All your devices can be hacked - Avi Rubin | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Researchers highlight various hacks and vulnerabilities in medical devices, cars, smartphones, voting machines, and more, emphasizing the need for improved security measures.

Key Insights

• 😷 Implantable medical devices with wireless capabilities can be hacked, showcasing the need for robust security measures in the healthcare industry.
• 😨 The increasing sophistication of car computer systems has introduced vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers, highlighting the importance of secure software development and testing.
• 🏛️ Smartphones, although convenient and widely used, can also be a source of vulnerability if their built-in sensors and communication channels are not properly protected.
• 🤨 The potential compromise of voting machines raises concerns about the integrity and security of democratic processes.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: How did researchers demonstrate vulnerabilities in implanted medical devices?

Researchers reverse engineered the wireless protocols of implantable devices, allowing them to control the devices remotely. By replicating the human body with ground beef and bacon, they successfully performed attacks such as changing the patient's name or disabling the device.

Q: How did researchers hack cars?

Researchers targeted the wired and wireless networks in cars, exploiting vulnerabilities in the software of various components. By gaining access to the internal network, they were able to manipulate systems like brakes and install malware that only triggered under certain conditions, such as high speed.

Q: How did researchers exploit the vulnerabilities of smartphones?

Researchers used the smartphone's accelerometer, which detects its orientation, to measure vibrations created by typing on a nearby keyboard. Machine learning techniques were employed to match these vibrations with typed text, allowing attackers to steal keystrokes without accessing any direct communication channels like microphones.

Q: How were voting machines compromised?

Researchers from the University of Michigan were able to access voting machines left unattended in a hallway and install a game, showing that even the systems meant to ensure fair elections can be vulnerable to unauthorized access and manipulation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Researchers have successfully performed hacks on implanted medical devices, demonstrating that wireless capabilities can be exploited to control these devices remotely.

• Cars with advanced computer systems have been shown to be vulnerable to attacks, allowing hackers to manipulate critical systems such as brakes and engines.

• By analyzing smartphone accelerometer data, researchers have developed a method to steal keystrokes without relying on traditional hacking techniques.

• Voting machines have also been identified as susceptible to attacks, with researchers even installing a game on machines set to be used in elections.