The surge in car thefts across our nation has been alarming, and as a Canadian deeply concerned about this trend, I’ve delved into the tactics used by these modern-day thieves. One method that caught my attention is the CAN BUS (Controller Area Network) injection attack. This technique involves accessing a car’s CAN system and using a device, like a Bluetooth speaker, to inject malicious code that unlocks and starts the car without a key. This revelation led me to ponder the future trajectory of such sophisticated attacks and their implications for personal cybersecurity.
You can checkout a brief report I made for a friend on CAN Injection attacks here.
The Inspiration Behind This Blog
As someone who has dabbled in cryptocurrency trading, I’ve learned to appreciate the wisdom in the saying, “the trend is your friend until the end.” I believe this to be true for most trends, but in financial markets, the end of a trend in one asset class often triggers flow of capital into another. This principle doesn’t only apply to financial markets; it’s relevant in the context of crime trends too. With national efforts ramping up to combat car thefts, it’s plausible to expect a shift in criminal activities. As car thefts become less viable due to heightened security and law enforcement, car thieves might leverage their newly found technical knowledge and pivot to exploiting weaker links: our home and personal networks.
Welcome to the Age of Personal Cybersecurity
Let’s start with the basics: your home WiFi. The same criminals who stealthily navigate your neighborhood to steal cars can just as easily scan for WiFi signals to infiltrate your network. From there, they can monitor your online activities, attempt to steal login credentials, and even access personal files stored on your devices. Moreover, with tools like Shodan.io, attackers can find and exploit unsecured IoT devices in your home, from printers to security cameras, gaining unauthorized access to your network.
According to this article, 1 in 10 homeowners have never changed their default WIFI password.
Beyond the Confines of Your Home
Your vulnerability isn’t limited to your home network. Public WiFi networks, like those in cafes where you might spend your Thursday afternoons, are hotspots for cybercriminals. They can deploy “Evil Twin” WiFi networks or use DNS spoofing to trick you into entering login credentials on fake pages. The tools and methods used for such attacks are not just sophisticated; they are readily accessible and, in some cases, easy to deploy.
For a glimpse into the tools at their disposal, consider the following resources:
- WIFI hacking watch
- Evil Captive Portals
- Bluetooth Spamming
- Wifi Hacking device made with Raspberry PI
If these concerns weren’t alarming enough, consider that cybercriminals don’t even need to be on the same network as you to access your system. Your phones and laptops store information from previous WiFi and Bluetooth connections. When your WiFi and Bluetooth are enabled, they are constantly broadcasting, seeking to connect to these networks. Devices like WiFi Pineapples exploit this function by mimicking known networks, tricking your devices into connecting to them instead.
Check out this line of products by hak5 that do exactly that.
Conclusion: A Proactive Stance on Cybersecurity
At first glance, the widespread availability of advanced hacking tools might seem like a gift to cybercriminals. Yet, limiting access to these tools is not the answer, as criminals have the means to procure them through black markets and the dark web regardless. It’s critical to maintain open access to devices like the Flipper Zero, enabling the broader community to innovate and create safeguards against these digital threats. Currently, the surge in cyber attacks targeting our homes and favorite cafes hasn’t reached a critical mass. However, the groundwork for a shift in cybercriminal tactics is being laid. It’s in our hands to shape the future of our cybersecurity landscape.
Protecting Yourself: Practical Tips
For those who are not deeply technical, here are simple yet effective ways to bolster your cybersecurity:
- Disable Wi-Fi and Bluetooth when not in use to prevent your devices from broadcasting their presence.
- Forget networks you no longer use to minimize automatic connections to potentially malicious networks.
- Use a VPN to encrypt your internet traffic, safeguarding your data from prying eyes.
- Exercise caution with public Wi-Fi; verify network names with staff and avoid sensitive online activities on these networks.
- Consult a professional to secure your home network, ensuring you have expert guidance.
In an era where digital threats are evolving rapidly, staying informed and proactive is our best defense. Let’s not wait for the next trend to catch us off guard. Instead, let’s prepare and protect our digital homes with the same vigilance we apply to our physical ones.
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