Hackaday Podcast · 9 Dec 2023 · 44m · Episode 247
Hackaday editors Elliot Williams and Kristina Panos review a week of hardware hacks, including an autonomous excavator from ETH Zurich that builds load-bearing walls from boulders using algorithmic placement, and a security analysis of the 'Bluffs' Bluetooth vulnerability by researcher Yiska Klassen. They also discuss a laser-cut wedge tenon joint by Yisgar Schmitz, a nitinol-based motion machine by JGJ Matt, and a film camera made from hardboard by Chicken Crimpy. The episode concludes with commentary on an Italian lunar habitat proposal and a concept for rating airline hygiene.
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Hosts Elecia White and Christopher White discuss listener emails covering Bluetooth 4.2 security, the definition of masked ROM, and the use of the volatile keyword in C. They review Elecia's work on precision mice feeders and bike lights, and detail their disassembly of BB-8 robots for competitive analysis of their BLE and inertial sensors. The episode concludes with commentary on Amazon's work culture and drone regulations.
Bluetooth security researcher Mike Ryan, founder of Ice 9 Consulting, discusses his journey from hacking Game Boy ROMs to exposing critical vulnerabilities in Bluetooth products, including Boosted Skateboards and Fuse credit cards. He explains how developers often fail by implementing custom cryptography or ignoring threat models, such as the risk of a credit card being handed to a waiter, leading to data exposure. Ryan advocates for using built-in BLE security and provides a detailed workflow for reverse engineering using tools like Ubertooth, Wireshark, and CrackLE to analyze protocol flaws and pairing weaknesses.
Hosts Alvaro Brieto and Jen discuss their recent attendance at Open Sauce and the Crowd Supply teardown conference, highlighting the community aspect of hardware reverse engineering. They review several books on security and hacking history, including 'ARM Assembly and Reverse Engineering' and 'Murdoch's Pirates', while also sharing news about past guests like David from Cyber City Circuits teaching the First Lady to solder. The episode concludes with technical discussions on CAN bus vulnerabilities in Toyota vehicles, hotel IoT security, and Alvaro's new DJI Mic recording setup for upcoming coverage at CCCamp.
Eric Schlaepfer and Windell Oskay discuss their book 'Open Circuits,' detailing the process of cutting components in half with sandpaper and grinding wheels to reveal internal structures, while Jacob Creedon, Spencer Moss, Ken, and Will McGuiness share their perspectives on reverse engineering tools like IDA Pro and Ghidra, and the legal and social implications of technology. The group debates the future of AI, the validity of NFTs, and the importance of right-to-repair legislation, with Spencer Moss from Google and Ken from Somerset Recon highlighting the increasing complexity of hardware security. Mike Ryan from Ice 9 Consulting joins to discuss Bluetooth security, the obsolescence of passwords, and the dual-use nature of technology in the context of government regulation.
Chris and Nate interview founders from Eureka Park at CES 2026, including Rajeev Ramanath of Blueberry Technology, Cole Ashman of Pila Energy, and Scott Hickle of Throne. They discuss specific products like the autonomous Blueberry Go airport robot, Pila Energy's modular home batteries, and Throne's toilet health tracker. The episode highlights trade-offs in hardware design, such as Pebble's Eric Migicovsky choosing ODMs for speed over control, and Roam's Aaron Pollack accepting thickness for battery life. Other founders like Niclas Bertelsen of Naya and Michael Churchill of Kombu discuss modular ecosystems and material choices for fermentation.
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