Episode 414 - Build a web enabled Linux based USB missile launcher [Discussion]

[marilee]

Take physical security to the next step by building a web enabled, Linux powered USB missile launcher and defend your hacker space (or use the laser to remotely annoy your cat). Plus smart phone emulators, custom Linux command GUIs using Usermin, USB booting and more.

Watch or download here! (http://revision3.com/hak5/USBMissileDefenseProgram)

[alaskalonewolf]

...dude, probably the most awesome episode yet.
Great work guys. On a lighter note: how about a
bit more lighting behind the camera? It always seems
like there's not enough contrast in the foreground.

http://www.eoslightingllc.com/?gclid=CLWz_6iMpZcCFQxzHgodzGNz_w
http://imagewest.tv/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=2&gclid=CO-_4rOMpZcCFQGbnAodp2HG1g
http://www.sonypicturesstudios.com/servicessection/setlighting/Setlighting.html

[toolwerx]

I believe it was "TOM IS KING" and "JULES SUCKS"

[imagitronics]

This was a particularly good episode. Even though USB missile launcher hacking was popular back in 2007, I really enjoyed seeing it on the show. Still, the show left me wanting more. This was an excellent opportunity for Darren to teach the audience about USB protocol sniffing and reverse engineering. I do appreciate the importance of utilizing existing code and not wasting time doing what's already been done, but for the purpose of infotainment I think it would have been far more interesting for viewers to watch Darren reverse engineer the protocol and then discuss some of the existing solutions.

Last year, I started a similar project using the green and black DreamCheeky (http://www.dreamcheeky.com/index.php?pagename=product) missile launcher that the team had on set. I wanted to note that my model did not have 360 degree rotation as Darren claimed (and the web page does claim to either). In fact, my product went up in smoke (literally) when I was reverse engineering the protocol and decided to send a raw "move left" command directly to the unit. To my horror, the hardware didn't stop trying to turn when it reached it's maximum range of motion and I was too slow in issuing the "stop" command (or unplugging the device) resulting in the all-too familiar smell of burnt electronics.

This episode may have inspired me to dust the old launcher off and figure out exactly what I fried. It would be just as easy to remove the electronics from the device all together and replace the control mechanism with an arduino (http://www.arduino.cc/) or similar microcontroller.

Anyways, my idea was to use Intel's (open source) Open Computer Vision Library (http://sourceforge.net/projects/opencvlibrary/) to add facial recognition and tracking (http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=opf-uVbQU34) to autonomously shoot people in the face upon entering the room.

Just thought I'd put that out there for anyone interested in picking up the ball.

Tim

[computoman]

You will need to sudo or be root to install these packages
(http://www.webmin.com/download.html)

webmin/usermin for rpm based distros such as Fedora/Centos use rpm -i filename.rpm
webmin/usermin for deb based distros such as Debian/Ubuntu use dpkg -i filename.deb
For the tar.gz packages that is something else.

One thing that is neat about using webmin/usermin you do not have to run a gui or mouse driven desktop on the server. That saves memory, diskspace and adds speed. On an embeded device such as the nslu2 that can be real important.

To use the packages on debian/ubuntu:
Webmin:https://yourserver.com:10000
Usermin: https://yourserver.com:20000
After the install is finished, it will remind of how to access the web pages.

[davmoo]

This week's episode of Hak5 is sponsored by PETA, ASPCA, and the Humane Society :D

Seriously, I was glad to see you plug Webmin and Usermin. The first thing I do when ever I set up a new server is install those two packages. They make it fast and easy to do the "every day" crap so I can spend my time focusing on the real problems.

And at the very end of the show...that's one lucky damned penguin. That's all I'm gonna say ;)

[dantex64]

Hei. Hak5.

I see you show how to burn an ISO usb stick for the EEE. I have an EEE and over the past month have been trying to install an Ubuntu based OS; eeebuntu - http://eeebuntu.org I've tried following their guide to installation with an SD card and 3 usb sticks which all failed. I also tried using unetbootin as you suggested in this episode, I saw in one thread that the Kingston (something) worked, my friend has one of these but he is just backing it up. I will try this but do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
/Dante

[xfuuey]

And at the very end of the show...that's one lucky damned penguin. That's all I'm gonna say ;)

LOL...couldn't agree more :p

[dantex64]

LOL...couldn't agree more :p

Heh, know what you mean.... Brightened up the show a bit ;)

/Dante

[bani-banan]

Hei. Hak5.

I see you show how to burn an ISO usb stick for the EEE. I have an EEE and over the past month have been trying to install an Ubuntu based OS; eeebuntu - http://eeebuntu.org I've tried following their guide to installation with an SD card and 3 usb sticks which all failed. I also tried using unetbootin as you suggested in this episode, I saw in one thread that the Kingston (something) worked, my friend has one of these but he is just backing it up. I will try this but do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
/Dante

What's failing?
Doesn't it boot off of the USB stick or is it reporting errors?

(I can't remember if it's F2 or ESC to choose the boot-device)
Try doing that. Setting up boot devices in the BIOS has ALWAYS failed for me.
Btw, what model are you using? 70X or above? Check to see whether or not there are drivers for your EEE.

[dantex64]

What's failing?
Doesn't it boot off of the USB stick or is it reporting errors?

(I can't remember if it's F2 or ESC to choose the boot-device)
Try doing that. Setting up boot devices in the BIOS has ALWAYS failed for me.
Btw, what model are you using? 70X or above? Check to see whether or not there are drivers for your EEE.

It doesn't boot atall.
It's F2. I setup the BIOS with different configs and even tried removing/disabling the hard disk from the boot order. I'm running a 701.

/Dante

[computoman]

Hei. Hak5.

I see you show how to burn an ISO usb stick for the EEE. I have an EEE and over the past month have been trying to install an Ubuntu based OS; eeebuntu - http://eeebuntu.org I've tried following their guide to installation with an SD card and 3 usb sticks which all failed. I also tried using unetbootin as you suggested in this episode, I saw in one thread that the Kingston (something) worked, my friend has one of these but he is just backing it up. I will try this but do you have any suggestions?

Thanks,
/Dante

At http://thelinuxlink.net/forum, Ask Dan about it, there are a lot of people who have done it who frequent that forum.

[dantex64]

At http://thelinuxlink.net/forum, Ask Dan about it, there are a lot of people who have done it who frequent that forum.

Thanks, I guess you mean Dann. I think I'll hold out a couple of days.

Thanks alot,
/Dante