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Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast

A podcast on reverse engineering hardware, covering projects, tools and methods with guests from the hardware hacking community.

79 episodes · 82 hours · since 2017

Visit Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast

Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast is filed under electronics, teardowns and interviews. Its most recent episode published on , so it is still actively publishing. Listeners have left 40 ratings on Apple Podcasts, averaging 4.8 out of 5.

Latest episodes

The 10 newest episodes of Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast, each with a summary and chapters.

  • · 1h 32m

    078 - Séance Mode - An Interview with Michael Ossmann

    Michael Ossmann of Great Scott Gadgets discusses the release of the HackRF Pro, a complete redesign of the original HackRF1, and the Cynthion, a high-speed USB analyzer and emulator. He explains how Cynthion’s Python-based FaceDancer framework enables 'seance mode' reverse engineering by emulating missing USB devices, and details the HackRF Pro’s ability to receive signals down to 100 kHz using non-direct sampling techniques. The conversation also covers the company’s strategic rejection of LLM-generated code contributions, their reactive approach to global regulatory compliance, and the severe impact of recent chip shortages on their product roadmaps.

    PCB design & layoutMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 00m

    077 - The Beatbox Diversion

    Jen and Alvaro, hosts of the Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast, discuss 2025 trends including the consolidation of media power, the Right to Repair movement, and the rise of surveillance technologies like Flock cameras. They highlight the work of 404 Media, iFixit, and researchers like Ben Jordan and Jon GainSec in exposing privacy violations and promoting repairability. The conversation also covers the ethical implications of AI, the democratization of hardware via cheap microcontrollers like the ESP32 and RP2040, and personal projects involving debugging tools and vintage computing.

    Security & privacyDirect-to-consumer & e-commerce
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 00m

    076 - Living In A Vast World of Craziness

    Dan Walters, founder of Bytetinker, discusses his work running the ISP hacking ward at CypherCon, focusing on the security vulnerabilities of DOCSIS cable infrastructure. He explains how default configurations in cable modems and CMTS units allow for unauthenticated access, enabling man-in-the-middle attacks, remote firmware updates, and data interception. Walters details the hardware and software tools required to build a private ISP lab, including CMTS units, RF testers, and reverse engineering tools like binwalk and JTAG programmers. He highlights the lack of encryption in legacy DOCSIS standards and the ease with which attackers can compromise network integrity.

    Wireless & RFSecurity & privacy
    10 chapters

  • · 1h 34m

    075 - Teleporting All Over The Timeline

    Nathan Emerick, creator of the open-source project DeskThing, explains how he reverse-engineered Spotify's discontinued CarThing hardware to keep it functional after Spotify bricked the device. He details the technical journey from discovering the Amlogic chip and ADB access to building a web-based flashing tool and a desktop app that turns the CarThing into a versatile desktop controller. Emerick also discusses the challenges of dealing with Spotify's MFi Bluetooth restrictions, the sudden viral growth of the project, and his current struggles in the software engineering job market.

    Debugging & failure analysisEmbedded firmware
    7 chapters

  • · 1h 05m

    074 - This Coconut Won't Open

    Noah Holland and Joshua Stiebel, from the Michigan Tech Red Team, discuss their reverse engineering of Dormakaba's SafeLock electronic access control systems. They detail how they discovered vulnerabilities in the MyFare Classic and Ultralight card formats, allowing them to clone keys and generate master keys using tools like the Proxmark3 and Flipper Zero. The conversation covers the limitations of Dormakaba's patching efforts, the importance of per-site AES keys, and the value of consulting old patents for protocol documentation.

    Debugging & failure analysisSensors & measurement in products
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 10m

    073 - REPP.show

    Jen Castillo (Rebelbot Jen) and Alvaro Prieto, hosts of the Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast, discuss the show's origins, their technical workflows, and career reflections. They detail specific reverse engineering projects, including a capacitive touchscreen clicker and STM8 glitching using an RP2040, while highlighting tools like the Bus Pirate, PC Bites, and the Cynthion. The conversation also covers their experiences with engineering management, the importance of community, and the cultural shift in hardware accessibility.

    Debugging & failure analysisEmbedded firmware
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 15m

    072 - EOF?

    Hosts Almero and Jen review the seven-year statistics of the Unnamed Reverse Engineering Podcast, noting 230,983 unique downloads and an average episode length of just over one hour. They discuss the evolution of their production workflow, moving from Audacity to Ferrite on iOS and using Zencastr for remote recording, while highlighting past guests like Ken Shiriff, Joe Grand, and Piotr Esden-Tempski. The episode also covers the hosts' decision to pause their Patreon due to reduced output and reflects on the fragmentation of social media platforms like Twitter and Mastodon.

    Creator businessEDA & CAD tools
    7 chapters

  • · 1h 31m

    071 - Snerd Niped

    Thomas Roth (Stacksmashing) discusses his recent hardware reverse engineering projects, including bypassing the lock on iPhone 15 and MacBook M3 chips using the Ace 3 controller and tools like the Central Scrutinizer and Tamarin-C. He also details a low-cost BitLocker key sniffer built with a Raspberry Pi Pico and his work with HexTree.io on the RP2350 Hacking Challenge and the Faultier glitching tool. Roth emphasizes the importance of accessible, open-source hardware security tools for education and community learning.

    Debugging & failure analysisMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    6 chapters

  • · 1h 56m

    070 - I Have a DediProblem

    Jesse Michael and Mickey Shkatov from Eclypsium discuss the intricacies of BIOS and UEFI reverse engineering, tracing their careers from Intel to their current startup. They detail specific research projects, including an exploit of a Nissan Leaf's telematics unit and a DMA attack on Intel WiGig, while explaining the technical evolution from legacy BIOS to UEFI. The conversation covers practical tools for hardware debugging, such as DediProg programmers and Intel DCI, and explores the emerging scene of UEFI-based game cheating and System Management Mode vulnerabilities.

    Embedded firmwareDebugging & failure analysis
    8 chapters

  • · 1h 22m

    069 - Canned Cheese and Onion Rings

    Ian from Dangerous Prototypes discusses the evolution of the BusPirate, culminating in the BusPirate 5, which utilizes an RP2040 microcontroller and features an LCD, adjustable power supply, and current sensing. He details the creation of DirtyPCBs and other services like DirtyCables, explaining how he automated PCB ordering in Shenzhen to disrupt the market. Ian also shares anecdotes about his time in Huaqiangbei, including the 'Expressway to Pleasure' project and his experiences with local manufacturing quirks.

    PCB design & layoutMicrocontrollers & dev platforms
    8 chapters

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