Learning embedded systems with the Freeduino SB

admin — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 22:16:25 +0000

So hacking is fun, but there is more to hacking than security and writing 0-day exploits. When network and software security becomes a job sometimes we start to branch out in our hobbies. I’ve always wanted to learn more about electronics so that I could eventually build a giant robot to take over the world or protect it depending on which bot net wins or eventually becomes a sentient rogue AI. To this end I’m ordering some Freeduino SB kits from our friends over at HVW Technologies. There are a TON of people doing some really cool things with these boards. Check out this video Yuri made over at homebrewtalk showing us how he uses his arduino board and some custom java software to brew beer.

Brewing with Yuri

Drop us a line if you’re interested in joining in next Tuesday to began our adventure in putting together and programming these boards!

Badge Hacking

SRE — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 03:10:47 +0000

Our first group project after the con has been to try and hack our DefCon 16 badges. Round one was a complete failure. There was a lame attempt to save money by desoldering USB connectors from dead Blackberry devices because everyone was too lazy or cheap to purchase some actual USB connectors. After two unsuccessful attempts at using these second-hand ports we finally ordered a set of 4 connectors from the good folks at Digi-Key and met with some degree of success. .

At this point no actual “hacking” has occurred. Just lots of soldering… testing… desoldering… more testing… soldering… etc. Eventually we had a working connection and were able to find the correct device driver from the interwebs as the software provided on the DefCon CD failed to provide a working one. This took up most of our last meeting so time will tell if we’ll actually do something cool with this device now that we have access to its inner goodness.