#397.2 - An Interview with Gareth from Greenpeace

The Amp Hour · 22 Jun 2018 · 18m

What this episode covers

Gareth, a tech generalist for Greenpeace, joins Chris Gamble at ToorCamp to discuss using software-defined radio (SDR) to track illegal fishing via Iridium satellite buoys and using data science to identify coordinated social media trolling campaigns. Gareth explains how cheap hardware like the HackRF has enabled activists to intercept and analyze unencrypted Iridium packet data to monitor tuna fishing operations. He also discusses the broader impact of renewable energy economics on industrial manufacturing and the federated structure of Greenpeace.

Mentioned

Companies
Greenpeace, Great Scott Gadgets, Facebook, Cambridge Analytica
Tools
HackRF
Also
Iridium, Chaos Computer Club, Eccentric Orbits

Other shows on the same ground, closest first.

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 1h 22m

    013 - It's Not Magic

    Schneider, a key member of the rad1o Badge project team, explains the reverse engineering of the Iridium satellite network, detailing how they decoded pager and voice protocols using SDR tools like HackRF and gr-iridium. He discusses the technical challenges of identifying BCH error correction and interleaving, and the community-driven development of tools like Inspectrum and Phosphor. Schneider also highlights the privacy implications of unencrypted commercial traffic, including sensitive medical dispatches, and the ongoing work to monitor the new Iridium NEXT constellation.

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 1h 06m

    012 - Cheese vs. SDR

    Jared Boone, founder of Sharebrained Technology, discusses the HackRF software-defined radio and the Portapack, a portable handheld device he developed to make SDR accessible without a laptop. Alvaro, who runs a cheese project called Ostur, joins the conversation to discuss embedded development using STM32 and Nordic nRF52 platforms, while also sharing his passion for cheesemaking. The group explores the history of interactive TV, Blu-ray authoring, and the technical details of various radio technologies, including Iridium satellite interception and TPMS signal analysis.

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 1h 37m

    057 - I Did Not Expect Sharks!

    Michael Ossmann, founder and CTO of Great Scott Gadgets, discusses the creation of open-source hardware tools like HackRF One and Ubertooth One, which emerged from his background in wireless security research. He explains how his work on public safety protocols like APCO P25 and the NSA's ANT catalog led to the development of accessible RF tools and a passion for education through his SDR video series. Ossmann also shares anecdotes about unexpected uses of his hardware, such as studying shark behavior, and the importance of open-source software like GNU Radio Companion in lowering the barrier to entry for digital signal processing.

  • Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast · 1h 40m

    053 - It's Hammer Time!

    Hash, a reverse engineer known for smart meter hacking, discusses his journey from self-taught electronics hobbyist to analyzing critical infrastructure. He details his reverse engineering of the Neato XV-11 robot vacuum's LIDAR to win a bounty, and his current work using Software Defined Radios (SDRs) like the HackRF and Yardstick One to analyze Landis+Gyr smart meters. Hash explains how he bypassed frequency hopping by transmitting on all channels simultaneously and highlights the security risks of these devices, including data leakage from decommissioned hardware found on eBay.

  • Hackaday Podcast · 53m

    Ep 373: GPS, Danger In Space, and Robby the Robot

    Hosts Elliot Williams and Jenny List discuss Stephen Murdoch's research revealing that GPS satellites have been broadcasting secret, encrypted messages in the 'special messages' field of subframe 4 for decades, effectively acting as a modern numbers station. They then cover several hardware hacks, including an ATtiny85 emulating an Intel 8080, techniques for embedding magnets in 3D prints, and the debunking of the myth that all modern cassette mechanisms are identical. The episode concludes with home automation projects integrating linear tracking turntables and car diagnostics, and a 3D-printed Robbie the Robot costume.

The summary, chapters and topics are generated from the episode’s audio by this directory, not written by The Amp Hour. The episode itself belongs to its publisher.