSA signing keys by the community. Wilson also describes his reverse engineering of a limited-edition Sega Genesis game cartridge and his work on abusing USB protocols to jailbreak the PlayStation 3 and modify cheap USB flash drive firmware.

## Chapters

- [0:06](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life#t=6) Introduction and Calculator Basics
- [7:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life#t=432) TI Calculator Security and TestGuard
- [16:59](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life#t=1019) Breaking RSA Keys and DMCA Threats
- [28:46](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life#t=1726) Ethics of Hacking and Responsibility
- [44:20](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life#t=2660) Dumping the Sega Genesis ROM
- [55:14](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life#t=3314) USB Abuse and Flash Drive Firmware
- [1:06:12](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life#t=3972) Hardwear.io Conference and Final Thoughts

## Topics

- [Debugging & failure analysis](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/debugging-and-failure-analysis)
- [Microcontrollers & dev platforms](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/microcontrollers-and-platforms)
- [Security & privacy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/security-and-privacy)
- [Embedded firmware](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/embedded-firmware)
- [Wireless & RF](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/wireless-and-rf)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists

## Mentioned

- Texas Instruments (company)
- TI-85 (product)
- TI-84 Plus CE (product)
- TICalc.org (other)
- Z80 (chip)
- Motorola 68K (chip)
- IDA (tool)
- Sega Genesis (product)
- PlayStation 3 (product)
- EFF (company)
- Hardwear.io (other)

## 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)
- [071 - Snerd Niped](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/unnamed-reverse-engineering-podcast/2024-09-07-071-snerd-niped) (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)
- [#397.8 - An Interview with Chris Gerlinsky](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-amp-hour/2018-06-25-397-8-an-interview-with-chris-gerlinsky) (The Amp Hour)

## Citing this page

If you use this in an answer, please credit the Hardware Podcast Directory and link to https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/embedded-fm/2018-09-07-259-calculators-changed-my-life. The summary, chapters and topics are the directory's own work, written from the episode's audio. The episode itself, its title and its audio belong to Embedded.fm.