Electronic Frontier FoundationJul 22, 2024
DHS bought a dog-like robot that it modified with an antenna array to let law enforcement overload people’s home networks to disable any “internet of things” devices, according a transcript obtained by EFF’s Dave Maass and shared with @404mediaco. https://www.404media.co/dhs-has-a-ddos-robot-to-disable-internet-of-things-booby-traps-inside-homes/
DHS Has a DoS Robot to Disable Internet of Things ‘Booby Traps’ Inside Homes

"NEO carries an onboard computer and antenna array that will allow officers the ability to create a ‘denial-of-service’ event to disable ‘Internet of Things’ devices that could potentially cause harm while entry is made."

404 Media
Show threadCamerondotcaJul 22, 2024
@eff @404mediaco erm... and also handily turns off any recording devices so they can human rights violate to their little heart's content.
Show threadthe_wigglerJul 22, 2024

@camerondotca @eff @404mediaco hardwire your cameras too.

Who would build an iot enabled booby trap? That's a weird cross section of extremely security conscious and extremely security incompetent.

Show threadZoarial94 

@the_wiggler with how accessable a lot of IoT technology is, this is about making it harder for people to use that tech for these traps. It's about raising the bar again after it had been lowered.

At first I thought this was a terrible idea, but honestly I think there's a decent point to be made in support of this. If it goes further than DDOS, I think there should definitely be more pushback.

For me, it's hard to see how this might be abused, but I also don't have any wireless IoT devices in my home. I don't like these devices because of the security holes anyway.

Jul 22, 2024 at 3:59pmWeb
Show threadZoarial94 Jul 22, 2024
@the_wiggler I should clarify I'm not in support of this robot, but I think it'll be much harder to prevent a rollout compared to strapping a gun to a robot dog.
Show threadthe_wigglerJul 22, 2024

@Zoarial94 preventing rollout is impossible. Even if it was illegal they'd do it anyway and then get taxpayers to pay the associated fines.

The point is that's its wierd to be so paranoid to have booby traps, but not so paranoid to have realized that iot tech is extremely susceptible to hacking.

Show threadthe_wigglerJul 22, 2024
@Zoarial94 The accessibility of the tech is irrelevant. It's *always* been a bad choice if you care about security, regardless of application.
Show threadZoarial94 Jul 22, 2024

@the_wiggler Good point. I guess I didn't consider hacking as an option for considering there are companies that just hand over access to your cameras if you ask. (If you're using wireless IoT for traps you're probably also **likely** to use Ring since you don't know better. [Big generalization])

The accessability of IoT devices is the reason they are developing this robot. Without such easy access to this tech, they would have no reason to develop a general purpose IoT-disabling robot.

Show threadZoarial94 Jul 22, 2024

@the_wiggler This point is exactly why I'm hesitant to say "seems fine to me" in regards to this robot. Yes, anyone who does any research should know not to trust wireless comms. Dumb criminals will use the wireless stuff, so why not let the gov have the robot?.

Because there are many, many homeowners who just don't know or understand the risks of the tech they're installing in their home. Those people could get caught up in the crosshairs malicous or not. I want to figure out what specifically we could see abused.

Show threadthe_wigglerJul 23, 2024

@Zoarial94 oh, it's certainly not fine. I think it's total garbage and probably more or less pointless, but the military industrial complex chugs along.

I don't think the average person has too much to worry about via a straight DoS attack. Even if it caused every device to crash, the vast majority of people aren't automating anything that's going to blow up if disconnected. The biggest impact is on legitimate surveillance of government operations.